Publish book research

[lukefretwell]

• KDP info: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200634390
• Specs: https://www.ingramspark.com/plan-your-book/print/trim-sizes

To-do

• Set up call with Andrew/Carlos
• Find designer to clean up cover, format for epub submission?
• Get ISBN
• Set up PS Amazon account (link)

[rebeccawoodbury]

Check out: https://once.com/writebook

[lukefretwell]

@rebeccawoodbury I don't think we need an ISBN. The only item to note:

Some self-publishing platforms offer free ISBNs, but they're listed as the publisher

Claude:

Whether you need an ISBN depends on what you're planning to do with your book:

**You typically need an ISBN if you want to:**
- Sell through bookstores (physical or online like Amazon, Barnes & Noble)
- Distribute through libraries
- List your book in industry databases
- Have retailers easily track and order your book
- Appear in book searches and catalogs

**You don't necessarily need an ISBN if you're:**
- Self-publishing exclusively on certain platforms (some assign their own identifiers)
- Only distributing digitally through specific channels
- Printing just for personal use or small-scale distribution
- Giving away your book for free

**Key points:**
- ISBNs cost money (around $125 for one, less per book if you buy in bulk)
- Each format needs its own ISBN (hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook)
- Some self-publishing platforms offer free ISBNs, but they're listed as the publisher
- If you want to be listed as the publisher, you need to buy your own

What type of publishing or distribution are you considering? That would help determine if an ISBN is necessary for your specific situation.

[lukefretwell]

Looks like we'll need an ISBN to publish a print version.

• https://www.ingramspark.com/how-it-works?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ingramspark.com%2F

[lukefretwell]

@rebeccawoodbury notes on ebook publishing and ISBNs. So we probably need a third for distributing to all of the other platforms (Apple, Google, etc.):

**Yes, if you upload to IngramSpark with your own ISBN, you only need that ONE ISBN for distribution to all their partner platforms.**

Here's how it works:

**IngramSpark as distributor:**
- You upload once with your ISBN
- They distribute the same ebook file (with that same ISBN) to Apple Books, Google Play, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and their other retail partners
- Each platform receives your book with the same ISBN - this is totally fine when going through a distributor

**This is different from direct publishing:**
- If you uploaded directly to Apple AND directly to Google with the same ISBN = conflict
- But when IngramSpark distributes for you = no problem

**What you'll need:**
- One ISBN that you own
- Your ebook file
- Upload once to IngramSpark
- Set price to free ($0.00)

**Coverage with one ISBN through IngramSpark:**
- Apple Books
- Google Play Books  
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo
- Many international retailers
- Libraries and other channels

**Note:** Amazon isn't in IngramSpark's distribution network, so you'd still need to upload separately to Amazon KDP (but Amazon doesn't require an ISBN anyway).

**Bottom line:** One ISBN + IngramSpark = wide distribution to most major ebook retailers except Amazon. This is actually a very efficient approach!

[lukefretwell]

More info re: free on IngramSpark:

Based on the search results, I can see information about IngramSpark's costs and setup, but the specific question about minimum pricing or $0 pricing for ebooks isn't clearly addressed in these results. Let me give you what I can determine:

**What I found about IngramSpark ebook publishing costs:**

IngramSpark allows free account creation and there are no fees to upload and list your book for sale, but there's a $25 fee for setting up a new ebook (though first-time users can set up their initial title for free).

**However, regarding FREE ebooks (pricing at $0):**

The search results don't clearly state IngramSpark's minimum pricing requirements for ebooks. This is a crucial detail that would determine if you can actually set your ebook to free.

**My recommendation based on what we know:**

Since the search results don't confirm whether IngramSpark allows $0 pricing for ebooks, and given that you want to distribute a free ebook, I'd suggest:

**Safer alternatives for free ebooks:**
- **Draft2Digital** - Definitely allows free ebooks and distributes widely
- **Amazon KDP** - Allows free ebooks easily
- **Direct to Apple Books, Kobo** - Both support free ebooks

**If you want to try IngramSpark:** You could contact them directly to confirm their minimum pricing policy for ebooks before uploading.

The uncertainty here is whether IngramSpark's retail partners (Apple, Google, etc.) would accept a $0 priced ebook through their distribution network, even if IngramSpark technically allows it.