I am surprised by the number of indie and self-published authors who tell me that the publisher of their book is Amazon, Kindle Direct Publishing, or IngramSpark.
It is clear to me that these authors do not understand the difference between an author, a publisher, and a publishing platform.
Authors and publishers have distinct jobs. These jobs are as follows:
Author’s job:
- Write a manuscript
- Engage in marketing to assist sales
Publisher’s job:
- Edit the manuscript
- Create a cover
- Lay out the book
- Secure a printer
- Assign an ISBN
- Access distribution for sales to retail and other channels
- Engage in marketing to ensure sales
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is neither an author or a publisher. It does not write, edit, lay out, or create a cover design for your book. What KDP offers are services.
They offer a cover design template, an ebook conversion program, printing, distribution for sales, and even advertising options. They also offer the option for you to have Amazon assign an ISBN number to your book. This still does not make them the publisher of your book. The option to secure an ISBN is just another service they provide.
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a publishing platform. Other publishing platforms include:
- Kobo Writing Life
- Barnes & Noble Press
- Draft2Digital
- Smashwords
- IngramSpark
A publishing platform is a service provider. These platforms allow an independent author—acting as a publisher—to secure printing and access distribution for a book.
If you are an author who is also producing your book—directing the editing, layout, cover design, and securing printing and distribution—then you are also the publisher of your book.
Amazon is a publisher. But it is not the publisher of your books. Amazon owns 16 publishing imprints. You can find the complete list of these imprints at https://amazonpublishing.amazon.com/our-imprints.html. Be assured, Kindle Direct Publishing is not one of Amazon’s publishing imprints.
Don’t be confused about the difference between a publisher and a publishing platform. If you are the one responsible for bringing your book to fruition, then you are the publisher.
Related Posts:
Amazon Is Not a Distributor
Are You Using Publishing Industry Standards?
Self-Publishing Keeps Growing
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Photo courtesy of mohamed_hassan.