KDP now does...paperbacks!

cmhbob · Dec 4, 2016

This has apparently been a limited beta program for a couple of months. There's been a thread at KBoards since late September (I really need to visit there more often).

From what I can gather, you can import CreateSpace books, but it's a one-way process; you can't reverse it later. Can't recall where I read that ATM.

Check your KDP Dashboard. You'll see a different format to your reports if you're eligible. My changed in the last week or so. Your Bookshelf page will look different as well.

Primary help page: https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=AH8RA6CMVRN8Y&ref_=kdp_BS_D_pgs

Here's a piece at The Digital Reader with several links.

We know from the KDP Support Forum discussion that the new feature is less about tying a publisher's existing POD and Kindle books into one interface than about getting KDP users to create print editions of their existing titles.
...
This has the potential of disrupting the print book market by injecting millions of new titles. If authors thought it was hard to get their book on to store shelves last year, just wait - the competition is about to multiply.

Looks like KDP will support common CS trim sizes, but not custom. Also, and most importantly for me, KDP does not yet support proof copies or author copies yet.

I won't be switching anything over until I can see a proof copy during the process. I'd really like to be able to easily set discounts as an indie the way publishing houses can, or do coupons of some kind. I cna give discounts on paperbacks through my CreateSpace store. Why can't I do that with Amazon? (Did I just derail my own post?)

At any rate. this looks interesting. Is this an early death knell for CreateSpace?

Dennis E. Taylor · Dec 4, 2016

This just seems a bit odd to me, since Amazon already owns Createspace. What're they trying to do, go into competition with themselves?

It seems more likely to me that all they're really doing is more tightly integrating the Createspace mechanism with Amazon, to make the idea of paperbacks more attractive to authors. Having done a couple of Createspace books, I have to say it isn't something you can realistically automate-- at least not completely. My guess is they'll have a limited set of submission requirements (cover, this size minimum, manuscript, done in one of these formats, select from these 3 book sizes) and maybe some squirrels to check all submissions before they go live.

Again, though, why? E-books seem like a so much more profitable market. And POD paperbacks will never compete directly with brick-and-mortars.

Hmm, maybe those rumors of Amazon setting up their own storefronts aren't so far-fetched... :e2brows:

cmhbob · Dec 4, 2016

The KBoards thread has a couple of posts that allege that Amazon is in the process of closing down CS. Supposedly people got this info in emails from Aamzon reps. I'd give it two years tops.

I didn't get the impression that they're trying to automate anything any more than CS already is.

Dennis E. Taylor · Dec 4, 2016

cmhbob said:
The KBoards thread has a couple of posts that allege that Amazon is in the process of closing down CS. Supposedly people got this info in emails from Aamzon reps. I'd give it two years tops.

I didn't get the impression that they're trying to automate anything any more than CS already is.

So really, they're folding the functionality into Amazon. Integrating it. And if they aren't using automation to replace a bunch of people, they'll still need those people. Unless they fire those people and hire inexperienced people, which would be dumb. Which doesn't rule it out, of course. :Shrug:

Old Hack · Dec 4, 2016

It makes business sense to me for Amazon to have one hub for self publishers to go to in order to publish their books, no matter what the format.

WriterBN · Dec 5, 2016

Check the KDP forums--the service is clearly not ready for prime time. Lots of bugs, and you don't get proof copies or expanded distribution (among other things).

JulianneQJohnson · Dec 5, 2016

This is how I understand it, from discussion on the Kboards, I'm not saying I have the right of it.
Amazon bought Createspace years ago with the intention of making a "better" version to replace it at KDP. KDP is being worked on and adjusted, it still doesn't do everything CS does. Some think that Amazon with use one program for publishers and the other for Indie publishers, some think CS will be fazed out. That's all I know.

ASeiple · Dec 6, 2016

General consensus on their beta from the self-publishers I know is "wait and see." No point in jumping ship over to it at this point, not until they add in more functionality.

cvolante · Dec 10, 2016

I wonder if they phase out Create Space, what exactly happens to books created there? Also - any rumors about whether they're going to start hardcovers? (Where are people going for hardcovers? So far the best place I've found seems to be the NOOK/B&N option. Anyone find other good places?)

WriterBN · Dec 10, 2016

Lulu is good for hardcovers but expensive per book. Ingram Spark is somewhat cheaper per book, but they have upfront costs.

So, either way you look at it, hardcovers are a losing proposition for most self-published authors. If you just want a few copies to give families and friends, I'd say Lulu is the best option for now.

cvolante · Dec 12, 2016

Wow, just re-checked Lulu and they have a minimum of 24 copes. Barnes and Noble's Nook will do print on demand. Also they had the size I had formatted for, so I went with them. I'll let you know how it comes out. Any other experiences?

Old Hack · Dec 12, 2016

I've used Lulu several times in the past and have had no minimum order number. I've bought single copies, sometimes two or three at a time, and have never run into problems with that. Has something changed, anyone?

cvolante · Dec 14, 2016

Did you use Lulu for hardcovers and they let you buy individual copies?

Sleeping Cat Books · Dec 15, 2016

cmhbob said:
I'd really like to be able to easily set discounts as an indie the way publishing houses can, or do coupons of some kind. I cna give discounts on paperbacks through my CreateSpace store. Why can't I do that with Amazon?

No publisher can set a retail discount at Amazon. The major publishers set a retail list price, just as indies do. Amazon (and every other retailer) is free to discount from that, or charge more, or do whatever they want with the price. The only way a publisher can offer a discount or coupon is if they sell the book directly to the customer. Now wholesale discounts, that's a different animal, and it would be nice to be able to set those through CreateSpace (IngramSpark does allow publishers to set the wholesale discount).

PinkUnicorn · Dec 17, 2016

cmhbob said:
The KBoards thread has a couple of posts that allege that Amazon is in the process of closing down CS. Supposedly people got this info in emails from Aamzon reps. I'd give it two years tops.

I didn't get the impression that they're trying to automate anything any more than CS already is.

Yes, I also received an email from Amazon asking me to convert my CS books to the new Kindle paperback. They did not say so directly, but the email seems to indicate they are fazing out CS

PinkUnicorn · Dec 17, 2016

Old Hack said:
I've used Lulu several times in the past and have had no minimum order number. I've bought single copies, sometimes two or three at a time, and have never run into problems with that. Has something changed, anyone?

cvolante said:
Wow, just re-checked Lulu and they have a minimum of 24 copes. Barnes and Noble's Nook will do print on demand. Also they had the size I had formatted for, so I went with them. I'll let you know how it comes out. Any other experiences?

cvolante said:
Did you use Lulu for hardcovers and they let you buy individual copies?

I've always done my hardcovers via Lulu. Always buy single copies, no trouble. I was one of their beta tester authors, had books published with them before the site even went live. I've bought hundreds of books from them (mine and other authors') in the past 13 years. Never had to buy minimums. Hadn't seen any changes. Because of this thread, I just went to Lulu and ordered one of my hardcovers. One single copy, ordered fine. Didn't mention anything about minimums.

So I went to the create new book section and started a new hard cover book project and first thing I saw was a message that says "Minimum 24 pages per book". Is that what you saw? It means your book has to be at least 24 pages long for them to publish it as a hardcover (32 pages for paperback).

KDP now does...paperbacks!

cmhbob

Did...did I do that?

Dennis E. Taylor

Get it off! It burns!

cmhbob

Did...did I do that?

Dennis E. Taylor

Get it off! It burns!

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

WriterBN

JulianneQJohnson

Ferret Herder

ASeiple

Livin' la vida biblia

cvolante

WriterBN

cvolante

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman

cvolante

Sleeping Cat Books

Booking design projects for fall

PinkUnicorn

Tossing Elves in bed with Unicorns

PinkUnicorn

Tossing Elves in bed with Unicorns