Using KDP Without Selling My Soul: A Self-Published Author’s Dilemma

I don’t support Jeff Bezos. I don’t support Amazon. And I don’t support billionaires.

I believe no one should hoard wealth while so many struggle to afford healthcare, education, or even a place to live. I believe in workers' rights, fair wages, and ethical business practices—values that Amazon, with its history of worker mistreatment, union-busting, and monopolistic control, actively undermines.

And yet, when it comes to self-publishing my books, I use Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

It might seem contradictory, but for independent authors—especially those of us writing and illustrating our own books—KDP is an unavoidable tool in a broken system. And I want to be transparent about why I use it, how I navigate my choices, and why this decision does not mean I compromise my values.

The Reality of Self-Publishing

As an independent author, I don’t have the backing of a traditional publisher. That means I don’t have access to wide distribution, marketing budgets, or the infrastructure that makes getting books into the hands of readers easier. KDP provides something that no other platform can at this scale:

• Access to a global audience – Amazon dominates the book market, and KDP allows self-published authors to get their books in front of more readers.

• Print-on-demand services – This means no upfront costs for printing, no warehouses filled with unsold books, and no waste.

• Higher royalties than traditional publishing – While Amazon still takes a significant cut, KDP offers independent authors a much larger percentage than traditional publishing deals, which often favor large publishers.

For many self-published authors, KDP is the difference between getting their book out into the world or not at all.

The Ethical Dilemma

I am not blind to the ethical problems that come with using an Amazon service. Supporting independent bookstores, small presses, and alternative platforms is something I believe in. However, as an indie author, completely avoiding Amazon would mean limiting my book’s reach significantly.

The publishing industry is already stacked against indie authors. Large publishing houses have gatekeeping power, and the alternative platforms that do exist often lack the reach, affordability, or accessibility that make KDP a necessary evil.

So, how do I reconcile using a platform I don’t support?

How I Use KDP Without Compromising My Values

1. I diversify my platforms – While KDP is a tool I use, it is not the only way I sell my books. I also sell directly through my own website and support indie bookstores whenever possible.

2. I educate my audience – I am open about why I use KDP and encourage readers to buy from independent sources when they can. If someone wants to support me without giving Amazon a cut, I provide direct purchase options.

3. I make ethical choices in my business – Just because I use KDP doesn’t mean I operate like Amazon. I prioritize sustainability, fair pricing, and accessibility in my work. I don’t undercut local bookstores or devalue creative labor.

4. I use the platform to my advantage, not the other way around – Amazon profits off small creators, but I make sure I benefit, too. I use KDP as a distribution tool, not an exclusive home for my work. If I can use their infrastructure to get my message, my art, and my stories into the world, I will—while working toward long-term alternatives.

Small Actions, Big Impact

In The Mouse and the Garden, my main character, Maxine, is small. She is not the biggest or strongest in the garden. But through her persistence, her small actions help save the garden. She doesn’t do it alone—she finds allies, she stands up against the creeping weeds, and she refuses to let dishonesty and control win.

That’s how I see publishing my work on KDP.

Amazon’s platform is flooded with books, many of which align with corporate interests, mainstream narratives, or the status quo. But every time an indie author—especially one with an independent, thoughtful, or resistance-driven story—uploads a book, it disrupts that. It ensures that diverse, progressive, and independent voices exist in a space otherwise controlled by profit-driven publishing houses and algorithm-friendly trends.

For me, getting stories like mine—stories about resilience, resistance, and reclaiming space—onto KDP is its own kind of protest. It’s using the system to undermine the system. It’s planting seeds of change in a landscape that often tries to silence them.

The Bigger Picture

The reality is that living under capitalism means making imperfect choices. No one is a perfect consumer. If I had the same level of reach, production quality, and affordability through another platform, I’d leave KDP in a heartbeat. But right now, I use the tools available to me in a way that aligns as much as possible with my values.

Supporting indie authors doesn’t mean supporting Amazon—it means supporting the people creating books, telling important stories, and working outside the traditional publishing gatekeepers. And by using KDP strategically, I ensure that my work isn’t buried, censored, or shut out of the mainstream conversation.

I am not here to make Jeff Bezos richer.

I am here to make my stories heard.

And that’s a fight worth showing up for.