--- source_url: "https://writersonline.substack.com/p/aprils-self-publishing-update" title: "April's Self-Publishing Update" mirrored_at: 2026-08-18T13:02:26.251Z host: writersonline.substack.com cited_in_42a: true mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/writersonline.substack.com/p/aprils-self-publishing-update" --- > **Original source:** https://writersonline.substack.com/p/aprils-self-publishing-update Welcome to the April Self-Publishing newsletter, with the latest roundup of self-publishing news and some practical advice for independent authors. Last month’s news section explored some exciting changes to Draft2Digital’s distribution channels, so this month we’re exploring these distribution services further and how indie authors can use them to increase the availability of our books to readers. In particular, we’ll take a look at: \- How an eBook distributor helps self-published authors reach more readers, \- The pros and cons of distribution services (and when to go hybrid), \- A step-by-step guide to uploading your ebook files to Draft2Digital. Before we do that, let’s take a quick look at some publishing news. **Simon Whaley **Author and Business of Writing expert In response to the rise of generative AI, the Society of Authors has launched its [Human Authored](https://mail.writers-online.co.uk/t/c/AQjbmRQQwaTTAhjck8MNIOPVsR7gQiNCeFe4Rld7anw8zfjaEtA0kb0zfFldIKAY1Kk7WQ) campaign - a certification scheme designed to protect and promote genuine human creativity in publishing. Registered authors can display the official Human Authored logo in their books, giving readers confidence that the work was written by a human being, not generated by AI. The Society of Authors is not alone in this initiative. The [US Authors Guild](https://mail.writers-online.co.uk/t/c/AQjbmRQQwaTTAhjck8MNIOTVsR5uzZbfRK0lzN6P9r8OoSDIfwviDgp5lQOrybu386_k_w) launched a similar Human Authored scheme last year, reflecting worldwide concern among writers about the impact of generative AI on the publishing industry. The scheme is currently only open to existing members of the Society of Authors, however, it will expand in the future to include non-members and illustrative works. To qualify for the Human Authored certification, a work must originate entirely from the author’s own imagination - not from prompts submitted to a generative AI service. Importantly, authors can still use AI-assisted tools during the writing process without losing eligibility. Acceptable AI uses include: \- Spelling and grammar checkers \- Research tools \- Brainstorming aids Full details on how to register your works can be found at https://humanauthored.co.uk/ . Many readers prefer to buy their eBooks from **Apple Books**, **Kobo**, **Barnes & Noble**, or **Tolino**, or borrow eBooks from public libraries through services like **Libby** or **Hoopla**. So how can we get our books on those platforms? There are two ways to distribute your eBook beyond Amazon: > \- **Go direct**. This means creating an account for each platform—Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and so on—with its own login, password, and upload process. You’ll need to upload your eBook cover and interior file, enter all your metadata (ISBN, book description, keywords, genre categories), set your price, and then repeat that entire process for every platform. > > \- **Use a distribution service**. With a distributor, you upload your files once, enter your metadata once, set your price once—and the distributor handles it all, sending everything out to all the retail platforms it works with. One login. One upload. Done. **Pros**: > \- One login and password to manage. > > \- A single upload process. > > \- Distributors send your eBook files to retailers operating in different countries around the world. > > \- Any updates you make—cover changes, price adjustments, new metadata—are automatically distributed to all connected retailers. > > \- Many eBook distributors can also make your book available to library services. > > \- Some distributors charge no upfront fees, taking only a small percentage of each sale; others charge an annual flat fee. **Cons** > \- **Global changes only**. Any change you make, such as a price change, applies to all connected platforms. You can’t make platform-specific changes. Some authors take a mix ’n’ match approach instead. Just because a distribution service _can_ share your book with multiple retailers, doesn’t mean you have to distribute to them all (although you can!). For example, if a distributor shares files with Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and Tolino, you can tell the distributor to share your book with just Barnes and Noble and Tolino. That leaves you free to go direct with Apple Books and Kobo. Yes, that means setting up accounts with those platforms directly, but it gives you more control over pricing and marketing on those particular platforms. Authors who have enrolled in **Amazon’s KU (Kindle Unlimited)** service must be exclusive to Amazon—meaning they can’t distribute their eBook to other retailers, like Apple Books, Kobo etc. However, **in September 2025, [Amazon changed their KU terms and conditions](https://mail.writers-online.co.uk/t/c/AQjbmRQQwaTTAhjck8MNILHXsR4z3IRruTqgCFL_v2DttSiD3qh81q9oEkQi3NdQu-ckag)**, allowing KU-enrolled authors to distribute their eBook to **library services only**. This is a significant change for self-published authors. It means that even if our eBook is enrolled in KU, we can now use an eBook distributor to make our book available through public library platforms, reaching a whole new group of readers without breaking our KU exclusivity agreement. There are several distribution services indie authors can use to share their books to a variety of book retailer platforms, including: > \- **[Draft2Digital](https://mail.writers-online.co.uk/t/c/AQjbmRQQwaTTAhjck8MNILLXsR4feLgcMq4WXaqhMQCmjI9glevIDbEQhdZxuFFX0moNLw)** > > \- **[BookBaby](https://mail.writers-online.co.uk/t/c/AQjbmRQQwaTTAhjck8MNILPXsR6n1z4rXwgX3O2nGnZ0JMFVtiVgn12NI53ZM6Vgt0icyg)** > > \- **[StreetLib](https://mail.writers-online.co.uk/t/c/AQjbmRQQwaTTAhjck8MNILTXsR7quapoeD-N5TsuBQTO_otCqaYWFZKPBLnGa0_ksRLmpw)** > > \- **[Publishdrive](https://mail.writers-online.co.uk/t/c/AQjbmRQQwaTTAhjck8MNILXXsR4KWApcliKARHZmf8oBwXUGp6_Lqfw-u6B1OrpVdMQD7Q)** > > \- **[Lulu](https://mail.writers-online.co.uk/t/c/AQjbmRQQwaTTAhjck8MNILbXsR7u9FECXLwtE0RRMo2gqxsqcOQU0-AWkM68ZykiiD2QoA)** I use [Draft2Digital](https://mail.writers-online.co.uk/t/c/AQjbmRQQwaTTAhjck8MNILLXsR4feLgcMq4WXaqhMQCmjI9glevIDbEQhdZxuFFX0moNLw) to distribute my Marquess of Mortiforde cosy crime novels and Practical Writer series of books to the other book retailer platforms, including: > \- Apple Books > > \- Barnes & Noble > > \- Kobo (includes Kobo Plus) > > \- Smashwords Store > > \- Everand (formerly Scribd) > > \- Tolino > > \- Vivlio > > \- Fable > > \- Gardners > > \- Bookshop.org They also distribute to the following **library services**: > \- OverDrive (includes the Libby app) > > \- Hoopla > > \- BorrowBox > > \- cloudLibrary > > \- Baker & Taylor > > \- Palace Marketplace > > \- Bibliotheca First, go to https://draft2digital.com/ and create a free account. Click on the **Add New Book** button, then select **Start eBook**. **Step 1: Add Your eBook Details** On the first page, you need to: > \- Upload your eBook cover, > > \- Enter your title, author name, if your book is part of a series, and list the keyword search terms. > > \- Clarify if your material is suitable for minors. Next, you select your **BISAC codes** (the categories that determine your book’s genre). **Step 2: Upload Your eBook File and Add Metadata** On the next page, it’s time to upload your book’s interior file. An **ePub file** works best, but Draft2Digital will accept doc, docx, rtf, otf, and txt files too. > \- Select your **publication date**. > > \- Enter your **book description** (sales blurb). One feature unique to Draft2Digital is **split payments**. If you have co-authored a book, you can specify how royalties should be divided—and Draft2Digital will pay each author their share directly. Next, decide whether you wish to use a **free Draft2Digital ISBN**, or use one of your own. Unlike Amazon, most other eBook retailers require an ISBN for eBooks, so Draft2Digital will need an ISBN for your eBook. ([For further information about ISBNs, check out my article for Writing Magazine, here](https://mail.writers-online.co.uk/t/c/AQjbmRQQwaTTAhjck8MNIPKWsh4DNHXn9OO8IJqrP6LAQu5DtaByVBAmCuVekdjF6auDsQ).) **Step 3: eBook File Processing** This is where Draft2Digital processes your interior file. If you’ve uploaded an ePub file, this will be checked to ensure everything is okay. If you’ve uploaded a Word or other text file, this is where Draft2Digital converts it to an ePub file for distribution. You can also **download a copy of this ePub file for your own use**. In fact, some authors use Draft2Digital as a free ePub converter, and that’s fine with Draft2Digital!) **Step 4: Set Your Price and Choose Your eBook Distribution Channels** Finally, set your eBook price (US$), adjust for local currencies, and select which retailer platforms you wish to distribute to. Check the boxes for those stores where you want your book to be available. Draft2Digital can also enrol your eBook in **Kobo Plus**—Kobo’s subscription service—which is similar to Amazon’s KU service, but without the exclusivity requirements. Finally, you can choose to distribute your eBook to the **library services**. And remember: if you are enrolled in KU, you can only distribute to the library services—not the retailers. Hit **Submit**, and you’re done! One thing I appreciate about Draft2Digital is that they send you an email notification each time your eBook goes live on a new platform. Some retailers update their catalogues within hours, others take longer, but it’s always reassuring to get that confirmation. And that’s how easy it is to use an eBook distribution service! One login, one upload, and your book is available all over the world. Now all you need to do is tell your readers about it. Happy self-publishing! **Enjoyed this email?** If someone forwarded this to you, don’t miss out on future self-publishing tips, news, and insights! [Subscribe now](https://mail.writers-online.co.uk/p/token/AQjbmRQQhtoBGNyTww0g2KXtHRLytvlsC_u0ebkR3Kxgud4OeywyLfK2TeA2M_90IdpJ/optin) to get Writers Online’s Self-Publishing Newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.