I want to self-publish a paperback or hardcover for my book. What are my options? 

For starters, before we discuss ANY of the platforms, I want you to get a pen and some paper and write down these questions I’m about to ask. You should ask these each time you evaluate a platform:

  • -Does this platform get you to the retailers where YOUR audience shops? If your audience is very bookshop.org loyal, can this platform get your books there? If your audience is based in UK and prefers the name brand Waterstones, can you get your book there? 
  • -Does this platform have the trim size in paperback and hardcover that I want/need? This may seem simple, but you would be surprised how easy this detail is to slip through the cracks. Self-publishing authors have so much to manage, they I guess assume the size they want is available. Or they don’t think to check. Not all platforms offer the same sizes. And not all platforms offer the same size in paperback and hardcover. Just do a quick check. 
  • -Does this platform have the interior print colors I want? Same as above. Some platforms only offer black and white. Some offer full color but only with limited paper options. Some will allow you to print in color, but won’t push that book to their distribution network. 
  • –Does this platform have both paperback AND hardcover? This kind of also goes as above. Always double-check. But I want to call it out separately because I think many authors wan to just get the paperback out with the ebook. They aren’t concerned with the hardcover until later. And honestly, same. It took me a while to add hardcovers to my catalog. I am now a believer – based on my sales numbers – that you should have one. If you already own your ISBNs, if you can get it in the same trim size, you use the same interior files, most cover designers will give you both paperback and hardcover files. Even if you don’t plan to have a hardcover now, make sure you CAN add it later. 
  • -Does this platform give me the payment options I want/need? All of these platforms will pay you. I am pretty sure none of us are making enough for any of these mega corporations to try to skim our pennies and dollars. Some will pay net-60, some will pay net-90. Some will pay you and then if you get a return you owe them money. Some will pay direct deposit to your bank account. Some will pay via PayPal or other online payment systems. Just familiarize yourself with what you need, especially if you aren’t based in the same country as the platform company. Tax forms, remittance forms, etc. 

Okay, so now we get to talk about the actual platforms you can self-publish print books on, paperback or hardcover. 

There are online print shops like 48-hour books that can also print the books. But when I say publish, I mean print and distribute. 48-hour books sends you the books for you to hand sell. So they’re not on this list, but if you need an express order of books…. Yeah ,call em up. 

  • KDP
    • Expectations – paperback and hardcover. I’d say they have the most limited hardcover options. It is super easy to link your different versions and series directly from the Amazon KDP dashboard. If you plan to sell your books on Amazon.com, 9 times out of 10, I’m recommending KDP. Get direct to the retailers. (The time I don’t recommend is if you crave simplicity over lots of logins, then go with an aggregator.) The hardcovers are basic, no dust jackets. *as of this recording*
    • Limitations – only gets you to Amazon. I don’t care what expanded distribution advertises; it’s not the best way to get your book elsewhere. 
    • Best use case scenario – for those who are just starting out with self-publishing in general, or with print books, start here. Add this first. If you have a novel that is primarily text, nothing fancy, or a non-fiction book that is mostly text, I don’t see a reason you can’t use this platform. 
  • B&N Press
    • Expectations – very similar to Amazon KDP. Print and hardcover. They do have dust jackets. Gets your print book to B&N.com. 
    • Limitations – again, you’re only getting to that one retailer. So if you want to have direct control over your listing and you don’t mind multiple logins, don’t worry. 
    • Best use case scenario – Again, for a very standard novel (all text, nothing fancy) and non-fiction book: go for it. 
  • IngramSpark
    • Expectations – IngramSpark has more options for paperback and hardcover. It has a bigger network. It allows you to control pricing so your book can be ordered by brick-and-mortar stores. 
    • Limitations – Only so many paper types, so again only more standard books are good here. Maybe some children’s books if they arent’ all full page full color spreads. Again, non-standard sizes and options aren’t plentiful. 
    • Best use case scenario – Someone who wants their book on major retailers’ websites and would like to one day be in brick and mortar stories. 
  • Draft2Digital (not recommended)
    • Expectations – You can upload your eBook and paperback file to Draft2Digital and get it to a large retail network. So for the simplest option, this and IngramSpark rate high. One stop shop. 
    • Limitations – unless you upload the SAME day as you upload your paperback to Amazon KDP, they MAKE you use a new print ISBN. I don’t like it. Especially if you OWN your ISBN. They also do not currently offer a hardcover option. 
    • Best use case scenario – I like this for those who value simplicity over many login. Or if you are part of an anthology or have a co-author with whom you need to split royalties. Love that. PublishDrive also offers this. 
  • BookVault
    • Expectations – Expect beautiful books. Sprayed edges. Gold foil. A ribbon. If you want a deluxe edition, this is kind of the go-to right now instead of working with a local print shop.
    • Limitations – Based in the UK, they have options for US based authors. They are relatively newish, so their retail network isn’t as robust right now. I’d expect they will be rapidly expanding that given the shift to produce and offer these special editions. 
    • Best use case scenario – I love this for those fulfilling kickstarters
  • LuLu
    • Expectations – Ok this is the platform I recommend when an author is doing anything outside of a primarily textbook. Children’s book with lots of size and paper options? LuLu. Workbooks? LuLu. Graphic Novels? LuLu. Planners or anything with a spiral or wire binding… LuLu! They can still distribute to the Ingram Network. ANNNDDDD they have an API available with Shopify so you can print on demand direct from your website. 
    • Limitations – Not all print options are available for distribution. So look at their options very carefully as to which will be eligible for Amazon or the Ingram Netowrk. 
    • Best use case scenario- coloring books, childrens books, anything with a lot of color (that needs thicker paper to hold that ink) or anything out of the standard. 
  • PublishDrive
    • Expectations – This platform I would equate similar to IngramSpark or Draft2Digital. They have eBook and paperback – no hardcover right meow. But they have a robust network so again if you want a one-stop shop (except for hardcover), here you go.
    • Limitations – I don’t love recommending this for brand new authors BECAUSE you have to pay a monthly fee. So IngramSpark has change fees, so does Draft2Digital, but you only pay if you need to make a change. PublishDrive you pay that fee whether you sold anything or not that month. If you sell well… you may come out ahead when you consider the other platforms take a bit off each sale. So let’s say you start out on another platform, you do the math and you’d net more with PublishDrive than the other. Now you have to move your well performing books to another platform…. Panic eyes. So keep that in mind. It’s possible, but pack your patience. 
    • Best use case scenario – I like this for those who value simplicity over many login. Or if you are part of an anthology or have a co-author that you need to split royalties with. Love that. 

Also, I’m sure as I record this new platforms are spinning up. It’s my luck in life. I recently revamped my entire Author Your Ambition series. (I had to stop mid update with some platformmergers and splits.) Anywhoo… I go into all of this and so much more in these books. If this is how you learn best, I’ve got tons of videos. If reading a book and taking notes will help you learn all this, I’ve got books. I wanted to be able to give you all this information in the best way knowing people learn and process information differently. Ok?

Thank you to 100Covers for sponsoring this video: http://100covers.com/?ref=49 (Use Code: MK at checkout for 30% off their cover design packages)

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