Worldwide Distribution for Indie Authors, Small Publishers & Agents

 

RP Books & Audio is seeking multibook authors, small publishers and agent/author groups to distribute to retailers and libraries worldwide. Our new service, called Indie Plus, is on schedule to launch Winter 2014 and is currently accepting new applicants. The more applicants we get the sooner we'll be able to launch, so be sure to tell your author friends about Indie Plus! To get started, click here!

 

The first thing you need to know about Indie Plus is that the service is free. All work we perform on behalf of authors, publishers and agents is done at no cost. This means:

The other thing you need to know about Indie Plus is that there is no other indie distribution service like us in the world. We've taken the best of every indie distribution opportunity available and made it available at no cost to you.

 

Unlike other services, we also use actual human beings to check the converted and optimized documents and this feature also is FREE. If you elect to have us create print titles for you and we elect to do so, we create full covers for your works for FREE too.

 

We earn income only from commission on actual sales. If books we distribute don't sell, we don't earn any income, which is why make sure every book we distribute has the best chance possible of making sales and earning royalites for authors.

 

Our distribution contract allows you to:

 

a) Continue self-publishing at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple while opening hundreds of additional retail and thousands of additional library opportunities through our expanded distribution.

Or b) have RP Books & Audio distribute your books to all retail and library marketplaces.
 

RP Books & Audio was established in 1994 and went completely digital in 2001, many years before most publishers ever even considered ebooks, e-audio and on demand. We release titles under many imprints, including imprints for

Romance & Paranormal Romance
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Mystery & Thrillers
Teen & YA
Picture & Chapter Books for Children
Nonfiction

Our international distribution is the largest of its kind dedicated to indies and includes retail and library distribution in the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Spain, Sweden, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, and beyond.

 

We offer options for:

 

ebook-only distribution

print & ebook distribution

ebook & e-audio distribution

print, ebook & e-audio distribution

video distribution (in process)

 

Do We Require Contracts?

Yes. Indie Plus requires a minimum 2-year commitment, with automatic renewal unless you cancel within 90 days before or after the renewal period. This is necessary because many of the retailers and libraries to which Indie Plus delivers print, ebooks, and audio are only available to established publishers and/or expect stability in their product offerings. Established publishers don’t make constant changes to their data and this is what these retailers and libraries expect.
Do We Work on Commission?

Yes. Indie Plus earns a 20% commission on the net proceeds. With a 70% royalty rate, this means Indie Plus gets 14% (20% of 70% = 14%). With a 35% royalty rate, this means Indie Plus gets 7% (20% of 35% = 7%).
Can I Continue to Manage My Titles in Amazon KDP?

Yes. With ebooks, Indie Plus allows you to continue to manage your titles enrolled in Amazon's KDP program while distributing your works to many other retailers and libraries. This allows you to manage titles in KDP while opening many new opportunities.
Can I Continue to Manage My Titles in Audible / ACX?

Yes. With audiobooks, Indie Plus allows you to continue to manage your titles enrolled in Audible & ACX programs while distributing your works to many other retailers and libraries. This allows you to manage titles in Audible & ACX while opening many new opportunities.
Can I Continue to Manage My Titles in Netflix?

Yes. E-video opportunities are developing rapidly and RP Media is at the forefront of these. With video, Indie Plus will allow you to continue to manage your titles enrolled in Netflix streaming programs while distributing your works to select retailers and libraries. This allows you to manage titles in Netflix while opening many new opportunities.

 

To get started, click here!

 

Reach Further and Have More Opportunities

Currently, no other indie distributor has our reach. Indie Plus distributes to over retailers and libraries worldwide. We work with major traditional retailers including CreateSpace, Barnes & Noble / Nook Press, Apple iBooks / iTunes, Kobo Books, Oyster, Scribd, Google Play, and many, many more. We work with major retailer and library aggregators including Baker & Taylor, OverDrive, 3M, BookWire, TXTR, Gardners, and many others. We also work with national retailers and library organizations in many countries.

 

Our distribution is fast and easy. Authors upload their books once and we handle distribution to all retailers and libraries.

 

We also perform free ebook conversion to all necessary formats from the Word .doc/.docx files authors provide. Books are assigned ISBNs for free as necessary and authors are free to provide updates at any time.

 

Authors receive a consolidated sales report and payment semiannually to simplify accounting and year-end tax reporting.

 

We earn income on commission from net sales and will never try to sell you additional services. Our authors are also able to take advantage of preorder distribution where available, including at Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.

 

How Does Our Service Compare to Smashwords

 

Our service is not designed as a competitor to Smashwords, though we can be considered as an alternative to Smashwords.

 

How do we compare to Smashwords? Read the comparison that follows to see!

 

Features Indie Plus by RP Books Distribution Smashwords Distribution
Distributes ebooks to retailers and libraries Yes Yes
Distributes audio to retailers and libraries Yes No
Distributes print to retailers and libraries Yes No
     
Top retail royalty rate 70% 60%
Top library royalty rate 70% 45%
Commision Rate 20% 15%
Commision rate details hidden in fine print No Yes
     
Offers free conversion of ebooks to Kindle, Epub, PDF and other formats Yes Yes
Offers free ISBN as necessary Yes Yes
An actual human being reviews and checks conversion for accuracy. Yes No
Offers free cover conversion Yes No
Offers free cover sizing and optimization Yes No
An actual human being reviews and checks cover conversion Yes No
     
Optimizes Web PDF files for libraries Yes No
An actual human being reviews and checks optimized Web PDF files Yes N/A
     
Distributes print to retailers and libraries Yes No
Distributes audio to retailers and libraries Yes No
Creates print book covers for free from supplied files Yes N/A
Creates audiobook covers for free from supplied files Yes N/A
     
Ensures industry standard categories are assigned to enhance sales Yes No
Ensures books are optimized for search keywords to enhance sales Yes No
Distributes books with complex formatting, including tables, text boxes, etc. Yes No
     
Maximum standard manuscript file size 20 MB 10 MB
Maximum picture book and graphic novel file size 100 MB 10 MB
Maximum audiobook file size 20 MB N/A
     
Allows you to submit as many titles as you want at the same time Yes No
Allows you to use a metadata spreadsheet to provide data for as many titles as you want Yes No

 

 

Getting Started is Easy!

 

Okay! So now you're ready to sign up and send us your details. What are you waiting for?

 

Any author, publisher or agency with multiple published books is eligible. To join us, click here!

 

 

Questions?

 

Contact Thomas Green

Associate Publisher, Reagent Press

 

 

(c) 2014 RP Books. All Rights Reserved.