This is the first post in a series of posts I will write about how to publish an eBook on Kindle. I will do posts on another eBook platform in the future, that covers other eReaders.
To publish books on Kindle, I deal directly with KDP – Kindle Direct Publishing. It is Amazon’s own platform, and all authors can upload their work directly to it.
There are many companies offering services to publish your book on Kindle for you, but by going through one of them, you are simply introducing an unnecessary middle man to the process, who is likely to take a cut of your royalties, and even in some cases, tie you into a contract with them, where they have the digital rights to your book. Which I’m sure I don’t need to say it, but, that is a really big no-no. I will do another post on legalities in the future, but I want to say now – ALWAYS read the small print when it comes to publishing. If you decide to use another platform or company, read their terms and conditions, please! I have nearly been caught out a couple of times by companies who offer to distribute eBooks, which look like a good deal, but on closer inspection, turn out to be a very bad idea. If you want to find out more about what companies to avoid, I would recommend checking out Writer Beware, it’s a great resource.
#1. Getting Started
So, first of all, you will need to sign in to KDP. You can do this with your Amazon account details, or you can create a new account with a different email address to your Amazon account.

#2. Bookshelf
Once you have signed in, it will take you to a page titled ‘Bookshelf‘. There will of course, be nothing on your bookshelf yet, but once there is, it will look something like this:

#3. Details
You will be prompted to fill in your details, like your publishing name and bank details (for royalty payments) and you will be asked to fill in a tax form.
For the bank details, you will need your IBAN number and Swift/BIC code, which you should be able to find either on your bank statement or on your online banking. If you can’t then just contact your bank to ask them for it.
For the tax form, you will need your NI number (for UK residents) or Social Security number (US residents). The UK has an agreement with the US, and by filling out the form, it should say that they will not withhold any taxes on your royalty payments. They used to withhold 30% if you didn’t fill out further forms, but they have revised this recently. It is now a very simple online form that has notes to assist you, and you can provide your electronic signature and simply print it out for your records.
#4. Add New Title
Once you have filled out all your details and the forms, and there are no more prompts, you can click on ‘Add New Title’ to begin the process of publishing your book.
(Self-Publishing on Kindle – Part 2 coming soon)
Michelle is the author and publisher of 8 Visionary Fiction novels, all available on Amazon in paperback and on Kindle. She spends her days helping Indie Authors to publish their books, taking photographs and making gluten-free cakes.
If you need any help with your publishing journey, please do get in touch with her by emailing theamethystangel@hotmail.co.uk. You can book a Skype session or a phone call with her, or ask questions via email. Please do follow this blog to receive more posts on Indie Publishing.
Disclaimer: All views, ideas and tips presented on this website are my own, based on my own experience and the experience of my clients. It is by no means the only way to do it, or the right way to do it, but it is the way that works for me. Please take what helps you and makes sense to you, and don’t worry about the rest for now. Please know that I take no responsibility for anything that happens as a result of you following my advice. I have created this blog as a resource for Indie Authors to help them make the publishing journey a little easier. I am not affiliated with any of the companies I mention, other than the fact that I use their services myself.