Self-Publishing & Amazon KDP Resources

I'm Michael McRoberts, a Michigan author who has independently published ten books through Amazon KDP — from first draft to finished paperback. No agent, no traditional publisher. These are practical guides drawn from doing it myself: how KDP works, how to format and cover your book, and the mistakes worth skipping.

How self-publishing actually works

The path is simpler than most people think: write the manuscript, format it for print and ebook, design a cover that sells the book, upload everything to Amazon KDP, and hit publish. The hard part isn't the mechanics — it's knowing what matters at each step so you don't waste weeks on the wrong things.

Amazon KDP, step by step

KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) is Amazon's free self-publishing platform — it handles printing, distribution, and royalty payments. You keep creative control and earn royalties on every sale. The in-depth walkthroughs are linked below; the short version: format carefully, invest in your cover, and don't rush the preview step.

Mistakes first-timers make

The classics: skipping professional formatting, designing the cover yourself in an afternoon, publishing without anyone else reading the book first, and pricing without looking at comparable titles. Every one of these is fixable — most are avoidable if you know they're coming.

My books

Everything I publish is available right here on this site — signed paperback editions and digital downloads, sold directly with no middleman. Browse the books . More about me: About Michael McRoberts

In-depth guides

How to self-publish a book: the complete beginner's path

How Amazon KDP works, explained plainly

How to format a book for KDP (print and ebook)

How to create a book cover that sells

How to publish your first book without the stress

Common self-publishing mistakes and how to dodge them

Writing a book? Start with the guides above — and when you're ready to see what's possible, browse my books .