Is there a decent instructional for doing paperback covers in KDP?

[TimothyEllis]

Is there a decent instructional for doing paperback covers in KDP?

I'm looking at this yet again, and it just looks too hard.

The KDP Creator is just crap. D2D's doesn't appear to be much better.

I can see there's a downloadable template to use in Photoshop, but it needs the number of pages. Where the hell do find that out from?

I really need a simple set of how to instructions for the whole process.

Can anyone point me to such a thing?

[Al Stevens]

You'll know the number of pages when you build the .pdf content file to upload for the paperback book. The last physical page number, adjusted for front matter is that number.

[TimothyEllis]

You'll know the number of pages when you build the .pdf content file to upload for the paperback book. The last physical page number, adjusted for front matter is that number.

 

I'd forgotten all about that.

[DmGuay]

I create my interior PDF file first. Upload it, then download the cover template. You'll have the page number range, and that's all you need. The template is super easy to use if you have basic design software. Just keep all the words and important images inside the guidelines.

After I arrange the cover image, the spine, the back image, I then use a single color "fill" layer behind everything, just so no guidelines or spaces accidentally appear on the final. Save as PDF, then upload.

What design software do you have access to? Maybe someone here can give you tips based on what you use.

[TimothyEllis]

What design software do you have access to? Maybe someone here can give you tips based on what you use.

Using Photoshop for covers.

[DmGuay]

Oh. That should be straightforward then.

If you have any questions after you download your template, please post. Maybe we can guide you through.

[TimothyEllis]

What the easiest way of doing the print pdf?

And what is normal in the eBook, but is left off in the Paperback? (Thinking mainly front and backmatter.)

[DmGuay]

I do all the same front and back matter in my print book as in my ebook, except instead of hot links, I type out the web addresses for things like social media and newsletter sign up.

What program do you use for word processing and formatting your paperback interior file?

[TimothyEllis]

What program do you use for word processing and formatting your paperback interior file?

Word for the eBook. 2013 version.

I've only done one paperback in the past, and I had someone on fiverr do the formatting at great expense.

No idea how to do it myself, but I know I can upload it to D2D and download the PDF version formatted. Just wondering if there's an easier way.

[DmGuay]

Unless you want to hand format it, or have software like Vellum, the D2D way might be the easiest way.

[TimothyEllis]

Unless you want to hand format it, or have software like Vellum, the D2D way might be the easiest way.

I don't have a Mac, and never will.

PC alternative?

[idontknowyet]

there's mac in cloud or atticus or people on fb that do it for $20-30

ihavent tried kindle create for pb yet but they are super simple for ebooks

[TimothyEllis]

there's mac in cloud or atticus or people on fb that do it for $20-30

ihavent tried kindle create for pb yet but they are super simple for ebooks

I've got 42 books to do at this point, and that's still climbing. I was thinking of just doing bundles, but the pages maximums cut out too short for where I'd need them to be.

Sp I'd prefer not to pay anyone if I can avoid it.

Kindle Create on the net is a load of crap. I've not tried the PC version, so I guess I should. But I'm not expecting anything different.

[idontknowyet]

there's mac in cloud or atticus or people on fb that do it for $20-30

ihavent tried kindle create for pb yet but they are super simple for ebooks

I've got 42 books to do at this point, and that's still climbing. I was thinking of just doing bundles, but the pages maximums cut out too short for where I'd need them to be.

Sp I'd prefer not to pay anyone if I can avoid it.

Kindle Create on the net is a load of crap. I've not tried the PC version, so I guess I should. But I'm not expecting anything different.

if you can get atticus a friend just re did all her pb it took like 20min a book and atticus costs like 100-150 right now i think

[TimothyEllis]

if you can get atticus a friend just re did all her pb it took like 20min a book and atticus costs like 100-150 right now i think

It doesn't look like it's available at all.

No download button, just a join the waiting list button.

[Vijaya]

What the easiest way of doing the print pdf?

And what is normal in the eBook, but is left off in the Paperback? (Thinking mainly front and backmatter.)

Tim, I download the template from KDP. I like 5.25" x 8" (13.34 x 20.32 cm) and copied my ms into the template. I use styles to format and went through and checked every page, esp. the beginnings and endings of chapters. Would revise my text if there were widows/orphans. Once the front matter and back were added and I was happy with everything, save it as a pdf and upload. I use Canva for making covers.

Good luck! You have lots of paperbacks to do. I found that the first one took me the longest. After that, it became easier.

[TimothyEllis]

Tim, I download the template from KDP. I like 5.25" x 8" (13.34 x 20.32 cm) and copied my ms into the template.

What template is that? Where do you get it?

[Post-Crisis D]

What the easiest way of doing the print pdf?

And what is normal in the eBook, but is left off in the Paperback? (Thinking mainly front and backmatter.)

Tim, I download the template from KDP. I like 5.25" x 8" (13.34 x 20.32 cm) and copied my ms into the template. I use styles to format and went through and checked every page, esp. the beginnings and endings of chapters. Would revise my text if there were widows/orphans. Once the front matter and back were added and I was happy with everything, save it as a pdf and upload.

I don't like Word or use Word, but, for Word users, this would seem to be the way to go. 

[Vijaya]

Tim, I download the template from KDP. I like 5.25" x 8" (13.34 x 20.32 cm) and copied my ms into the template.

What template is that? Where do you get it?

https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834230

I first downloaded the one with the sample because the front/back are already formatted for the non-numbering of pages and but now I use my own revised one as a template.

[RPatton]

You need to build a template for a print file in Word (it's not that difficult to do, just time consuming) and then it's just a matter of popping your MS into the template.

Right now, the only windows option is either using InDesign, Atticus, or Mac in Air or whatever that cloud thing is called with Vellum.

As far as the cover goes, once you have your final page count, I recommend using bookow.com for their cover template (they'll generate a png, idml, and pdf file for you and they'll even add your barcode). For whatever reason, KDPs cover template is always slightly off (I think it's because it doesn't calculate spine width to the leaf, but to every 10 leafs).

[TimothyEllis]

Just playing around with D2D's formatter.

Next Question:

Is it necessary to put the book title and author name on the top of every page?

I was thinking of doing a single generic book on D2D, from which I can do all the books, without needing to create every single one there. Especially since for now, I'm only thinking of having them in KDP, given that is where all my readers are.

But to do that, I need to suppress printing the book title on every other page, which also suppresses the author name. Is this bad?

I'm not sure I understood why they do that anyway.

[TimothyEllis]

This is just too hard. 

So I get the cover all set up, and get told the size was different. Somehow the D2D end changed the size on me before I downloaded the inside, so I was 40 pages short for the middle.

Go back to Photoshop after resizing on D2D, and the new template adjusts to the existing size when you copy it over, so I can't change the look correctly to fit the slightly larger size.

Which implies you can't do a template for a series, and simply adjust by overlaying a new KDP template and replacing the front cover image and title. They all need to be done from scratch. And that takes too long, and will result in nothing matching up from book to book.

What am I missing?

[TimothyEllis]

Okay, second attempt went better.

I did a template for the left side and the spine. So all left sides in the series will be the same. And I have a guide to assembling the spine for each book, which can be deleted before completion.

Ordered my first proof.

[Vijaya]

Tim, that's great. I've not used the D2D conversion but no, you don't have to have your name and title on each page. I actually find those things distracting when I read so I only keep page numbers at the bottom. My goal is for the pages to disappear when people read.

[TimothyEllis]

I managed to get into a rhythm of sorts today.

Not exactly motoring, but motoring on a bumpy dirt road.

Until that is I found a bridge out, and fell in.

It seems that with the new series mechanism, all my books from book 8 onwards in my first series got renumbered. I was never able to get this done in the old system, but it happened when I did it in the new one, and I didn't notice all the covers and front matter are wrong now. Bit of a dog's breakfast in fact.

So before I can go to paperback 9, I'm going to have to do surgery on the rest of the covers, and update the front and backmatter in the books.

Oh well, it needed doing sometime.

On the bright side, I've got 8 proofs on their way now. 

[Vijaya]

  You're on a roll Tim. 

[TimothyEllis]

Marathon 4 day effort completed.

47 paperbacks completed. Waiting now for the proofs, and hoping I didn't stuff up something really basic.

First box should be arriving friday.

Thanks for all the help. In this thread and all my previous ones.

[TimothyEllis]

I couldn't stop.

I went on today and did the other 9 non-fiction books I wrote. (One was a bundle of 5 others).

I worked a full on normal week, and I'm exhausted!

Not long now, and for the first time since I started writing in 2006, I'll have all my own books on my bookshelves. 

[Vijaya]

Not long now, and for the first time since I started writing in 2006, I'll have all my own books on my bookshelves. 

It'll be impressive. You've have to take a picture and post it here. Some of my books are e-editions only and I miss having them on my shelf.

[TimothyEllis]

It'll be impressive. You've have to take a picture and post it here. Some of my books are e-editions only and I miss having them on my shelf.

I definitely will.

None of my fans know I'm doing them yet, but I wanted to make sure the proofs are good, before announcing it. Pics will be a good announcement method.

[TimothyEllis]

First 8 arrived today, much to my surprise. 

So, any comments on them?

It looks like the spines are all slightly left of center, which is most obvious on book 8, but it looks like centering wasn't the right thing to do. They need to go to the hard right of where the line is, not centered inside the lines. Is this normal for amazon books?

The other question is, with the exception of 8, which needs changing, do the rest need the spine adjusted? Or not? Or is it a case of no-one will care, or everyone will care?

Anything else wrong you can spot?

[Vijaya]

They look great! I wouldn't worry about the absolute centering on the spine. Maybe add a couple of blank pages to the end to rectify if it bothers you. But no need.
You need a minimum of 100 pages for a spine so your Christmas mightn't be fat enough.

[TimothyEllis]

They look great! I wouldn't worry about the absolute centering on the spine. Maybe add a couple of blank pages to the end to rectify if it bothers you. But no need.
You need a minimum of 100 pages for a spine so your Christmas mightn't be fat enough.

It's not. Only 52 pages. I centered the spine image as best I could, but it seems it needs to adjoin the box for the front image. I'm going to fix that and get another proof if I can.

I've got 2 others with 64 pages. With luck, that will be enough that the 'not-spine' will be centered better.

[TimothyEllis]

Next question.

I'm working on a new companion book which is mainly colour images. And realized that Amazon does do colour, and I've already got a book which would be much better in colour.

The problem is, how do you get a colour interior?

D2D doesn't appear to have a colour option, and that's where I'm generating the pdf interior from.

Is there an alternative to D2D which does the same thing, only in colour?

[Vijaya]

Amazon does do color printing, but it's more expensive and it's only available for certain sizes.
https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834180

[TimothyEllis]

Amazon does do color printing, but it's more expensive and it's only available for certain sizes.
https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834180

I found that, but how do you get a colour pdf to upload to them?

As far as I can see, D2D only does black and white. And Kindle Create is just bad.

[Eric Thomson]

Amazon does do color printing, but it's more expensive and it's only available for certain sizes.
https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834180

I found that, but how do you get a colour pdf to upload to them?

As far as I can see, D2D only does black and white. And Kindle Create is just bad.

I've created colour pdfs via MS Word.

[TimothyEllis]

I've created colour pdfs via MS Word.

Is there a short cut for print ready pdfs?

I don't know word enough to convert it to do the page on each side thing, or the print to a trim size thing.

Last time I looked at that, it was way too complicated. So unless there's a one press button to do it? Using Word 2013.

ETA: I guess that goes back to my initial request.

Is there a set of instructions?

[Eric Thomson]

I've created colour pdfs via MS Word.

Is there a short cut for print ready pdfs?

I don't know word enough to convert it to do the page on each side thing, or the print to a trim size thing.

Last time I looked at that, it was way too complicated. So unless there's a one press button to do it? Using Word 2013.

ETA: I guess that goes back to my initial request.

Is there a set of instructions?

Sorry. Don't know of any short cuts or instructions. I had to teach myself how to prepare print-ready interiors in MS Word. I've attached a copy of a pre-formatted 6x9 doc to this post. Maybe it'll help

[TimothyEllis]

Odd. That attachment isn't being recognized as a file, and when you click on it, it crashes the board.

Right click on it, and there is no save file option, only save link.

[Eric Thomson]

Hmm. Not a clue what the issue might be. Should I email you a copy?

[TimothyEllis]

Hmm. Not a clue what the issue might be. Should I email you a copy?

Please.

[Eric Thomson]

Check your PM

[TimothyEllis]

Check your PM

Got it this time.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

Bookmarking this as I will be attempting a paperback shortly. Have only previously used CreateSpace.

[Eric Thomson]

Bookmarking this as I will be attempting a paperback shortly. Have only previously used CreateSpace.

If you'd like the template I shared with Tim, let me know.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

Bookmarking this as I will be attempting a paperback shortly. Have only previously used CreateSpace.

If you'd like the template I shared with Tim, let me know.

Thanks so much.  I will come back to you when I am ready for the print version. I'm busy organising illustrations, which adds another dimension of potential problems. 

[LilyBLily]

Re the spines, Amazon insists it has the right to a certain amount of variance. The result is not the precision the big trad pubs get from the same printers, you can be sure. However, you were smart not to have a hard break in art or color between front and spine or back and spine. Most people will not notice the words on the spine are off center. These days I tell my cover designers to make sure the art (or at least the background color) bleeds from front to spine to back. That helps.

If the variance is so bad that the spine copy is wrapping around to front or back, you should take a photo and email Amazon support and get it reprinted at their expense. Many times, I've had to tell Amazon about manufacturing errors. Their printers are lazy and sloppy because these are short runs. On a long run, a printer knows that the files must be in perfect register or they'll have to eat hundreds if not thousands of unacceptable copies. So they're more careful with those orders.   

[TimothyEllis]

The rest turned up today.

Looks like Amazon Australia only prints on demand on sundays, and they arrive on tuesday.

Only 1 goof. Somehow managed to put the wrong cover on 1 book. 

Still, no problems with the rest, so now I start pricing and releasing.

The 2 games ones are David and Goliath. 

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

Hope you get lots of sales after all the hard work 

[Vijaya]

Wow! Look at them, all lined up! Beautiful!

[Wonder]

They look fantastic! Well done. There's something magical about a row of print books.

[alhawke]

You didn't just publish a paperback, you published a library. Looks awesome! 

[TimothyEllis]

Hope you get lots of sales after all the hard work 

I might if Amazon ever completes listing them. The first 7 should be available now. Its been over 4 days now since I pushed the button on them. But while paperback is listed, there is still no price or buy button. I guess 72 hours really means 72 business hours.

I'm not expecting anything major. But I've no idea how much money I've been leaving on the table by not having them in the past.

Next thing is to consider putting them out on D2D as well, to get them wide. But I'll wait and see if any sell at all first.

ETA: Interesting: The first ones are available in Australia already, but not the US which I specified as the primary market. And they seem to have broken the link between US and AUS store on book 3.

[TimothyEllis]

Just got this from KDP, which makes no sense at all.

We checked your files and found issues you need to fix before your book can be published on KDP:
Cover

    Remove spine text from your cover file. To have spine text, books need at least 79 pages.

How can you not have something along whatever spine there is telling you what the book is?

That makes no sense at all. Especially as what I have there works just fine.

Looks like I'm getting 3 more of these.

[TimothyEllis]

How come no-one's mentioned the cover nazis before?

Now they've rejected a cover which got to 132 in the paid store.

 

[TimothyEllis]

So fixed the covers.

One they rejected because the author name was a tiny bit indistinct, but I managed to use Photoshop to change it just enough to bring the name out of the background without changing the look at all.

Most of the rest it was a matter of removing the spine text. In one case it was about shrinking the spine text slightly.

Still no movement on my first 7 books. All still have a paperback box, but no price. They did say 3 days to look at it, so hopefully that's in the next 24 hours.

Next question:

Having done them all for Amazon and so far have crickets, should I also put them wide through D2D, even though this means a second set of ISBNs?

Is it actually worth the effort to have paperbacks wide, when all the books are in KU?

[alhawke]

Next question:

Having done them all for Amazon and so far have crickets, should I also put them wide through D2D, even though this means a second set of ISBNs?

Is it actually worth the effort to have paperbacks wide, when all the books are in KU?

A paperback ISBN is a paperback ISBN. You can use the same ISBN wide as you do for Amazon.

You are supposed to have a different ISBN corresponding to the paperback from your ebook. You did that, right?

As far as D2D wide, I'd definitely do it if I was in your shoes. This is a missed opportunity otherwise as it's a large market out there. You're restricted with KU for your ebook but not the paperbacks. That being said, consider in your decision that most Indie paperbacks sold are sold through the Zon. But this is kind of like ebook KU vs wide. It's like 20% wide sales, 20% through the Amazon store for me and most authors (so I've heard). That 20% you'd be completely missing out if you only do Amazon. The majority of sales wide for me, I suspect gathered from ranking (though not confirmed as Ingram doesn't note source) is Barnes and Noble.

[TimothyEllis]

A paperback ISBN is a paperback ISBN. You can use the same ISBN wide as you do for Amazon.

You are supposed to have a different ISBN corresponding to the paperback from your ebook. You did that, right?

Both are Amazon ones. For the Paperbacks, Amazon posted a message they couldn't be used anywhere else.

The eBooks never had one.

As far as D2D wide, I'd definitely do it if I was in your shoes. This is a missed opportunity otherwise as it's a large market out there. You're restricted with KU for your ebook but not the paperbacks. That being said, consider in your decision that most Indie paperbacks sold are sold through the Zon. But this is kind of like ebook KU vs wide. It's like 20% wide sales, 20% through the Amazon store for me and most authors (so I've heard). That 20% you'd be completely missing out if you only do Amazon. The majority of sales wide for me, I suspect gathered from ranking (though not confirmed as Ingram doesn't note source) is Barnes and Noble.

I was thinking along those lines.

It would just mean 2 sets of books out there with separate ISBNs, since D2D also do a free one of theirs.

I'm not sure that matters, does it?

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

A paperback ISBN is a paperback ISBN. You can use the same ISBN wide as you do for Amazon.

You are supposed to have a different ISBN corresponding to the paperback from your ebook. You did that, right?

Both are Amazon ones. For the Paperbacks, Amazon posted a message they couldn't be used anywhere else.

The eBooks never had one.

As far as D2D wide, I'd definitely do it if I was in your shoes. This is a missed opportunity otherwise as it's a large market out there. You're restricted with KU for your ebook but not the paperbacks. That being said, consider in your decision that most Indie paperbacks sold are sold through the Zon. But this is kind of like ebook KU vs wide. It's like 20% wide sales, 20% through the Amazon store for me and most authors (so I've heard). That 20% you'd be completely missing out if you only do Amazon. The majority of sales wide for me, I suspect gathered from ranking (though not confirmed as Ingram doesn't note source) is Barnes and Noble.

I was thinking along those lines.

It would just mean 2 sets of books out there with separate ISBNs, since D2D also do a free one of theirs.

I'm not sure that matters, does it?
[/quote

Bookshops order by the ISBN. I think you might have a problem if you use different ones.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

A paperback ISBN is a paperback ISBN. You can use the same ISBN wide as you do for Amazon.

You are supposed to have a different ISBN corresponding to the paperback from your ebook. You did that, right?

Both are Amazon ones. For the Paperbacks, Amazon posted a message they couldn't be used anywhere else.

The eBooks never had one.

As far as D2D wide, I'd definitely do it if I was in your shoes. This is a missed opportunity otherwise as it's a large market out there. You're restricted with KU for your ebook but not the paperbacks. That being said, consider in your decision that most Indie paperbacks sold are sold through the Zon. But this is kind of like ebook KU vs wide. It's like 20% wide sales, 20% through the Amazon store for me and most authors (so I've heard). That 20% you'd be completely missing out if you only do Amazon. The majority of sales wide for me, I suspect gathered from ranking (though not confirmed as Ingram doesn't note source) is Barnes and Noble.

I was thinking along those lines.

It would just mean 2 sets of books out there with separate ISBNs, since D2D also do a free one of theirs.

I'm not sure that matters, does it?

Bookshops order using the ISBN. You might run into a problem if you use different ones.

[TimothyEllis]

Bookshops order using the ISBN. You might run into a problem if you use different ones.

Bookshops are extended distribution aren't they?

Not doing extended on Amazon. Wasn't thinking of doing that on D2D either.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

Bookshops order using the ISBN. You might run into a problem if you use different ones.

Bookshops are extended distribution aren't they?

Not doing extended on Amazon. Wasn't thinking of doing that on D2D either.

I'm just thinking about a customer going into a bookshop wanting to order your book 

[TimothyEllis]

Bookshops order using the ISBN. You might run into a problem if you use different ones.

Bookshops are extended distribution aren't they?

Not doing extended on Amazon. Wasn't thinking of doing that on D2D either.

I'm just thinking about a customer going into a bookshop wanting to order your book 

Honestly, how cool would that be?

But no. I'm a total unknown outside of KU and my own mailing list. And some limited author circles.

As much as that would be cool, I seriously doubt it happens.

[Jan Hurst-Nicholson]

Bookshops order using the ISBN. You might run into a problem if you use different ones.

Bookshops are extended distribution aren't they?

Not doing extended on Amazon. Wasn't thinking of doing that on D2D either.

I'm just thinking about a customer going into a bookshop wanting to order your book 

Honestly, how cool would that be?

But no. I'm a total unknown outside of KU and my own mailing list. And some limited author circles.

As much as that would be cool, I seriously doubt it happens.

But you never know ... 

[TimothyEllis]

But you never know ... 

True.

But I've also heard all the problems people had with discounting extended distribution and ending up with no royalty at all.

Not sure if D2D is any better with this, but will look at it if I do start doing them there.

[Eric Thomson]

Bookshops order using the ISBN. You might run into a problem if you use different ones.

Bookshops are extended distribution aren't they?

Not doing extended on Amazon. Wasn't thinking of doing that on D2D either.

I'm just thinking about a customer going into a bookshop wanting to order your book 

Honestly, how cool would that be?

But no. I'm a total unknown outside of KU and my own mailing list. And some limited author circles.

As much as that would be cool, I seriously doubt it happens.

There's a bookstore in Brisbane, of all places, which has actually ordered my paperbacks and displayed them - they tweeted out a picture. Lord knows why since I'm not a well known author either. But here's the catch... Bookstores order from IngramSpark, which is where I have my paperbacks for extended distribution and hardcovers.

[TimothyEllis]

Bookstores order from IngramSpark, which is where I have my paperbacks for extended distribution and hardcovers.

Ingram Spark demands an ABN from Australians.

I refuse to get one, since that automatically changes me from an artist to a business for tax purposes.

So IS is out for me.

[LilyBLily]

Bookstores order from IngramSpark, which is where I have my paperbacks for extended distribution and hardcovers.

Ingram Spark demands an ABN from Australians.

I refuse to get one, since that automatically changes me from an artist to a business for tax purposes.

So IS is out for me.

That's fascinating. In the U.S., there is no distinction between an artist and a sole proprietorship (unincorporated) business for tax purposes; income is income and the distinction made here is whether this is a hobby (not for profit), or a business (for profit). If it's a hobby, you can't take a loss although you can zero out with expenses. If it's a business, you can take a loss (against other income). This is significant because most small personal businesses lose money and fail, so people are taking losses against their other taxable income such as a salary or a pension. That's why small businesses have a high audit rate because their losses are an easy way to lower taxes. 

Check with D2D regarding an ISBN for a paperback. It's my understanding that you can use the Amazon paper ISBN for other print but Amazon is listed as the publisher. That is toxic if you hope for physical bookstore sales. You are correct that Amazon extended distribution is a total ripoff in terms of the tiny little royalty you get, so you definitely don't want to choose that.

[alhawke]

I'm a bit confused, Tim. Did you get your own ISBN through Amazon? If that's the case, they technically own the ISBN and you can't use it anywhere else. Your recourse is to take it down and republish it with your own ISBN. I'm getting a nervous sense of legalize though when I tell you this and that makes my advice a bit wary. Researching ISBNs can give you a really big headache--or boredom. For instance, there are legal differences in ISBN in other countries. In the US, you have to buy them if you use them. Not so in Canada and, I'd think, in your home in Australia.

Could you use a different ISBN? Why not? The problem is some book stores will search your books by ISBN and if they come across the one with less sales, or an old summary, or some confusion on book ID, whatever ... it could be an issue. It's a fairly small issue though, I'd think. You use a separate ISBN for ebooks anyway. D2D might provide an optional ISBN for paperbacks, but I'm not sure. I know they offer this for ebooks.

Let me tell you what I do, if it'd help: I use Ingram for paperbacks wide. I have ONE ISBN for Ingram and Amazon. I bought the ISBNs through Bowker. I have my own distinct ISBN under my own publisher not affiliated with Amazon.

Should you use D2D? Are you committed? I use D2D for Apple ebook distribution. I haven't fully researched them for paperbacks. As far as wide distribution and Ingram, I've admittedly had problems with Ingram but they have their fingers in the most stores worldwide. They have a monopoly on paperbacks, essentially. They are the Amazon of paperbacks. My blood pressure has suffered using Ingram but then it's suffered through Amazon too.

The main thorn for me with publishing paperbacks wide paperbacks is formatting a different cover. Other than that, I use the same pdf file in both Ingram and Amazon. Hopefully all this helps.

[TimothyEllis]

I'm a bit confused, Tim. Did you get your own ISBN through Amazon? If that's the case, they technically own the ISBN and you can't use it anywhere else.

That's what they said.

The main reason I did it through Amazon was because the books were automatically linked to the eBooks. No hassles getting them linked.

D2D also have a free ISBN, and as long as I don't tick the Amazon box, I should be fine.

Given how much of my readership is KU, the wide paperbacks will probably do better. But I'm guessing.

[alhawke]

D2D also have a free ISBN, and as long as I don't tick the Amazon box, I should be fine.

Given how much of my readership is KU, the wide paperbacks will probably do better. But I'm guessing.

D2D's pretty new on the paperback scene. Let us know if it's a painless process and you get success (yeah, and with your KU fans and the # of books, I think you will  ). Good luck!

[TimothyEllis]

So D2D is now out.

They don't allow you to select where your Paperback goes, and since mine are already on Amazon, that would put them on there twice.

Also, they pay significantly less. I upped the price by $3 on my first book, and it still paid less than the lower price on Amazon.

Disappointing.

D2D - strike.
IS - strike.

Where else is there to do paperbacks wide from?

[Eric Thomson]

There's Lulu, although I have no idea what their terms are.

[alhawke]

You could look into Barnes and Noble direct too. It'd only be the sales in the US, ?I think, but they make up a large slice of the pie for paperback sales other than Amazon.

[TimothyEllis]

You could look into Barnes and Noble direct too. It'd only be the sales in the US, ?I think, but they make up a large slice of the pie for paperback sales other than Amazon.

I had a quick look at them, and predictably, they don't do the size I did on Amazon. Which would mean redoing everything. *sigh*

[alhawke]

I've hired three cover artists so far. Two of them have had to give me two different covers: one for Ingram and one for Amazon. One somehow gave me a universal cover file--I don't know how. I think you'll find that the majority of the time your cover's going to have to be a different file to fit their specifications. 

If you want to try the easy route, just click the expanded distribution with Amazon. It's not ideal as most books stores are snooty about selling a paperback from Amazon, but it'll get you in some wide markets.

[RPatton]

I've hired three cover artists so far. Two of them have had to give me two different covers: one for Ingram and one for Amazon. One somehow gave me a universal cover file--I don't know how. I think you'll find that the majority of the time your cover's going to have to be a different file to fit their specifications. 

If you want to try the easy route, just click the expanded distribution with Amazon. It's not ideal as most books stores are snooty about selling a paperback from Amazon, but it'll get you in some wide markets.

An Ingram cover will usually work everywhere. It has to do with the template size. Ingram is exact and I think Amazon's template (not Bookow - Bookow creates an exact template) allows for a 10 page range.

I've found that I can use a cover created from a Bookow template everywhere without any problems (normally, there's always the one off and it's usually due to live space being slightly off).

[alhawke]

An Ingram cover will usually work everywhere. It has to do with the template size. Ingram is exact and I think Amazon's template (not Bookow - Bookow creates an exact template) allows for a 10 page range.

Hmm. Interesting. It's always a pain to need two files. I really don't know the whole process as I don't create my own covers. A lot of cover artists out there charge a small fee for separate vendors too.

[Eric Thomson]

I do all my own covers in Photoshop. For paperback, I do the IS first, then download an Amazon template, copy everything over from the IS template save for the template itself, and then it's 90 seconds of adjustments (slight enlargement of the background image and slight placement changes for the text and such) and done. For each book I always have 4 Photoshop files - one for the hardcover jacket, one for the IS paperback, one for the Amazon paperback and one for the ebook. I also have four interior files - one for the hardcover and one for the paperback because of different ISBNs - one for the Amazon ebook and one for the non-Amazon ebook. It's part of my publishing process. Right now, I'm waiting for my proofreader to finish my latest, but the covers are all done and ready, and once I mark up the master interior file - the hardcover version - it gets copied three times and adjusted for ISBNs and links at the back, which takes about fifteen minutes.

[TimothyEllis]

Next question, thinking about B&N.

I have 5 series now complete. At times I go back to the idea of turning them into a single series. Numbered in the order they should be read, which is close to the order written.

Is this a good strategy for B&N?

I did have the first and second series on there as eBooks for about 6 months when I was wide in 2017. But they will have been long forgotten now.

The universe is now 45 books long, including the 2 novellas, and the 4 story prequel half novel.

The idea is then, to number them 1 to 45 on the spines. Probably overlay the covers with a thin banner for the universe name, covering over the existing series name and number. I guess also changing the front matter to the same, but leaving a reference to having been previously published as the series name and number.

But will this work on B&N?

Or is the 5 series a better idea?

The thing is, wide I'm a total unknown, and the first 2 series never did very well anyway, so are long forgotten.

And this is paperbacks only.

Comments? Advice?

[alhawke]

As a reader I'd be less likely to buy your paperbacks if they were all one large series. If you keep them split up in five series, readers can pick and choose the first books and not feel like they'll get lost without reading the prior ones. Many of us can't comment with experience regarding your large volume of books.

B&N versus Amazon shouldn't matter much. If you sell through B&N, you're still selling online anyway. The only way to get on B&N bookstore shelves is by selling over 1000 books. So what works for Amazon should work for B&N.

Again, most choose Ingram because they distribute to small bookstores. I'm not sure the range of sellers of B&N outside their own store (though most paperbacks I sell outside of Amazon are B&N).

[RPatton]

As a reader I'd be less likely to buy your paperbacks if they were all one large series. If you keep them split up in five series, readers can pick and choose the first books and not feel like they'll get lost without reading the prior ones. Many of us can't comment with experience regarding your large volume of books.

B&N versus Amazon shouldn't matter much. If you sell through B&N, you're still selling online anyway. The only way to get on B&N bookstore shelves is by selling over 1000 books. So what works for Amazon should work for B&N.

Again, most choose Ingram because they distribute to small bookstores. I'm not sure the range of sellers of B&N outside their own store (though most paperbacks I sell outside of Amazon are B&N).

I think the chances of getting into BN as an indie through Ingram is better than getting in through BN press. With BN, you have to sell a number of copies before they'll even consider looking at a book. With Ingram, you might be able to convince the community relations manager to grab a few copies to sign and stick on a "local author" table.

As for putting all the books out in one series, I agree with @Allhawke, keep them in their original series. There's a reason a lot of wide authors stick with the three books per series. The smaller chunks are easier to justify buying and give you multiple entry points. Even if all the series take place in the same universe and have multiple cross-overs and could be considered one giant series, the smaller chunks tend to perform better.

[cecilia_writer]

There's Lulu, although I have no idea what their terms are.

I'm not sure if this was just me, but the last time I tried to get a printed book from Lulu it wouldn't go through their approval process. i''ve used them in the past for odds and ends and they tended to give a better result than e.g. CreateSpace, but their setup process has changed, they don't have as many size options as before and the whole thing just seems quite clunky.