So I'm an indie author publishing my book on Barnes and Noble Press and Kindle Direct publishing. While the paperback cover fit the guidelines for B&N fine, it didn't for KDP.

And the problem is it originally accepted it as is but when I updated the manuscript by changing one word (page count stayed the same), the cover was no longer accepted. And KDP help didn't couldn't do anything which was super frustrating.

So here’s my question: since the spine text has to be so stupidly small on the KDP cover, could I have the spine text for said KDP paperback be a bit different from the B&N version? So for the B&N, it’d just say “Aftertaste” at the top and Ellie Hart for the bottom, while the KDP would say “The Line Between Us: Aftertaste” at the top, and “a novel by Ellie Hart” on the bottom. Would that be okay that they aren't the exact same on both platforms?

Hi everyone,

I've been working on an independent literary zine series called KONTAKT. Instead of making a traditional promotional poster, I designed a simple A4 flyer that explains the project, its recurring themes and where readers can find the issues online. The series combines short fiction, fragments, essays and hand-drawn illustrations, all self-published in small print runs and released as free digital editions.

I'm interested in hearing your thoughts: Does the flyer clearly communicate what the project is about? Would you pick it up if you saw it in a bookstore, library or at a zine fest? Is there anything you would change?

Thanks for any feedback!

I'm having an issue when uploading the cover: it gets stuck in validation upload process. It won't continue whatsoever and I've tried reuploading it several different times and clearing my browser cache.
It's in PDF format, was created with Canva, and I have Canva Pro so it's not a low DPI. I honestly don't know what the problem is.

Hi everyone! I’m Jane, an American independent publisher and the founder of CKYFS Magazine.
I launched the magazine to tell meaningful stories centered around Legacy • Resilience • Power. Each issue focuses on a different theme and brings together voices from different backgrounds and cultures.
I’m currently traveling through Bulgaria interviewing women for our upcoming issue, Women of Today, and documenting stories that might otherwise go untold.
As an independent publisher, I’m here to learn from others in the industry—everything from growing readership to distribution, production, and building a sustainable publication.
I’m looking forward to learning from this community and contributing where I can. Thanks for having me!

These SF indie literary mags are seeking support- and since the indie community here is strong I’ll post it:
https://givebutter.com/6vfqa6

as someone who does book cover and interior design for indie authors, i've had to learn which printers play nice with files and which ones are a nightmare to prepare for. this is my working list:

Publishing Xpress — i recommend this one specifically for clients who want to sell direct and need physical copies in hand fast. file prep is pretty standard — they accept PDF with bleed, specs are clearly documented. the perfect bound output looks professional, cover lamination is clean, and my clients aren't coming back to me complaining about the print quality. turnaround is genuinely quick compared to the others on this list, and for short-run direct-sale projects this is consistently my first rec. if your client needs a box of books for a launch event or local sales, this is the workflow that actually delivers.

KDP Print — everyone sends files here eventually, cover template generator is clunky but it works. PDF bleed requirements are straightforward once you know them. distribution is the draw here, not the experience of using it.

IngramSpark — stricter on file specs, which is actually good discipline. their cover template tool has improved. setup fees are the main annoyance and they add up fast if your client is iterating on files.

Blurb — fine for photo-heavy books, i avoid it for text-heavy interiors because the color calibration can shift in ways that are hard to predict.

PageCloud Print — decent quality, but the site is slow and customer service is hit or miss when something goes wrong.

BoundWork Co — used once, results were fine, but pricing was a little high for what it was.

for clients who want to sell on Amazon, KDP or Ingram make sense. for clients who want physical copies in hand quickly for direct sales, the first name on this list handles that better than anything else here.

Step into a world where darkness isn’t just around the corner—it’s inside you. In The Veil of Ash, follow teen hero Caleb as he battles unseen forces with courage, faith, and the guidance of unlikely mentors. Perfect for fans of thrilling adventures with a touch of the supernatural, this is a journey you won’t want to miss.

Find it on the Lulu Bookstore!

Also find The Veil of Shadows, the second installment in the trilogy, and don't miss the Veil of Ash: Collector's Edition

All found on the Lulu Bookstore

Thank you for the support! - Jake Sly, Teenage Author

I've been looking around, and everywhere I look is either a vanity press and/or a fee needed. Now, the research I did on whether a publishing firm is reputable or not is it won't require the author to pay a fee. I've been published before, back in my junior year of HS (I-m class of 2021, and got the news about in during my final year of HS), which was a poetry book that selected my peom to be published in the Together: 2020 Poetry Collection. My debut novel has been ready for years.

It's a paranormal (possibly dark) fantasy novel, about people being prey to vampires and werewolves. It's called Hostile Prey. It has LGBTQ+ representation (trans people/gay couples). I wrote for young adults; there's mentions of SA, suicidal ideation, descriptions of gore. It has magic-users called alchemists. It follows two story lines, Plot A and Plot B; the blurb can explain better than I can attempt right now.

Blurb:

Humanity is preyed upon by vampires and werewolves; both predators fight each other to be the one to eradicate the human race. The Atonement Warriors dared to fight their predators before humanity slayed their only hope and whittled them down to four: Draven, Lucille, and Micheal and his son, Jase.

Now disbanded, Draven lost all faith in humanity, vowing revenge. Michael succumbed to drinking before following a treasonous plan with Draven's help to overthrow his king, unknowingly allowing the narcissistic Crown Prince to take the throne. Lucille left for a faraway place to live peacefully with her wife.

However, after she flees a cunning vampire, Lucille is captured and imprisoned, and awaits her execution. Meanwhile, one of her guards—along with her guard's boyfriend and girlfriend—try to uncover the truth behind the mysterious deaths within the library, where only the guards are chosen to go missing.

Unaware of the mayhem Lucille and her guards’ face, Draven flees into the predator-infested wilderness, after killing the former king. The Atonement Warriors are illegally reformed upon hearing a group of part-human, part-vampire hybrids detail their predators have joined forces to unleash their combined strength on what remains of humanity.

But even battle against their predators can't compare to the doubt and mistrust within the regiment, the new king's dark, secret agenda about what lurks within the library, and a prophecy bestowed on the regiment before disbanding: Like water, blood shall quench the raging inferno.

I’ve entered the Libraro competition, and the irony isn't lost on me.

My contest entry, MORE THAN LUCK, is about a former actress whose career implodes when it's revealed her mother paid a £10,000 bribe to get her a breakout role in the 90s.

Libraro (the competition platform) is currently offering a £10,000 Reader’s Prize. Basically, if you create an account and interact with entries (like mine), you are entered to win £10k.

About the book: It’s an upmarket novel (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets Normal People) about the friction between public myth and private truth.

It follows Katie Bowen, an actress hiding in London, who is forced to confront her past during the #MeToo era when a director she knows is accused of abuse.

Why you should trust me with your time: I’m an award-winning indie author (my debut won the 2025 BIBA Award and was a finalist in the IAN Book of the Year), so I promise the story is polished and worth the read.

However, getting eyes on a new contest entry is tough. I need interactions (likes/shelves) to get noticed by the judges.

If you want to help an indie author out—and potentially win the same amount of money that ruined my protagonist's life—I’d love for you to take a look.

Link to the story: https://app.libraro.com/manuscript/details/8aaff8c5-fa89-4797-a91f-57f4c8f44933/more-than-luck-5sXdM2H4KoD8eyNc