Canada is a huge country and if you are an author hoping to get your book into the hands of a Canadian audience, then the size of the country presents both a blessing and a huge problem. The dispersal of the Canadian population between several provinces and different time zones has always made the traditional distribution process very expensive, lengthy, and exclusive for authors of books.
But things have been changing lately. And at the center of those changes lies a platform that is changing everything about publishing and distribution in this country.
What Is the Real Problem Faced by Canadian Writers?
The book distribution in Canada can be considered a classical example of "the geography meets logistics" by specialists. The traditional channels of book distribution include such companies as Canadian Manda Group, Raincoast Books, and UTP Distribution. Traditionally, these channels are controlled by large publishers that have experience of selling their products and good connections in the industry.
For an independent author, who is just starting to work, there are several obstacles: Entering the market of Chapters Indigo, which is the largest Canadian book-retail chain, implies working with the distributor, which has connections with the retail company. It is impossible to get the book sold in Chapters through any other way; small presses and self-published books do not enter this network at all. In addition to retail bookselling, getting the books into libraries, schools, and universities implies working with different distributors separately.
As a result, many Canadian authors with compelling stories are unable to reach a wider readership and share their work with more people.
How Geography Increases the Difficulty
The geography of Canada creates problems for distribution. The cost of printing books and distributing them to other provinces is high. A print run that is feasible in Ontario may not be feasible when you try to distribute them to BC, Newfoundland or the Yukon.
But again, this has always been done only in respect of those books which traditional publishers believed would sell in sufficient numbers. And what happens is that the vast majority of Canadian authors who write about genres that are niche or for special audiences or on issues that mean a lot to their people and community but not the market, are left out of this whole process.
Amazon KDP as a Solution
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, often referred to simply as KDP, is a free service which enables authors to distribute not only ebooks but also print-on-demand paperbacks and hardbacks. There is no need for any capital costs, inventory, or even distribution partnerships. The writer uploads his manuscript, establishes the price, and the book gets published through Amazon.ca, which is one of the most frequently visited websites for online shopping in Canada.
The print-on-demand process takes care of logistics problems. Once someone from Saskatchewan places an order for your book, Amazon makes one copy and delivers it to the customer directly. No need to have stocks of your books or ship between provinces or find a warehousing distributor.
Your reach instantly becomes global. Once you publish your book through KDP, it will be available not only in Canada but also in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and many other countries due to Amazon's network globally. It is a game-changer for Canadian writers who address issues of international relevance.
Royalties work in the best interests of authors. KDP provides royalty percentages of 70% on ebook sales and quite competitive ones for print sales as well. Compare it to the traditional publishing model when authors earn 10 to 15 percent on print sales after years of waiting for their advance royalties to be earned out.
Role of Amazon Book Publishing Services
Book publishing is not just about uploading your book. Professional formatting, optimizing your book with appropriate keywords, and preparing your listings are extremely important aspects when it comes to sales and visibility.
This is where amazon book publishing services come into the picture to help you optimize your books for publication on the Amazon platform.
Choosing the Right Self-Publishing Partner
Most authors prefer receiving guidance instead of managing every part of the publishing process on their own. Using the assistance of professionals will enable an easy process of preparing your manuscript and publishing the same.
This is why many people look for the best self publishing companies in Canada because they understand the Amazon system and the Canadian reader expectations.
Why Having a Professional Book Cover Is Essential
Your book cover is your first introduction when it comes to selling your book on Amazon. Readers browse fast, and buying decisions can be made in seconds based purely on visual factors.
In order to succeed, you may need to hire book cover designer services to create professional covers that correspond with the genre of your book.
Broadening Reach Beyond KD
Although KDP solves many key distribution challenges, authors can still expand their reach by using additional publishing platforms. One of such platforms is IngramSpark which assists in reaching booksellers and libraries, whereas Kobo Writing Life is popular in Canada.
Using multiple platforms together allows authors to reach a wider and more diverse audience.
Approach to Attain Publishing Success
Canadian writers need to follow a few important steps to achieve success in their writing careers. Some of the approaches include formatting a book manuscript, designing a good cover, and optimizing its Amazon listing.
The first step involves the proper formatting of the book manuscript. Afterward, select proper publishing services, design a good cover, and optimize the listing on Amazon.
Conclusion
Distribution, which has been a long-standing issue for Canadian writers, is no longer an obstacle. Digital publishing has created new opportunities that were not available before.
Canada Book Publishers supports your self-publishing journey. Everything from manuscript preparation to cover design, publishing, and distribution is handled professionally by our team. Contact us at bookpublishercanada.ca