Embark Services

Print Book Publishing Services

Paperback, hardcover, and large print editions published on Amazon KDP Print, IngramSpark, and global wholesale networks — with ISBN registration, print-ready formatting, full cover design, and two complimentary author copies included. Starting from $149.

Get a Free Quote — Starting from $149 →
100% Rights & RoyaltiesEvery dollar from every print sale goes directly to you.
ISBN in Your NameYour book is registered officially under your authorship.
No Inventory RequiredPrint on demand — books are printed only when ordered.
Starting from $149Flat-rate pricing with no hidden fees confirmed upfront.
Author Copies IncludedTwo complimentary printed paperbacks in every package.
Global DistributionAmazon KDP Print, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble, and worldwide.

Publishing Your Book in Print

Print is not a legacy format — it is an audience

Despite the growth of digital reading, print book sales have remained resilient and significant. Millions of readers still prefer the physical experience of reading — the feel of paper, the absence of screens, the ability to annotate and display. A significant portion of the book-buying market will simply never purchase an eBook. Publishing in print means your book is available to every reader, not just those who read digitally.

Gifting, libraries, and bookstores require print

Books are one of the most commonly gifted products in the world — and gifts are almost always physical. A print book can be wrapped, signed, inscribed, and kept on a shelf. It can be donated to a library, stocked by a local bookstore, or featured at an author event. eBooks cannot do any of these things. For authors who want visibility beyond the digital storefront, print is not optional — it is the format that enables the full range of promotional and distribution channels.

Print builds author credibility

A professionally produced physical book carries a different weight than a digital file. It signals commitment, investment, and permanence. Authors who publish in print are taken more seriously as speakers, consultants, and experts in their field. A print book on a bookshelf — or on Amazon with a “Also available in paperback” listing — changes how readers and professional contacts perceive an author's authority.

Complimentary printed author copies

Every Embark print publishing package includes two complimentary printed paperback author copies shipped directly to you. Hold your finished book in your hands before it goes on sale, verify the physical quality, and use the copies for launch events, media submissions, or personal use. Additional author copies can be ordered at cost price through your publishing platform account.

What Our Print Publishing Service Includes

1

Interior Formatting & Typesetting

Preparing professional layouts for eBook, paperback, and hardback. Every interior is typeset to print standards — margins, gutters, bleed, font selection, chapter headings, and page numbering all optimised for the physical reading experience.

2

Print Cover Design

Full wraparound cover design including front cover, back cover, and spine. Spine width is calculated precisely from your final page count and paper stock so the cover fits perfectly on every print run.

3

ISBN & Barcode Assignment

Your books are registered officially and globally traceable. We handle ISBN assignment and barcode generation, registered in your name, so your title is catalogued in publishing databases and eligible for library and bookstore ordering worldwide.

4

Print-on-Demand Setup

No inventory required. Your book is printed only when a reader orders it, eliminating upfront printing costs and storage overhead. We configure your title on print-on-demand platforms and validate proof copies before your book goes live.

5

Distribution to Major Channels

Distribution to Amazon KDP Print, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press, and global bookstore wholesale networks. IngramSpark alone distributes to over 39,000 libraries and retailers worldwide.

6

Author & Book Profiles

We set up your professional presence for credibility and discoverability. This includes your Amazon Author Central profile, platform metadata, book description, category placement, and keyword optimisation across all publishing channels.

7

Complimentary Author Copies

Two complimentary printed paperback author copies are included with every print publishing package. Hold your finished book before it goes on sale and verify the physical quality firsthand.

Print Formats We Publish

Paperback

Most Popular

The standard and most widely purchased format for independent authors. Paperbacks are cost-effective to produce, broadly stocked across Amazon and distribution networks, and the format most readers default to when buying a new author. Available in standard trade sizes (5×8, 6×9) and custom dimensions.

Best for: Fiction, non-fiction, business books, memoirs, and most general trade titles.

Hardcover

Premium

The premium format that signals quality and permanence. Hardcovers command higher retail prices, attract gift buyers, and position an author's work as authoritative. Case-bound and dust-jacketed options are available depending on distribution platform and production route.

Best for: Gift books, children's books, illustrated non-fiction, premium business titles, and collector editions.

Large Print

Accessibility

A growing market driven by ageing readership demographics and accessibility requirements. Large print editions use larger font sizes (typically 16pt or above) and wider line spacing. Libraries actively purchase large print editions and they represent a genuine incremental revenue opportunity for most authors.

Best for: Any title targeting readers aged 55+, library-focused distribution, or accessibility-conscious publishing.

ISBN & Barcode Registration

What is an ISBN?

An ISBN — International Standard Book Number — is a 13-digit identifier that uniquely identifies your book in the global publishing system. Every distinct edition and format of your book requires its own ISBN: your paperback, hardcover, large print edition, and eBook each carry a separate number. The ISBN is embedded in the barcode on your back cover and links to your title's record in national and international bibliographic databases used by booksellers, libraries, and distributors worldwide.

Why an ISBN is required for print

Without an ISBN, a print book cannot be stocked by physical bookstores, ordered through the Ingram wholesale network, or catalogued in library systems. Amazon can assign a proprietary ASIN to your KDP Print title, but this only covers Amazon's own channels. An ISBN is what makes your book discoverable and orderable by every retailer, library, and distributor outside of Amazon — including Barnes & Noble, independent bookshops, and public library purchasing systems in the US, UK, Australia, and internationally.

How Embark handles ISBN registration

Embark Book Publishers handles ISBN registration and barcode generation as a standard part of every print publishing package. We register each ISBN in your name as the publisher of record, so you retain full control of your title's bibliographic record. The ISBN belongs to you — not to Embark, not to Amazon, and not to any publishing platform. If you ever move distributors or republish your title, the ISBN travels with you. We also generate the EAN-13 barcode that carries the ISBN and retail price on your back cover, formatted to the specifications of each platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Paperback and hardcover books differ in binding, production cost, retail price, and the markets they serve. Paperbacks use a flexible card cover bound with adhesive and are the most cost-effective format to produce and distribute. They are the standard format for trade fiction and non-fiction and reach the widest audience through Amazon, IngramSpark, and wholesale channels. Hardcovers use a rigid board cover and are either case-bound or dust-jacketed. They cost more to produce and carry a higher retail price, which makes them ideal for gift books, illustrated non-fiction, premium business titles, and titles where perceived quality justifies a higher price point. Embark Book Publishers publishes both formats and can produce them simultaneously from the same manuscript.
Yes. An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is required for all print books distributed through retail channels, wholesalers, or libraries. Without an ISBN, your book cannot be stocked by physical bookstores, ordered through IngramSpark's wholesale network, or catalogued in library systems. Each format and edition of your book requires its own ISBN — the paperback, hardcover, and any large print edition each need a separate number. Embark Book Publishers handles ISBN registration and barcode generation as part of every print publishing package, registered in your name so you retain full control of your title's publishing record.
Print-on-demand (POD) means your book is printed only when a reader places an order. There is no upfront print run, no inventory to store, and no unsold stock to manage. When someone buys your book on Amazon or through a wholesale channel, the platform prints a single copy and ships it directly to the buyer. You receive royalties on each sale. The production quality of modern POD printing is indistinguishable from traditional offset printing for most trade titles. Amazon KDP Print and IngramSpark are the two primary POD platforms and together cover effectively every major retail and wholesale channel globally.
Physical bookstore stocking depends on the distribution network used and, ultimately, the individual buyer's decision at each store. Publishing through IngramSpark makes your book available for order by any bookstore or library that uses the Ingram wholesale network — which covers the vast majority of physical retailers in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and most global markets. Stores can order your book, but stocking decisions are made by individual buyers based on category, demand signals, and shelf space. IngramSpark distribution gives your book the best possible chance of being stocked. Amazon KDP Print distributes exclusively through Amazon's own retail and fulfilment channels.
Standard print book publishing at Embark Book Publishers is completed within 14 business days for most projects. This covers interior formatting, cover design, ISBN registration, and platform setup on Amazon KDP Print and IngramSpark. Projects that include editing or custom illustration work take longer — your Publishing Strategist confirms the exact timeline at kickoff. After files are uploaded and approved by the platform, Amazon typically makes new titles available for purchase within 24 to 72 hours. IngramSpark distribution to wholesale channels typically takes 4 to 6 weeks to propagate fully through the global network.
Ready to publish in print?

Get a Free Quote — Starting from $149

Tell us about your manuscript and the formats you want to publish. We'll reply within 24 hours with a personalised print publishing plan. No commitment required.

  • Paperback, hardcover, and large print editions
  • ISBN registered in your name — you own it
  • No inventory — print on demand only
  • Two complimentary author copies included
  • Global distribution via Amazon and IngramSpark
  • 100% of rights and royalties stay with you
Ready to publish your book?
Tell us about your project and we will reply within 24 hours — no commitment required.
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