

Self-Publishing and Distribution Platforms
Self-Publishing and Distribution

The Machinery of Contemporary Authorship


Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing has powered the breakout careers of self published authors such as Amanda Hocking and Mark Dawson, who each sold very large numbers of ebooks on Kindle before signing major traditional contracts or building seven figure indie businesses.
Retailer-Direct, Self-Publishing
EPUB, Paperback, Hardcover, Print
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
Apple Books for Authors
Apple Books for Authors functions as a primary storefront for many bestselling writers, who use it as one of the core global ebook retailers when they publish wide across Apple, Amazon, Kobo, and other outlets.
Retailer-Direct
EPUB
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
Barnes & Noble Press
Barnes & Noble Press serves successful indie authors who want a strong presence in the Barnes and Noble ecosystem, including Nook and print listings, alongside their titles on Amazon and other retailers.
Retailer-Direct
EPUB, Paperback, Hardcover, Print
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
Blurb
Blurb is used by photographers, designers, and visual storytellers whose high quality photo books and art books sell through the Blurb Bookstore, Amazon, and the Ingram network worldwide.
POD, Distribution
EPUB, Paperback, Hardcover, Magazine, Photo, Layback, Journal, Notebook, Layflat
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
BookBaby
BookBaby supports commercially successful children’s and nonfiction authors such as C J Zachary, whose illustrated title The Awkward Avocado became a strong seller after being produced and distributed through BookBaby.
Full-Service, Self-Publishing, Aggregator
EPUB, Paperback, Hardcover
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
BookLocker
BookLocker is positioned as a selective service that has helped many independent writers earn solid royalties and maintain long running backlists, especially in nonfiction and niche categories that benefit from its POD and ebook programs.
POD, Self-Publishing, Service
EPUB, Paperback, Hardcover
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
BookVault
BookVault underpins the print operations of successful indie authors and small presses that use its UK based print on demand and direct sales integrations to offer high margin special editions and global shipping.
POD, Print, Fulfillment
POD, Paperback, Hardback, Color, Black-and-White
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
Draft2Digital
Draft2Digital is a core aggregator for wide publishing novelists who rely on it to place strong selling catalogs into stores such as Apple, Kobo, and libraries worldwide while combining reporting and payments in a single dashboard.
Aggregator, Distribution
EPUB, POD, Paperback
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
Google Play Books Partner Center
Google Play Books Partner Center has been important for digital first authors such as horror writer Drac Von Stoller, whose short stories reached large download volumes through Google Play’s global ebook store.
Retailer-Direct
EPUB, Auto-Narrated Audiobook
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
IngramSpark
IngramSpark underlies the print and distribution strategies of many successful independent presses and author imprints that use the Ingram wholesale network to supply bookstores, online retailers, and libraries in multiple countries.
POD, Distribution
EPUB, POD, Paperback, Hardcover
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
KDP Select
KDP Select has helped high earning indie authors such as Mark Dawson reach large audiences through Kindle Unlimited page reads and Amazon focused promotions while trading away wide distribution for periods of exclusivity.
Program Under Amazon KDP
Kindle Ebook, Kindle Unlimited Reading
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
Kobo Writing Life
Kobo Writing Life has been a key revenue channel for internationally focused authors such as Mark Dawson and other wide distributors who see strong sales from Kobo’s devices, store, and subscription programs outside the United States.
Retailer-Direct
EPUB, Audiobook
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
Leanpub
Leanpub has enabled technical and business authors such as Jeff Geerling, whose Ansible for DevOps became a significant Leanpub bestseller, to earn substantial income from in progress manuscripts sold directly to readers.
Direct-Sales, Self-Publishing
EPUB, Bundle, Online Course
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
Lightning Source
Lightning Source supports commercially successful self publishers and small presses that depend on its Ingram owned POD infrastructure to supply bookstores such as Waterstones and to keep long tail titles continuously available.
POD, Distribution, Service, Publisher-Focused
POD, Paperback, Hardcover
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
Lulu
Lulu has hosted millions of books from independent creators and has been central to the growth of numerous authors and small brands that use its print on demand and distribution services to sell globally without inventory.
POD, Self-Publishing, Distribution
EPUB, POD, Paperback, Hardcover, Coil-Bound
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
Lulu Direct
Lulu Direct extends that model for entrepreneurial authors who drive strong sales through their own Shopify, WooCommerce, or similar stores while Lulu handles on demand manufacturing and fulfillment in the background.
Direct-Sales, Connector
POD, Paperback, Hardcover, Coil-Bound
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
PublishDrive
PublishDrive has boosted the careers of bestselling fantasy authors such as Rachel Morgan and Marc Reklau, whose earnings and reach increased significantly after moving wide distribution to PublishDrive’s subscription based model.
Aggregator, Distribution
EPUB, POD, Audiobook, Print
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
Smashwords
Smashwords has been a launchpad for indie authors including Amanda Hocking and Hugh Howey, and collectively its authors have sold hundreds of millions of dollars in ebooks while some have gone on to international bestseller lists.
Ebook Store, Legacy Aggregator
EPUB
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
StreetLib
StreetLib supports thousands of authors and publishers, including USA Today bestselling romance writer Renee Rose and other globally focused indies, who rely on its distribution network to reach readers beyond Amazon.
Global, Aggregator, Distribution
EPUB, POD, Audiobook, Print
Jan 8, 2026
Updated:
Tolino Media
Tolino Media has provided an important route into the German language market for successful self published authors such as Elke Bergsma, Nika Lubitsch, and Alfred Bekker, whose titles have helped establish the service as a serious regional channel.
Regional, Self-Publishing, Portal
EPUB, POD, Print