I haven’t posted in a while, but that’s only because so much has been happening behind the scenes—and I finally get to share some exciting news.

Earthlog, My Not So Normal Sixth Grade Year is officially available for Kindle pre-order on Amazon!
You can check it out here and reserve your copy before it launches on June 26, 2025.

For those wondering: no, there’s no pre-order option for the paperback version through Amazon’s KDP. Unlike digital books, KDP doesn’t allow print presales. It’s one of those quirks of the platform—and one reason why I’ve chosen to distribute Earthlog in both eBook and print formats through two different channels: Amazon KDP and IngramSpark.

Why Use Both Amazon KDP and IngramSpark?

As a self-published author (working under my own imprint), getting your book into the hands of readers means thinking like both a writer and a distributor. And for me, that means using the strengths of both platforms.

Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)

Pros:

• Dominates the eBook market (Amazon accounts for roughly 80% of U.S. eBook sales).
• Seamless Kindle pre-orders and automatic fulfillment.
• Print-on-demand (POD) for paperback with zero upfront cost.
• Fast publishing timelines—books can go live within 72 hours (even though I’m waiting until June 26).
• Higher royalty rates: 70% for eBooks priced $2.99–$9.99, and up to 60% for paperbacks (minus print cost).

Cons:

• No preorders for print.
• Print books are only distributed through Amazon unless expanded distribution is enabled (and even then, it’s limited and may be unattractive to bookstores).
• ISBNs provided by Amazon mark them as Amazon-published, which can limit perceived professionalism.

IngramSpark

Pros:

• Opens the door to independent bookstores, libraries, schools, and academic distributors through Ingram’s global catalog.
• Print pre-orders are supported (if desired).
• You can set your own discounts and return policies, which are crucial if you want to be taken seriously by bookstores.
• Allows you to use your own ISBN—critical for establishing your publishing identity (Brickalow Publishing House, in my case).

Cons:

• There’s a setup cost per format ($49 per title, waived during promotions).
• Print costs are slightly higher than KDP.
• Royalties can be lower, especially if you offer standard bookstore discounts (typically 55%).

Why the Hybrid Approach Works

Distributing with both KDP and IngramSpark allows me to:

• Take advantage of Amazon’s visibility and market share for eBooks and direct print sales.
• Maintain professional distribution access to libraries and independent bookstores through IngramSpark—even though that’s not a core part of my marketing strategy for this first book, it lays a strong foundation for Book 2 and beyond.
• Control my ISBNs and publishing imprint.
• Ensure readers can find Earthlog where they prefer to shop, in the format they prefer.

So while the bulk of sales will likely come from Kindle and Amazon paperbacks, having both distribution streams gives me flexibility, reach, and a more professional publishing footprint.

What’s Next?

A lot of the past month was really spent formatting the manuscript and book covers for the platforms. In an upcoming post, I think I’ll dive into the tools I used to format and prepare my manuscript—for both print and digital. Whether you’re just starting your author journey or are curious about what goes on behind the scenes, I hope to shed some light on how indie authors can publish with professionalism and joy.

For now, I’m just savoring the moment of seeing Earthlog’s proof ready to go live. It’s a small win—but a big milestone on this adventure.

EarthBlog, signing off.