How to actually upload and publish on Amazon.

You did it! You created a book! You are ready to release it to the world!

Amazon has its own publishing platform called kdp. This is where you publish your POD books. (Print on demand) This is the cheaper and easiest way to publish. There are other options, such as printing your own and renting warehouse space, but I sadly have not done it yet myself. So I have no knowledge to share on that… but back to working with kdp.

Just a final checklist to make sure you are ready.

You will need the following:

***pdf cover file of your book. (With or without a barcode)

*** pdf manuscript of your book. (I export mine from word)

***an amazon user name and password

*** a “blurb” for your book (This is what buyers will read and decide they have to have your masterpiece!) Please click here for help to create one.

If you have all this info, it is time!

So please click here to sign into kdp. Here you will use your Amazon login info. If you do not have one, you will need to create one. Below is the screen that you will see to login. Click on “sign in.”

This brings you to the next screen that you will always see when signing in. Your bookshelf will always be where you find your books.

It is an easy platform to use honestly. So which version are you looking to create? If you are publishing anything under 75 pages you will not be able to use the hardcover version. (I use lakesidecreates.com to print my hardcovers. I also use Ingram Spark, but that info is another blog.)

I suggest creating a kindle book for any book you publish. It gives readers another chance to try your story to see if they like it, and they are easy to create using Kindle Kids book creator.

I am assuming you are going to publish a paperback today, so please click on that.

This brings you to a new screen which is pretty self-explanatory. Please keep in mind once you publish you CANNOT change your name or the language of the book. So please review everything for spelling errors before moving on.

Use the pulldown menu to choose the language of your book.

Fill in your name, title of book, etc.

Use the subtitle option for your book… this is important as it helps people understand what your book is about. Try to be clever with your subtitle. But make sure to put one in.

Description is where your blurb will go, you can simply copy and paste it into here.

If you want to do it correctly with code, please refer to this blog for help.

After blurb, or description, is publishing rights where you will put that you own the rights to your book, which I am assuming you do.

Then onto keywords. Here is where you have to put relevant keywords for your book to help your readers find your book.

For example, my book is about tractors. You can put multiple keywords in one box. So a line for mine would be ” books about tractors, red tractor books, farming books. But do not put a comma! The comma can trip up amazon bots, so even though it seems incorrect, leave the commas out. Make sure to fill them all in! If you can’t think of them all right now, you can go back!

Next section is the category one. Here you would pick THREE categories for your book. For my Old Red book, I would select Juvenile fiction, and then juvenile fiction- transportation books. I also sometimes do the Farm life category as well. These can change, so I suggest checking them once in a while to see if they are still relevant. Make sure to take some time and pick the categories that associate with your book.

Next question is does your book contain adult content. Only you can answer this, if it does you certainly should put yes.

Next hit “save and continue” which then brings you to your ISBN. You can get a free one from KDP. But then you cannot distribute that book other places. My suggestion is to buy a bunch of ISBN’S from Bowker. So you own your content. I will use a free ISBN when I publish a book in a different language. But other than that I purchase through Bowker.

Next section is publication date, which I let them pick for me, or if it is to a loved ones birthday, I may wait a day to publish on their date. Just a little personal preference.

Next option are paper options, which varies for if you are printing a novel, or a childrens book. If a childrens book I usually always pick “Premium color interior with white paper.”

Then you choose your trim size, which you should have known while creating your manuscript.

This is where your PDF version comes in handy. You next select “Bleed.” It may seem like a simple choice but if you do not select this option your manuscript will not preview correctly.

Then select whether you want a Matte cover or glossy. Both are very nice honestly. I think this is a matter of preference.

Next you upload your manuscript, and cover. Once both are loaded, hit “Print Previewer.”

Now this is where you need to pay attention. Maybe even make a checklist or notes of what needs to be fixed.

How does your cover look?

Are your important elements within the shaded area?

Is you pagination correct? Meaning are your spreads together? Are the pages in correct order? When I first started I had many books printed that were incorrect pages. You will easily see this in the preview.

If things look correct and you are still having issues, I suggest going back to make sure you selected “Bleed” in the trim size area. This will really make things a mess if you have not selected it.

Can I tell you a secret? I actually have a book set up as “Check” in kdp that I use to check my book as I am working on it. To see what is working and what is not.

But back to publishing… if your print preview looks wonderful, then “save and continue.”

The next question is about what territories you hold distribution rights. If you are wondering the KDP site gives this explanation about rights “If your book is your original content and you’ve never published it before, you most likely have worldwide rights.” So if this is a true statement for your book, then hit world wide rights.

Next option is for where you want your book to be published primarily. I am going to assume you want “.com” for USA.

You are almost there… I know this is all new and stressful but the end is near!

It is time to price your book!

Now we all want to live off of our royalties and make lots of money! But the truth is if you over price your book not many people are going to purchase it.

I suggest you do some research and price your book competitively, so it sells! Do a search on amazon for similar subject matter books and look at the prices of those books and how many pages. And I will say it again, please price it competitively. Or you may be very disappointed.

Once you populate the sale price, amazon will automatically fill in the other countries sale price. Phew!

If you look to the right, on the top you will see a box under the words “expanded distribution.” This is amazon asking you if you want them to distribute your book to other sellers. Like Barnes & Noble, walmart, etc. I suggest clicking on the box. Why not?

Lastly there is a question whether you want a proof… here is where I am a bit torn. If I was a newbie like you, I would definitely want one. But I have published enough that now I publish then just order a book so I can have one. Becuase I am used to publishing and have caught most of my mistakes through the preview. AND I know now it takes a while to get sales and by the time I get my book, I may only have one or two sales. So I feel comfortable publishing then waiting. So I guess it is a matter of preference.

At this point, I would recommend hitting “save as draft.” Don’t stress…. I just want you to go back and go through everything one more time. To check for spelling errors, etc.

After this last check if you are happy then hit that button…”PUBLISH YOUR PAPERBACK BOOK!”

Congratulations!! You did it!

I am truly happy for you and proud of you! Now the next step is to advertise… to be seen on Amazon you HAVE TO ADVERTISE! Unless you have a celebrity friend that will make a social media post about your new book! Then lucky you! If you are like the rest of us, learn to advertise!

More blogs to help you self-publish!

1-Do you need help beginning to self publish? Click here!

2-A publisher has contacted you? Are they a Vanity publisher? Click here to learn more!

3-Ready to start your files? Here is a blog that will help you set them up! Click here!

4-Need tips for finding an illustrator for your book? Click here!

5-What is a blurb? Click here for help creating one!

6-Feeling overwhelmed? This post will help you start your book… Click here

7-Your book is done! Do you need an author page? Yes you do! Click here to see the reasons why.

7a- How to upload your book to KDP… the actual platform that you publish from! Click here to visit!

8- How do I get printed copies of my book? Click here to find out!

9- If you have published on amazon you need to advertise! Click here for tips!

10- Want to submit your book to a literary agent? Click here for info!

Need an illustrator? I have illustrated many books of my own and other authors. Please visit my website by clicking here, to contact me or see examples of my work.

If I have helped you and you feel inclined to purchase a book of mine, please click here to visit amazon. Thank you!

I am also available for hire to help you publish! If interested, please contact me at artistmarnie@yahoo.com.