Self-Publishing Basics: Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, & more!

halooo

I went through several self publishers and have soooo much bad news but not going to release this. I am now going with Ingram Spark. Now I need to break ties with previous self publishers. Can you give me advice as to how to make this transition ? Look up Hellish Inc, David Adamson.

I've come across a lot of stuff on trust piolet that suggests Draft2Digital have been closing accounts to steal money.

My goodness this was so helpful.

Thank you. That was informative and it gave me ideas I never thought of before

Jenna:
I have completed a book on commercial real estate, and I have gone through all the editing and formatting processes.

I have received an author's proof from KDP, and an author's proof from Lulu, and will be getting an author's proof from IngramSpark soon. What I need is some advice as to what print on demand company I should use, and some of the glitches that I am finding, (examples: KDP’s interior paper is too thin, my hardcover and paperback covers that were professionally formatted are not working on KDP, etc.).
I would rather have someone do all of this for me. I need to speak to a real person!
Can you recommend anyone who can take the ball from here and complete what I need to have done?
I started this book more than 3 years ago, and I have put much time and effort into it.
At this point, I will pay anything to get this to the goal line.

I am hoping you can help me in some way with advice and or a recommendation. Thanks, Dan.

don't self publish. If you can't get an agent, you're not trying hard enough.

great video. but to fill in the gaps. I got my proof book after 3 months. They use Ingram so the quality is good. Proof copy took well over 3 months, and I had to contact corporate D2D, because D2D said once it goes to printer, they have no control! and no communication. But it passed my release date, by 3 months. It was distributed to Amz but it is stuck in pre-order for a 3 weeks now. Amazon tells me to go to my kindle page, which I dont have one for print.. D2D says they informed AMZ. And the author with print book has NO control in getting amazon to update or fix the book page. while D2D ebook is flawless. Avoid D2D print book. Either Amz or Ingram. hope this helps someone.

D2D is 10% of list price in eBook only. It is alot more for print book, because they have a proprietary split they wont tell you. My example. book price 14.95. Author=1.25. book cost=$5.50 for 325 page book. You tell me where the "royalty goes." I check the price at amazon and everything is cheaper, but quality is good, from what I hear.

Was using Bookbaby, now considering D2D... THANKS!!! Saving me literally thousands

IngramSpark service! What a joke. Glad I'm not the only one who's experienced a nightmare with them. Took me 6 months to get a simple invoice issue resolved . . . The irony is my mom owned a bookstore when I was a tween . . grew up with INGRAM boxes in my house for YEARS. So I'd expected to love them! I was wrong.
For a real tip: To give bookstores their required discount, you actually have to make it a BIGGER discount, since Ingramspark charges a percentage for distribution. My last experience was that I was setting the 40% discount, but the bookstore couldn't see that amount. So I think I had to change it to a 55% discount, just so the bookstore could get their 40% discount. (actual percentages here are off the top of my head and could be wrong). Therefore, I earn almost nothing from Ingram sales (68 cents on a $25 hardback, which is unfortunately already a high price for middle grade. With Ingram's price increase, I had to up it to $27 just to break even). :(

Sorry, but could you please explain the phrase: “non-kindle e-book”. Thanks!

** silly question - I'm not keen on learning the whole industry, what are my options to sell and walk away? My bucketlist (write a book) one and done.

Wait. What’s the difference between Amazon paperback and Ingram paperback?

I was the 666th like >:D

If you choose any of these platforms, I recommend getting Vellum for Mac. Depending on your choice when purchasing, you can format both eBooks, generate a file for all formats, and print books in one place. It is pricey but worth every penny. Great video, yet again, Jenna!

Can I publish an ebook on Ingramspark and KDP using two separate ISBN numbers? First with IS, then on KDP.

Quick question. How do you write a character that everyone thought was a villain but was actually the hero? I've got a story that I'm working on, and I haven't been able to figure it out.

Thank you! This was very informative. ❤️

Actually, I think Draft2Digital takes 15% now.

Reading your book Shut Up and Write the Book. Best part of it is it sounds just like you and makes me smile.

Do you know if KDP has a clause about having your book exclusive to them for the first 6 weeks after launch or if that is only if you have your book on Kindle Unlimited? I've gotten different answers when I've asked this question, and I've not been able to find the answer in their legal they put out. It could be there and I've missed it because legalese confuses my brain.

This video is already way out of date.

Amazon KDP allows the author to publish Kindle, Paperback, and Hardcover. I know, that's how I publish all of my books. My first book was published in March of 2022. All three formats were available from the second I set up my account.

I use Draft2Digital as well and I always get an emailed report, it might be a little later than it should be, but they do send them. Maybe it's a new thing?

Thank you. I publish through IngramSpark for the past 4 years. Customer service is horrible but Love the number of distribution companies.

You forgot to mention that IngramSpark USUALLY has a coupon code that you can google around for to bring that publishing price ($25-$49) back down to $0 or at least significantly less than $25. It's worth looking for the code when you go to publish.

Love your videos Jenna. I use KDP & D2D for ebook and paperback. I’d highly recommend D2D for paperbacks too. I used IS but didn’t get any interest or sales. Have sold and had more interest from D2D and they use the same sales channels as IS (or so it says on my reports)

Shut and write the book is the greatest thing out there! I've recommended you for all your advice and now my friends are addicted

I haven't used the option yet so I don't know the quality, but KDP does hardcovers now.

Smashwords & D2D are both retailers as was as distributors because they have online storefronts.

Jenna coming in with the 🔥🔥🔥 today!!!

Timing couldn't be better as I've been strongly thinking of an looking into this with only a vague idea of how to go about places an ways an notable processes to publish an price my stuff. Note taking for sure an rewatching too in the future

I love this video and it's perfect timing. I had a really great experience with KDP for my short story collection series, and have made a lot of money through them, but I published my first novel through Ingramspark. However just this week I realized they've been withholding royalties from me (for nearly TWO years), and their customer service is HELL (they blamed ME for not getting paid), and their sales reports are fking insane, way more complicated than they need to be. I pulled my novel from Ingramspark after that and re-published it through D2D and so far it's been a way easier process and I feel safer with D2D than IS. However I haven't had to deal with their print books or their customer service yet. Thanks for this simple breakdown, Jenna :)

Very timely video before I get my book back from my editor and proceed to publishing

Do you have issues with pre-orders for paperbacks? I had a ton of issues with IngramSpark providing the pre-order for Amazon since Amazon doesn't do paperback pre-orders.

Book wholesalers also add a large-scale option!

I hope I get published traditionally. I think I'll be hopeless publishing my novel independently.

Hey, Jenna. I'm a librarian working on my first book and this video got me wondering, how do libraries affect author royalties? I obviously want to support both authors and my local library, but I'm only a youth services librarian, so I don't know anything about the collection or acquiring new materials and that thing. Do you have any insight to the library side of distribution?

Not this week. I got COVID. Still love your work, though, and will do this one later. BYYYYYYYE! ♥

Great video! Thanks, Jenna!

If you publish with Amazon they will expect exclusivity or they will pay you less in royalties. Which sucks if you're an Indy author who doesn't have a large following and need to diversify

I HIGHLY recommend Shut Up and Write the Book! I got the paperback off amazon last weekend and not only was the quality super duper, but the content is seriously AH-MAY-ZING. I foresee it soaking up many highlighters while enriching my newb writer mind. Thank you Jenna for inspiring me to get my shit together and write the book!

I'm a new writer, have nwever published so thanks!

Thanks so much Jenna for everything you’ve a blessing ❤

Hope you had a beautiful Valentine’s Day Jenna full of romance joy ❤️💓🤍

YOUR A ROCKSTAR ❤❤❤❤

I think B&N lets you sell on their website directly.

But Jenna, Information never becomes outdated

I used bookbaby but now I'm using d2d