kdp-publish

name

kdp-publish

description

This skill should be used when the user asks to "publish on KDP", "publish my book", "Amazon book publishing", "Kindle Direct Publishing", "self-publish", "publish on Amazon", "KDP workflow", "submit to Amazon KDP", "publish to Kindle", or mentions Amazon/KDP book publishing. It guides the complete workflow for publishing a book through Amazon KDP, handling both technical books and fiction/nonfiction.

KDP Book Publishing Workflow

Orchestrate the full workflow for publishing a book through Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing): audit the manuscript, craft the listing, prepare files, and submit. This skill coordinates /kdp-audit and /kdp-listing into a phased pipeline, then walks through the mechanical submission steps on the KDP dashboard.

Strategy

The recommended publication sequence:

1. Audit -- Verify the manuscript meets KDP formatting and content requirements
2. Listing -- Craft blurb, keywords, categories, and author bio (the marketing artifacts that determine discoverability)
3. Prepare -- Convert manuscript to final format, verify cover specs
4. Submit -- Walk through the KDP dashboard, upload files, set pricing, publish

Each phase gates the next. Do not submit a manuscript that fails audit. Do not fill in listing fields without the artifacts from /kdp-listing. Present the phase map, confirm the plan, and proceed one phase at a time.

Workflow

Phase 1: Assess Current State

Determine where the book stands in the pipeline to skip completed phases.

Load user config (Read tool): Read .claude/pub-pipeline.local.md if it exists. Extract the kdp section and author metadata from YAML frontmatter. If the file is missing, offer to create one from the template at ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/docs/user-config-template.md.

Detect manuscript files (Glob tool): Search for manuscript files in the project:

• .tex files (LaTeX -- technical books)
• .docx files (Word -- fiction/nonfiction)
• .epub files (eBook source)
• .md files (Markdown manuscripts)
• .pdf files (final output)
• .kpf files (Kindle Create project)

Classify the manuscript type: Technical (LaTeX, math, code), Fiction (chapters, dialog), or General nonfiction.

Check what already exists (Glob/Read tools):

• Cover files? (cover*.jpg, cover*.pdf, paperback-cover.*, full-cover.*)
• Audit already done? (Look for recent audit report in conversation history or notes)
• Listing artifacts in config? (kdp.blurb, kdp.keywords, kdp.categories populated?)
• Manuscript in final format? (compiled PDF, validated EPUB)

Present status table to the user summarizing findings.

Decision matrix -- determine where to enter the pipeline:

State	Next Phase
No manuscript found	Cannot proceed -- ask user for manuscript location
Manuscript exists, no audit done	Phase 2: Audit
Audit passed, no listing artifacts in config	Phase 3: Listing
Listing artifacts ready, manuscript not in final format	Phase 5: Manuscript Preparation
Everything ready, not yet submitted	Phase 6: Cover Preparation or Phase 7: Submit
Published, not verified	Phase 10: Post-Publish

Present the recommended plan and confirm with the user before proceeding.

Phase 2: Audit

Run /kdp-audit to evaluate the manuscript against KDP requirements.

The audit checks interior formatting, cover specs, metadata completeness, and genre-specific requirements. It produces a structured gap report with Critical / Warnings / Passed sections.

If critical gaps are found:

1. Present the gap report to the user
2. Offer to fix automatable issues (margins, missing front matter, scene break markers)
3. Guide manual fixes (cover creation, content revisions)
4. Re-audit after fixes

Gate: The manuscript must pass audit (no critical gaps) before proceeding to Phase 3. Warnings are acceptable but should be noted for later attention.

Phase 3: Craft Listing

Run /kdp-listing to generate the four marketing artifacts:

• Blurb (book description, max 4000 characters with HTML formatting)
• Keywords (7 keyword phrases for Amazon search)
• BISAC categories (2-3 browse categories)
• Author bio (for the product page and Author Central)

The listing skill reads manuscript context, generates drafts, iterates with the user, and saves all artifacts to .claude/pub-pipeline.local.md.

Gate: All four artifacts must be saved to the config before proceeding. Phase 7 reads them during dashboard submission.

Phase 4: Pre-Order Setup (Optional)

Ask the user whether they want to set up a pre-order before the book is finalized.

When pre-orders make sense: Fiction launches where Day 1 ranking matters (pre-orders count toward release-day sales rank), books with an existing audience, or series releases.

Pre-order mechanics:

• Available up to 90 days before publication date
• Upload a placeholder or final manuscript; set publication date and price
• Final manuscript must be uploaded at least 72 hours before publication date
• Missing the 72-hour deadline may result in KDP blocking pre-order privileges for one year

How to set up: Create the title on KDP dashboard (see Phase 7), choose "Make this book available for pre-order," set the release date, upload manuscript, and complete pricing (Phase 8).

If not using pre-orders, skip to Phase 5.

Phase 5: Manuscript Preparation

Ensure the manuscript is in final publishable form.

Format conversion (Bash tool):

• LaTeX to PDF: Run pdflatex (multiple passes for cross-references; add bibtex pass if bibliography exists). Verify fonts embedded, margins correct, page numbers start after front matter.
• Markdown to EPUB: Use pandoc manuscript.md -o manuscript.epub --toc. Validate with epubcheck if available.
• DOCX to PDF: Use libreoffice --headless --convert-to pdf or Word's built-in PDF export with fonts embedded.

Final proofread checklist:

• Front matter complete (title page, copyright, dedication, TOC)
• Chapter headings consistent in style
• Page numbers start after front matter
• All images/figures embedded and captioned
• Bibliography/references formatted correctly (if applicable)
• Back matter complete (acknowledgments, About the Author)
• No orphan blank pages

Phase 6: Cover Preparation

Verify cover files meet KDP specifications. See ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/docs/kdp-reference.md for full cover requirements (dimensions, DPI, spine width calculation, bleed).

Quick checks:

• eBook cover: minimum 2560x1600 pixels, 1.6:1 aspect ratio, JPEG or TIFF, under 50MB
• Paperback cover: 300 DPI minimum, full wraparound PDF with bleed (0.125" each side)

Verify dimensions (Bash tool): Use identify -format "%wx%h" cover.jpg (ImageMagick) or file cover.jpg to check actual dimensions.

Direct the user to the KDP Cover Calculator: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/cover-calculator

If cover files do not exist, pause and recommend hiring a designer or using KDP Cover Creator.

Phase 7: KDP Dashboard Submission

Walk the user through the KDP dashboard "Create a New Title" process. This phase reads listing artifacts from the config (populated by /kdp-listing in Phase 3).

KDP Account Setup (first-time publishers only): Complete account setup at https://kdp.amazon.com — tax interview, bank details, email verification. See ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/docs/kdp-reference.md for the account setup walkthrough.

Book Details (step through dashboard fields):

1. Language and Title: Select language. Enter title (max 200 chars), subtitle (optional), series name and number (if applicable), edition number (if revised edition).

2. Author and Contributors: Use kdp.pen_name from config (or author.name if no pen name). Add co-authors, editors, illustrators, translators as contributors.

3. Description: Paste the blurb from kdp.blurb in the config. Verify HTML formatting renders correctly in the preview. If kdp.blurb is empty, stop and run /kdp-listing first.

4. Publishing Rights: Ask the user:

   • "I own the copyright" (original works)
   • "This is a public domain work" (classics, expired copyright)
   • Rights holder confirmation (licensed content)

5. Keywords: Enter the 7 keywords from kdp.keywords in the config. If empty, stop and run /kdp-listing first.

6. Categories: Select the BISAC categories from kdp.categories in the config. If empty, stop and run /kdp-listing first.

7. Age and Grade Range: Required for children's books. Optional for YA (select 12-18). Skip for adult books.

8. Upload Manuscript: eBook accepts EPUB, DOCX, or PDF. Paperback accepts PDF only (PDF/X-1a:2001 recommended). Wait for conversion (30 seconds to 5 minutes).

9. Upload Cover: eBook: single front cover image (JPEG/TIFF). Paperback: full wraparound cover PDF or use KDP Cover Creator.

10. KDP Previewer: Review the book in Kindle, tablet, and phone views. Check for text overflow, broken images, TOC links, page breaks, extra blank pages, and font substitution.

Multi-format coordination (if publishing both eBook and paperback):

• Create the eBook first, then add paperback as a linked format (shared product page, reviews, "Look Inside")
• Metadata must match exactly across formats; cover files differ (front-only for eBook, full wrap for paperback)

Phase 8: Pricing

Interactive decisions made during the workflow, not pre-populated from config.

eBook royalty tiers:

• 70% royalty: Price must be $2.99-$9.99. Delivery cost deducted (~$0.10-$0.30 per download based on file size). Best for most books.
• 35% royalty: Any price $0.99+. No delivery cost. Use for short works, loss leaders, or prices outside the $2.99-$9.99 range.

KDP Select enrollment:

• Exclusive to Amazon for 90 days (auto-renews). Cannot sell eBook on other platforms during enrollment.
• Benefits: Kindle Unlimited (readers borrow, author earns per page read), Kindle Countdown Deals, Free Book Promotions.
• Trade-off: No wide distribution (Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble). Good for debut authors building readership on Amazon. Not ideal with existing sales channels elsewhere.

Genre-aware price recommendations: See ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/docs/kdp-reference.md for genre-specific price ranges, paperback printing cost calculations, and royalty examples.

Territories: Choose "Worldwide rights" if the author holds global rights, or select specific countries.

Phase 9: Publish

Final review checklist:

• All metadata correct (title, author, description, keywords, categories)
• Pricing set for all territories
• Preview reviewed and approved
• ISBN decision made (KDP-assigned or a provided ISBN)

Submit for review:

• Click "Publish Kindle eBook" or "Approve Proof" (paperback)
• Review timeline: 24-72 hours for eBooks, up to 5 business days for paperbacks
• Email notification when the book goes live

For paperback: Strongly recommend ordering a proof copy before approving ($5-$10 including shipping). Check print quality, margins, spine alignment, and color accuracy. Proofs can be ordered without publishing.

Phase 10: Post-Publish

After KDP approves the book:

1. Verify listing: Search Amazon for the book by title or ASIN/ISBN. Check "Look Inside" preview, category placement, keyword discoverability, and "Buy" button.
2. Author Central setup: Claim the author page at https://authorcentral.amazon.com, add photo and bio from config.
3. Goodreads linking (optional): Claim the book, connect author profile.
4. A+ Content (if eligible): Add rich media to the product page.
5. Launch promotions (KDP Select only): Kindle Countdown Deals, Free Book Promotions.
6. Ongoing monitoring: Check KDP sales dashboard for sales, royalties, page reads, and rankings.

See ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/docs/kdp-reference.md for detailed post-publication steps including Author Central, A+ Content, and launch promotion strategies.

Reference Files

For complete KDP requirements, formatting guidelines, and exemplar listings:

• ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/docs/kdp-reference.md -- Full KDP formatting requirements, cover templates, metadata guidelines, submission checklist, and pricing calculator reference
• ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/docs/kdp-exemplars.md -- Blurb examples by genre, keyword strategies, category selection tactics, author bio conventions
• ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/docs/user-config-template.md -- Template for .claude/pub-pipeline.local.md user config file

Important Notes

• Run /kdp-audit or /kdp-listing independently for a specific step without the full pipeline.
• KDP Select is a 90-day exclusive commitment -- the eBook cannot be sold on other platforms during enrollment.
• KDP is free to use. Amazon takes a percentage via the royalty split (30% or 65% depending on tier).
• Royalties are paid monthly, ~60 days after month-end. Minimum threshold: $100 (direct deposit).
• Paperbacks are print-on-demand. No inventory, no upfront printing costs.
• ISBN is not required. KDP provides a free ASIN for eBooks and a free ISBN for paperbacks. A custom ISBN is useful for distribution beyond Amazon.
• Manuscript updates post-publication take 24-72 hours to propagate.