Answers for authors.
Short, clear answers to the questions authors ask me most, with the stores’ own rules named.
KDP & IngramSpark fixes
Why does KDP say content is outside the margins when nothing is there?KDP rejects an interior when text, a page number, an image or even an empty text box sits closer to the edge than its mi…Why does KDP keep rejecting my cover?Most KDP cover rejections come from a file whose size doesn't match the trim size, page count and paper you chose, or fr…Why did IngramSpark reject my cover again?IngramSpark expects your cover built on the exact template its Cover Template Generator emails you for your trim, page c…Can I use my paperback cover file for the hardcover?Not as it is: a KDP hardcover cover wraps 0.51 in past the edge of the front cover, has a 0.4 in hinge and keeps text 0.…Do I need to buy an ISBN for KDP and IngramSpark?If one print edition will sell through both KDP and IngramSpark, yes: each platform's free ISBN works only on that platf…Can I publish the same book on both KDP and IngramSpark?Yes. Put an ISBN you own on the same print edition on both, and leave KDP's Expanded Distribution switched off, because …
Covers
How much is reasonable to spend on a book cover?A professionally designed book cover usually costs from a few hundred dollars to about $1,500, and Reedsy's analysis of …Should covers be consistent between books in a series?Yes: readers use matching covers to spot books that belong together, so keep the title and author typography, layout and…
Formatting
I was quoted $2,000 to format my book. Is that the going rate?Professional interior formatting for print and ebook typically costs a few hundred dollars up to about $1,300, and Reeds…Why did my ebook's spacing and indents break on Kindle?Kindle ebooks are reflowable, so tabs, repeated spaces, blank lines and fixed font sizes from a Word file collapse or ge…Do you really need a copy editor and a proofreader?Copy editing works on the manuscript before layout, fixing grammar, spelling, punctuation, consistency and clarity line …
Children's books
If KDP's minimum is 24 pages, how many illustrations do I need?KDP's paperback minimum is 24 pages, and it counts every page of your PDF, so 24 pages is 12 printed leaves, front and b…How much does it cost to illustrate a children's book?Illustrating a full picture book typically costs from about $1,500 to $7,000, and Reedsy's 2026 guide puts a 24-page chi…How much does it cost to self-publish a children's book?Illustration is most of the bill: Reedsy's 2026 guide puts the art for a 24-page children's book at $1,890–$6,990. On to…What size and margins does a KDP coloring book need?Pick one of KDP's trims, such as 8.5×11 or 8×10 in, and keep the drawings and any text at least 0.375 in from each edge …
Marketing
Are book trailers actually worth it?A trailer rarely sells a book on its own, but it earns its cost when you use it as short video for ads and social posts …Is an author website necessary for a first-time author?You can publish without one, but a simple author website is strongly recommended because it's the one place you control:…How much does a book trailer cost?A 2026 guide puts book trailers from about $100 for a slideshow to $10,000 or more for live action: $200–$1,500 for movi…How much does an author website cost?Building it yourself costs about $60–$500 a year for the domain, website builder and newsletter, according to Reedsy's 2…