It’s an ever-changing world…

I’ve done some researched and talked to some folks at KDP about the move. Here’s what I’ve found out. This isn’t live yet and will be coming “in the coming weeks,” so their letter was a heads’-up to get your files/accounts in order.

1. Check to make sure your account information is correct/current in both your KDP and Createspace accounts.
2. Make sure your books are for sale on Amazon.com via CS. If they aren’t, they will transfer to KDP as a “draft” status.
3. If you created your cover with the CS Cover Creator, it WILL transfer to the KDP platform (and should be fine, I’m told, even though the cover creator tools are different between the two platforms). If, however, you want to change/edit your cover, you’ll have to do it on CS first so that change will make it in the transfer. After the book transfers, you will have to create the cover in KDP’s cover creator. They also will have templates for covers like CS did/does.
4. In uploading one of my books as a paperback directly on the KDP platform (cloning the metadata from the digital book), I can tell you that some of the title information will have to be manually entered. I had to enter the category(ies), address the adult content criteria (see next comment), and couldn’t use my publisher name as the imprint. The imprint name, should you want to use one, has to be registered with the ISBN, meaning that will have to be addressed with Bowker directly before you can include it with your KDP metadata for the book.
5. They’ve changed the “adult content” criteria. The question now is along the lines of “Is there any material/images/language unsuitable for children under the age of 18.” That will need to be addressed post-switch.
6. Re: print proofs. There is supposed to be the ability to order print proofs, but from what I’ve been able to ascertain, the book will be live before you can order a proof copy. I will have to see this in action, but my account hasn’t been approved for merging yet, so we’ll have to play this one by ear. If anyone gets this done before me, please email me and let me know.

It appears KDP is trying to make this seamless, so let’s keep our fingers crossed. The interior files and pdf covers shouldn’t change and I will continue to offer my pdf creation service under the KDP Print option on my work order. If you need some help updating the categories and other metadata, feel free to email me.

Regarding novellas, the math for figuring out minimum cost is: 24 – 108 pages, you have a flat fixed cost of $2.15. Add on the 60% royalty for a minimum cost of $3.58.

Links are below for any other questions you have, but feel free to email me if you have others. AuthorCentral, should you elect to call them, will transfer you to the KDP team.

Links:

Overview/FAQs: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GSJULX3WGP36HQ3R

Author copies:  https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G202132360

Printing Costs: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201834340

Expanded Distribution: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GQTT4W3T5AYK7L45

Also, if you are interested in using KDP only for Amazon and Amazon.EU distribution, IngramSpark is a viable alternative for the rest of expanded distribution (this will then keep your minimum costs down for KDP), and while Ingram does charge for uploading, they occasionally offer free upload promo codes, so give me a shout-out if you’re interested in that option.