Publish Your Book

All free to use, revenue-sharing models. Publish directly and keep control of your accounts.

Amazon KDP — The biggest platform. Most readers will find you here. Create your own account with your own email and credentials. Do not let anyone else create it for you.

Barnes & Noble Press — The second-largest US retailer. Easy to use, free to publish, and important for readers who prefer shopping anywhere other than Amazon.

Apple Books — Essential for reaching iPhone and iPad readers. Large international reach.

Kobo Writing Life — Strong in Canada, Europe, and Australia. Especially valuable if your story has international appeal.

Google Play Books — Reaches Android users and international markets.

StreetLib — A distributor that can get your book onto multiple platforms at once, including smaller international ones.

Protect Yourself

Get Your Own ISBN

An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is the unique identifier that tells every bookstore and library in the world that your book exists.

But here’s the critical part: whoever’s name is on the ISBN is the publisher of record. Permanently. It cannot be transferred. Get your own. Register it yourself.

• You need a unique ISBN for every format combination of your book. For example: ebook, paperback, hardcover, audio book, etc.
• ISBNs never expire!

Bowker (myidentifiers.com) — This is the official US ISBN agency. A single ISBN is $125. A block of 10 is $295 — worth it if you have more than one book.

Register Your Copyright

Your copyright exists the moment you write something. But registration matters for one critical reason: if someone infringes your work, you can only sue for statutory damages and attorney’s fees if the work was registered before the infringement occurred.

Without registration you can still sue — but only for actual damages, which are much harder to prove and rarely worth pursuing.

Copyright.gov — The official U.S. Copyright Office — register your copyright here.

Format & Distribute

Vellum — The gold standard for formatting beautiful ebooks and print books on a Mac. Not cheap, but worth it for the professional results.

BookFunnel — Delivers ebooks directly to readers. Essential for ARCs, reader magnets, and promotions. Used by thousands of indie authors.

Lulu — Print-on-demand for physical books. Good for getting printed copies without large upfront costs.

Vanity Publisher Red Flags

Not every company that offers to “help you publish” has your interests at heart.

Warning Signs

• They create publishing accounts “on your behalf” using their own credentials instead of yours
• Royalties flow through them rather than directly to you
• They purchased your ISBN (meaning it may be registered in their name)
• You’re asked to pay significant upfront fees before your book is published
• It becomes difficult to get access to your own files

Questions to Ask Before Signing

• Will I always have access to my manuscript files, at any time, for any reason?
• Will my Amazon KDP and Barnes & Noble accounts be in my name, with my login credentials?
• Will royalties be paid directly to my bank account?
• Who will the ISBN be registered to?

If the answers make you uncomfortable, trust that feeling.

Resources Mentioned in Podcast Episodes

Reedsy — Mentioned in Episode 2. A marketplace connecting authors with vetted freelance publishing professionals — editors, cover designers, formatters, and more. Every professional on Reedsy has been reviewed, so you’re not just hoping you found someone good. Great starting point if you need help getting your manuscript ready.

Novella Publishers — Mentioned in Episode 2. An assisted self-publishing company, also called a Vanity Press hybrid.

Have a resource you think should be on this list? Email me at yo***************@***il.com.