Sending ARCs to Kindle Devices

ARC readers are tremendously valuable to the Indie Author. Through the eyes of the objective reader, we find supportive accountability partners who help us corral those tiny blunders that somehow make it past dozens of rounds of editing and beta reading. One last pair of eyes (or half a dozen of them) helps to ensure that we're putting our best work out in the wilds, come release day.

However, PDF files can be klunky to read on devices like phones or tablets. Often, the formatting can also do weird things in it's raw MS Word format on these devices, too. So what's the best way to get ARCs to readers?

EPUB to the Kindle app via Email.

Yup, if your ARC reader has installed the Kindle app to their phone, tablet, or laptop (which is available for free), then that device has it's own Kindle Device Email Address. By sending the EPUB file to this email address, readers can access your files on their device before you officially publish!

HERE'S THE PROCESS, STEP BY STEP:

Indie Author: Prepare and Send the File to the ARC Reader

1. Prepare your manuscript as you would publish-ready files for Kindle, Draft 2 Digital, or Ingram Spark, as an EPUB formatted file.

2. Email that file to your ARC Reader.

3. Send the instructions below, along with a nice THANK YOU note for the ARC reader's time.

ARC Reader: Find Your Kindle Email Address:   

1. Log in to your Amazon account.

2. Go to "Manage Your Content & Devices."

3. Click on "Devices."

4. Select your Kindle device.

5. Find the "Send to Kindle Email Address" listed on the device page. 

ARC Reader: Send the EPUB File to your Device via a Personal Email:   

1. Compose a new email.

2. Attach the EPUB file to the email.

3. Send the email to the Kindle email address you found in your Amazon account.

4. You don't need to include a subject line or any content in the body of the email, but you may find it helpful to do so.

5. Once the email is sent, you may receive a verification email from Amazon; simply open and verify the email.

6. Your Kindle will sync and the book will be available when it syncs. 

   TA DA! The ARC copy is now ready for you to read!

   ***The areas circled in BLUE show you the steps to find your Device's email address.

***Please note: There is no need to Switch Accounts. This is just where the mouse was pointed when I captured the screen shot!***

Now the ARC reader will have a perfectly formatted edition of your manuscript to read on their Kindle device, even though you haven't officially published it yet.

This is also an excellent method for Indie Authors to use to check their book for formatting errors before hitting the publish button, too. After all, you can never have too many run-thru rehearsals before your words walk out onto the world stage.