Publishing on BookBaby and Kindle are two different options for self-publishing a book.
BookBaby is a self-publishing platform that offers a variety of services for authors, such as editing, cover design, and formatting. They also distribute books to various retailers, including Amazon’s Kindle store. Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is Amazon’s self-publishing platform, which allows authors to upload and publish their books directly to the Kindle store. KDP also offers tools for formatting and converting files to Kindle format.
Both options allow authors to keep control of their rights and earn royalties, but KDP is more limited in terms of distribution, as it only distributes to the Kindle store and a few other Amazon-owned platforms:
- The Kindle store, which is Amazon’s e-book store, where authors can sell their books in digital format.
- Kindle Unlimited (KU), a subscription-based service that allows customers to borrow books for free (with a membership).
- Amazon Print-on-Demand (POD), which allows authors to print paperback copies of their book and fulfill orders on an as-needed basis.
- Audible, which is Amazon’s audiobook platform.
When you publish your book via KDP, you can opt-in for these platforms, and if your book is eligible, it will be made available on them, giving your book more visibility and potential readership.
BookBaby, on the other hand, distributes to a wide range of retailers and libraries, and offer more personalization in terms of the services you can purchase. Some of the major retailers and platforms that BookBaby distributes to include:
- Amazon: This includes the Kindle store, as well as physical book sales on Amazon.com
- Apple Books: This includes the iBooks store and the Apple Books app.
- Barnes & Noble: This includes the Nook store, as well as physical book sales in Barnes & Noble stores.
- Google Play: This includes the Google Play Books store, as well as Google Books.
- Kobo: This includes the Kobo store, as well as the Rakuten Kobo app.
- Ingram: This is a global distribution network for books, that allows books to be available for ordering by retailers, libraries, and academic institutions around the world
- Overdrive: A digital distribution platform for e-books, audiobooks, and other digital media for libraries and schools
BookBaby also offers distribution to other retailers and platforms such as Baker & Taylor, Gardners, and many more. It also distributes to e-bookstores in other countries, such as China, India, and Brazil.
It’s worth noting that the distribution list may change over time, as new retailers and platforms emerge, and others may shut down or change their policies. Also, not all the retailers and platforms may be available for every country.
Ultimately, the choice on whether to publish with BookBaby or KDP will depend on the author’s specific needs and preferences. Both platforms have their own pros and cons.
The pros and cons of publishing on BookBaby and Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) are:
BookBaby Pros:
- Offers a wide range of services such as editing, cover design, and formatting
- Distributes to a variety of retailers and libraries, including Amazon, increasing the author’s visibility and potential readership
- Allows authors to retain more control over the rights to their book
- More personalized service and support
BookBaby Cons:
- Services can be more expensive than KDP
- Distribution to some retailers takes longer than publishing directly with them.
KDP Pros:
- Easy to use platform for uploading and publishing books
- No additional costs for services like formatting and converting files
- Books are immediately available in the Kindle store, increasing visibility and potential readership
KDP Cons:
- Distribution is limited to the Kindle store and a few other Amazon-owned platforms
- The author has less control over the rights to their book
- Less personalized service and support
- The author may have to rely on Amazon’s own tools to get the book ready for publishing
In summary, BookBaby offers more comprehensive service and support for authors, but is also more expensive. KDP allows for easy and immediate publication on the Kindle store, but with less control over rights and distribution.
Book editor Kristen Hamilton is the owner and sole employee of Kristen Corrects, Inc., where she provides manuscript editing services for traditionally and self-publishing authors. Several authors whose books she has edited have won awards and have topped Amazon’s best sellers lists.
Reading is Kristen’s passion, so when the workday is over, she can usually be found curled up with a good book alongside her cats. She loves watching cat videos and scary movies, eating pizza, teaching herself French, and traveling, and she is likely planning her next vacation. She lives outside of Boise, Idaho.
Kristen, Do you do editing for unsolicited manuscripts? Erin Brown, of TheWriteEditor from Bozeman, Montana, has edited my manuscript twice but I’ve made so many changes over the last year that it would need editing again. Alas, Erin has retired and I’m not sure whether to turn to a specific editor or allow Book Baby to do it. My manuscript is complete and in Christian faith-based. Is this something you do or can you recommend someone? My manuscript won a Sparrow award for non-fiction at the 2021 Asheville Christian Writers’ Conference. It is approximately 35000 words or about 130 pages in a 6×9 paperback format.
Hello Janis! Yes, I do edit unsolicited manuscripts. Feel free to email me about it directly at kristen@kristencorrects.com.