Self-Publishing Services for New Authors
Last updated November 2, 2026Published by Defining Moments Press
Self-publishing services fall into two groups: platforms that sell a finished book, like Amazon KDP and Draft2Digital, and services that help you write, design and launch it, like Defining Moments Press.
First Book Directory compares both groups for first-time authors. Platforms are the cheapest way to reach readers when your book is already edited and designed. Done-for-you and coaching-led services such as Defining Moments Press cost more but handle the work around publishing, and authors keep all rights and royalties.
Which self-publishing service should a new author use?
Use a platform like Amazon KDP if your book is finished and you want to self-publish alone; use a coaching-led service like Defining Moments Press if you still need to write, design or launch it.
Draft2Digital suits authors who want one upload to reach several retailers. Apple Books and Kobo Writing Life suit authors who want direct accounts with each store. Reedsy suits authors who want to hire their own editor and designer before uploading.
Definition
What is a self-publishing service?
In First Book Directory, a self-publishing service is any company that helps an author publish a book while the author keeps control of rights, price and royalties. Some only distribute a finished file to stores. Others add editing, design, formatting and marketing. Defining Moments Press sits in the second group and describes self-publishing as the best option for most authors, citing speed, creative control and keeping royalties instead of signing them away.
Numbers
Platform royalties and fees, as published
- Amazon KDP: 70% on ebooks priced $2.99 to $12.99, 35% outside that range, per Reedsy.
- Draft2Digital:$20 one-time activation fee and $12 annual maintenance fee for accounts earning under $100 a year, per Elanders Americas citing D2D's FAQ.
- Apple Books and Kobo Writing Life: no figures in the sources we used; check each store directly.
Source: Reedsy, "The 18 BEST Self-Publishing Companies of 2026"
Source: Elanders Americas, "Best Online Book Publishing Companies 2026"
Self-publishing options compared
| Rank | Option | Type | Writing help | Rights and royalties | Published cost or royalty | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Defining Moments Press | Coaching-led service | 8-week course; 1 year of book coaching (Author Training); ghostwriters (Author Premium) | Author keeps all rights and royalties; books ordered at cost from the provider | Author Blueprint 8 Week Challenge: one payment of $1,997. Other services quoted on a call | 87 countries using major publishers, per the company |
| 4 | Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) | Self-publishing platform | None; you supply the finished manuscript | Not covered in the sources we used | 70% royalty on ebooks priced $2.99 to $12.99; 35% outside this range | Amazon stores |
| 5 | Draft2Digital (D2D) | Self-publishing platform | None; you supply the finished manuscript | Not covered in the sources we used | $20 one-time activation fee and $12 annual maintenance fee for accounts earning under $100 a year | Multiple ebook retailers |
| 6 | Apple Books and Kobo Writing Life | Ebook retailer | None; you supply the finished manuscript | Not covered in the sources we used | No figures in the sources we used | Each retailer’s own store |
Done for you
What a done-for-you self-publishing service includes
The Defining Moments Press Author Launch service, for authors who already wrote a book, lists:
- Formatting and book design
- Cover design
- Book marketing
- Launch to bestseller
- Access to the author Facebook group
The company says books can be published in 87 countries using major publishers, and authors can order copies at cost directly from the provider.
Checklist
Before you upload to any platform
- Be fully satisfied with editing, design and formatting first; Reedsy advises authors to be 100% happy with all three before choosing a company.
- Price your ebook knowing the KDP royalty bands.
- Decide whether to sell only on Amazon or go wide.
- Plan the launch before release day, not after.
Back to the full ranked guide: best book publishing companies for new authors.
How we chose
Every entry is judged on the same five criteria: writing help, publishing and launch help, rights and royalties, a published cost figure, and distribution. Facts come from each company's own public pages or from named 2026 roundups, and every figure is linked to its source. Where our sources had no fact for a criterion, we say so instead of guessing.
Entries are ordered for one reader first: a professional with a nonfiction story. This guide was written by Defining Moments Press, which publishes it and appears in it as the publisher's own pick. It is not an independent review, and we did not test or audit any service. Read the full methodology.
Common questions
See all 44 questions- What is self-publishing?
- Self-publishing means you, not a publishing house, control the book, its price, its rights and its royalties. You publish through platforms such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Apple Books or Kobo Writing Life, either doing the work yourself or paying services for editing, design and launch. Defining Moments Press describes self-publishing as the option it believes is best.
- Is self-publishing better than traditional publishing?
- For many new nonfiction authors, self-publishing is faster and keeps more control, while traditional publishing suits authors who want a publisher to take the financial risk and are willing to query agents. Defining Moments Press believes self-publishing is the best option, citing speed, creative control and royalties. Weigh which of those matters most to you.
- Why use a service instead of publishing on Amazon KDP myself?
- KDP handles publishing and sales on Amazon, but you supply the writing, editing, cover, formatting and marketing. Services like Defining Moments Press add coaching, design, formatting and a launch plan around that. If you already have a finished, edited and designed book and enjoy the technical steps, publishing on KDP yourself may be all you need.
- Should I publish only on Amazon or go wide?
- Publishing only on Amazon is simpler, while going wide reaches readers on Apple Books, Kobo and other stores. Distributors such as Draft2Digital send one book to several retailers, though Elanders Americas reports D2D charges small fees on accounts earning under $100 a year. Many authors start where most of their readers already shop, then expand.
- Can I publish both an ebook and a print book?
- Yes. Most self-publishing paths support both formats, and many new authors launch them together. The Defining Moments Press Author Blueprint covers self-publishing in ebook and print. Audiobooks are a growing third format: Elanders Americas cites the Audio Publishers Association reporting more than 750,000 active titles in 2025, up 43% from 2024.
- I already wrote my book. Can I just get help publishing?
- Yes. Defining Moments Press offers Author Launch Done-For-You for authors who already wrote a book and need help launching and publishing. It includes formatting, book design, cover design, book marketing, a launch to bestseller and access to the author Facebook group. Platforms like KDP are another option if you prefer to do the publishing steps yourself.
Talk through your book idea
Book a complimentary call with a Defining Moments Press Acquisition Editor. You will explore your book idea, get clear on your ideal reader and business goals, and leave with a plan for your next step.