What Does This Mean to Indie Authors?

You may have gotten an email recently saying that CreateSpace (CSP) and Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) will become one service in the coming months. They want you to move your account and books over to KDP.  In order to do this, you will need a KDP (Amazon) account. Most indie authors already have this set up to sell their eBooks and audiobooks. If you don’t have an Amazon account, click here to begin.

Don’t Worry

Your books won’t change in the way they’re sold. They will still be available on Amazon worldwide. Kindle Direct Publishing will also include the ability to purchase ads to promote paperbacks on Amazon.com. You can now use the Amazon Advertising website, advertising.amazon.com, to access your account and manage your campaigns using your KDP login.

Once in KDP, your paperbacks will still be printed in the same facilities, on the same printers, and by the same people as they were on CreateSpace. KDP now offers author copies available at printing cost. You will also be able to order proof copies in draft form after the book is reviewed with the KDP Print Reviewer.

Moving Your Account and Books

In the coming weeks, CreateSpace will begin to automatically move your books and account. You can do this yourself if you want. A link put on your dashboard will allow you to move books all at once. CreateSpace is doing this in phases, so don’t be alarmed if you don’t see this link immediately.

Will it Affect Royalties?

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During the move, your books are still active on Amazon for sale and you’ll still earn royalties. However, you will not be able to create a new book or edit an existing one until the move is complete to KDP.

Payment times will change with KDP to bimonthly rather than monthly. Check your tax information and bank information to make sure everything is up-to-date.

Should I Change my Book Cost?

Some books (if less than 100 pages) will have additional printing fees in the United Kingdom or Europe. Based on this change, you may want to update the list prices of your books.  If this affects you, you will receive a separate email from CreateSpace about it.

If you want to see how KDP will change your royalties, a simple calculator available shows the minimum to charge for your book. Testing several books, it looks like there may be only a few cents difference – in your favor! Most authors will not have to make any changes.

KDP_Paperback_Royalty_Calculator

(NOTE: Click the link to save the calculator to your computer first. We recommend saving it to your desktop so you can find it easily.  Open it and then click the yellow banner on top to “ENABLE EDITING.” It won’t be usable until you do).

Select whether your book’s interior is in black & white or in color, put down the PRINT COPY page count and current price. Click outside the box to calculate. The calculation will show you the printing cost, the minimum amount you can charge for it and your royalty amount.

TO FIND OUT MORE ON YOUR OWN:

https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GSJULX3WGP36HQ3R  -More information
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9IAmAhRwWQ&t=151s  – Video on how to move your books