Distributing to Ingram Lightning Source (LSI) with PublishDrive
PublishDrive partners with Ingram Lightning Source Inc. (LSI), a global leader in print-on-demand distribution. Through LSI, your print titles can reach bookstores, libraries, and retailers across North America, Europe, and Oceania.
📝 Formats
LSI supports Print-on-Demand (POD) books. Ebook distribution is not available through this channel.
⏱ Publishing Time
Books distributed to LSI typically go live within up to 2 weeks after submission.
💸 Distribution Model
LSI operates under a wholesale model, meaning retailers and distributors may adjust the final sale price based on your listed price.
📈 Royalty Rate
•Print-on-Demand: 45% royalty
(Calculated from the list price, minus print and distribution costs)
📌 Territory Focus
LSI distributes to the following key regions:
•United States
•Canada
•Europe
•Australia & New Zealand
🌍 Accepted Languages
LSI accepts books in any language, provided they meet industry-standard formatting and metadata requirements.
🔖 ISBN Requirement
An ISBN is required for all print titles. Please ensure you have a valid ISBN before submitting your book for distribution.
✅ Content Policy
✔️ Adult content is accepted,
❌ Explicit sexual content is not permitted
❌ Public domain titles are not accepted
All books must comply with LSI’s content and quality standards.
🆓 Special Offer — No Market Access Fee Until 2026!
New titles uploaded to LSI via PublishDrive will not be charged a Market Access Fee (MAF) for the first year.
📅 This offer is valid until December 31, 2026.
🔄 Catalog Transfer from LSI to PublishDrive
Already publishing through LSI? You can transfer your existing catalog to PublishDrive.
➡️ To request a transfer, please contact our support team. We’ll walk you through the process.
🔍 IngramSpark vs. Lightning Source (LSI) — What’s the Difference?
Feature |
IngramSpark |
Lightning Source (LSI) |
---|---|---|
Target Users |
Independent authors, small publishers |
Established publishers, high-volume |
Access |
Self-managed platform |
Managed through PublishDrive |
Fees |
MAF applies per title |
No MAF for 1 year (via PD, until Dec 31, 2026) |
Catalog Transfer |
Not supported |
✅ Available from LSI to PD |
Control |
Direct publisher access |
Distributor-managed (via PD) |
⚠️ Note: PublishDrive partners directly with LSI, not IngramSpark. While both services are part of the Ingram ecosystem, LSI is designed for professional publishers and enables greater backend flexibility and scalability.