How to Publish Your First Ebook on Readfeed (Stripe Connect Walkthrough)
From zero to live ebook in an afternoon. Here is the exact publishing workflow indie authors follow on Readfeed, including Stripe Connect setup.
What You Need Before Starting
Publishing your first ebook on Readfeed requires three things:
- A finished EPUB file of your book (and optionally a sample EPUB)
- A Stripe account for receiving payments
- About 30 to 60 minutes of setup time
No upfront cost. No monthly fee. No credit card to create your author account.
Step 1: Create Your Author Account
Go to Readfeed author signup and register. You will land in the author console, your command center for ebooks, communities, earnings, calendar, Q&A, and subscribers.
The author platform is 100% free. You are not charged until you make a sale.
Step 2: Connect Stripe
Navigate to Settings or Earnings in your author console and initiate Stripe Connect. Stripe will walk you through:
- Verifying your identity
- Adding a bank account for payouts
- Providing tax information
Once your Stripe status shows active, you can publish paid listings. Payouts go directly to your bank account via Stripe.
Step 3: Create Your Ebook Listing
Go to Sell Ebooks and create a new listing:
- Title and description: Write a compelling description. This is your sales page.
- Price: Set between $0.99 and $1,000. Research comparable titles in your genre.
- Sample percentage: Choose how much readers can preview for free. A strong sample drives conversions.
Step 4: Upload Your EPUB
Upload your full EPUB and optional sample file through the author console. Readfeed stores your files securely and delivers watermarked streaming to readers in the browser, protecting your work without clunky DRM that frustrates readers.
Make sure your EPUB is properly formatted with a clickable table of contents, clean chapter breaks, and readable typography.
Step 5: Submit for Review
Hit publish. Non-admin listings enter an in_review status while the Readfeed team verifies your listing. Once approved, your book goes live and readers can sample and purchase.
Step 6: Share Your Sample Link
Your listing now has a sample link. Share it:
- In your email newsletter
- On social media (BookTok, Bookstagram, X)
- With book club organizers on Readfeed
- In the back matter of your KDP ebook
Every reader who samples and buys joins your auto-created reader community.
What Happens Next
After your first sale:
- Revenue appears in your Earnings dashboard
- The buyer joins your title's reader community
- Analytics begin tracking sample opens, purchases, and conversion
- You can engage the reader through Q&A, messages, and live events
Common Questions During Setup
Can I publish a free book? Yes, you can set the price to $0.99 minimum for paid, and free catalog options exist for certain titles.
Can I update my EPUB after publishing? Yes, you can upload a new version through the author console.
What if I need help? Readfeed offers an author dashboard tutorial with video walkthroughs.
Ready to Publish?
Create your free author account and follow these steps. Your first direct sale, and your first reader community, is closer than you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to publish an ebook on Readfeed?
Most indie authors can go from signup to submitted listing in under an hour. The steps are: create an author account, connect Stripe, create a listing with price and description, upload your EPUB, and submit for review. Approval time depends on the review queue.
What file format does Readfeed accept?
Readfeed accepts EPUB files for both the full book and an optional sample. Authors upload via presigned URLs in the author console. The platform delivers watermarked streaming to readers in the browser.
Do I need a business to connect Stripe?
Stripe Connect works for individual authors and small businesses. You will need a valid bank account and tax information to receive payouts. Stripe handles payment processing and tax documentation.