If you’re publishing on Amazon KDP, you probably have a few questions about the publishing process, including what the different ways you can actually see your book are. If you’re writing a paperback book, you can choose two copies: A proof copy and an author copy. But what’s the difference?
Amazon KDP Book Offerings Explained
Amazon KDP is a self-publishing service by Amazon (which actually started out as a book store, so this isn’t too far off honestly) that allows authors to publish Kindle eBooks, paperback and hardcover books.
I personally have more experience with the paperback and eBook copies, but once I dabble in the hardcover side of things, I’ll talk about it on the blog of course.
Amazon KDP allows for you to upload a document and cover for your paperback books, and you can design a full cover using Canva, which I talked about before. Check out my review of Canva Pro here.
What is a Proof Copy?
Proof copies on Amazon KDP are basically copies made for you to take a look at the physical product. They are not for resale and there will be a sort of line on the book cover that says that it is not made for resale.
This copy essentially mimics exactly what your real copy looks like so that you can check just in case there are any mistakes, if you don’t like the way something turned out, etc…
I recommend always ordering at least one proof copy before you hit the publish button. I’ve caught plenty of formatting issues by doing that. It’s really easy to miss stuff when you’re doing a final check.
What is an Author Copy?
Author copies are basically a copy of the final book for resale but sold to you at the printing price only. When you sell on KDP, you can add a royalty markup that lets you keep a certain percentage of the money made from each sale. However, the author copy is basically Amazon selling you the book for just the cost to print.
These are great for you to have a copy of your book at home. You can also order these for gifts and giveaways and sign them to make them more genuine and exclusive.
Should You Order Both?
Yes, definitely order a proof copy before you publish. Make sure everything looks nice, neat, and orderly. Check how it is to read your book. Flip through the pages. Understand that you’re almost there. It’s a great boost when you’re done writing!
Then, publish and order at least one or two author copies. You can always order more if you want, but have at least two on hand for whenever you need them. They can make a pretty cool gift for that reader in your family!
And that’s all: It’s really a simple distinction, so don’t fret about it too much!
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