Resources We Use & Recommend
At Golden Starling Publishing, we rely on proven, professional tools to support authors throughout the writing, editing, publishing, and production process. And because we’re passionate about helping independent publishers succeed, we openly share our favorites with you, too.
The resources below reflect the platforms and software we use in our own workflows or regularly recommend to clients who are self-publishing their books.
You absolutely do not need every tool listed here. Some are core. Others are situational. All are included because they have earned their place in real publishing workflows, both for ourselves and our clients.
Note: Some links may be affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission should you decide to subscribe or purchase. We only recommend tools we genuinely trust.
Writing & Drafting
Microsoft Word
The professional standard for manuscript preparation and editing. Essential for tracked changes, styles, and compatibility with editors, agents, and publishers. This is the only word processor we use!
Sudowrite
Love it or hate it, AI has made the dream of becoming an author possible for many who might not have managed it on their own. Of the AI drafting tools we’ve experimented with, Sudowrite stands out for its impressive ability to expand scenes, brainstorm plot and character directions, and more. We don’t judge. AI drafting and human editing is a powerful combination, and we’re happy to work with authors, no matter the methods they use to write!
https://www.sudowrite.com/?via=goldenstarling
Editing & Quality Control
Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant that helps with clarity, grammar, punctuation, and style during drafting and revision. It offers useful suggestions for tightening prose, spotting common errors, and improving readability. While not a substitute for professional editing, as it doesn’t always understand context or actually improve upon the existing text, it’s helpful as a backup when used with human judgment. In our publishing workflow, we end every editing project with a run through Grammarly, filtered for “Correctness,” to ensure nothing was missed.
ProWritingAid
Helpful for style awareness and readability analysis when used as a support tool alongside human editing. It’s a bit costly, but to be honest, when I ran the manuscript assessment tool on a novel, I was blown away by the level of feedback. Definitely a tool that makes me fear for my job! I hate to say it, but if you don’t want to invest in a full human developmental edit, this is the next best thing.
Publishing & Distribution
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing
The primary platform for publishing ebooks and print-on-demand paperbacks on Amazon.
IngramSpark
Best suited for authors seeking bookstore and library distribution beyond Amazon.
Draft2Digital
A reliable option for wide ebook distribution to multiple retailers from a single dashboard.
https://www.draft2digital.com/goldenstarling
Market Research & Validation
Publisher Rocket
Useful for understanding keyword demand, competition, and Amazon category placement. The simplified interface means even beginners can conduct keyword and category research with this tool.
BookBeam
A data-driven platform for niche research, keyword tracking, and market trend analysis. Our SEO expert relies on this to create SEO reports, choose backend keywords, select categories, and more. It’s more complex to use than Publisher Rocket, but much more robust.
KDPSpy
KDPSpy is an Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing research tool that helps authors analyze sales estimates, category performance, ebook rankings, and keyword opportunities for titles on Amazon. It’s designed to give authors a clearer picture of what similar books are doing in the marketplace—useful when evaluating niches, setting expectations, and making data-informed decisions about where to position a book.
https://goldenstarling--leadsclick.thrivecart.com/kdspy-v5/
Formatting & Production
Vellum
A reliable tool for producing clean, professional ebook and print interiors without complex layout software. We use this frequently for formatting fiction.
https://store.vellum.pub?via=goldenstarling
Adobe InDesign (via Adobe Creative Cloud)
Adobe InDesign is the industry-standard software for professional book layout and interior design. We use InDesign for complex print projects, including nonfiction and workbooks.
It’s particularly well suited for:
Professionally designed paperback and hardcover interiors
Nonfiction books with images, tables, or complex formatting
Projects that require strict print specifications or custom layouts
InDesign is part of Adobe Creative Cloud, which also includes tools like Photoshop and Illustrator that support cover design and production workflows.
Note: InDesign has a steep learning curve and is best suited to professional production workflows. Many authors do not need to use it themselves, but it remains the standard tool behind professionally designed book interiors.
Marketing Assets
Book Brush
Specialized for authors creating 3D book mockups, ads, and promotional graphics. We use this in our publishing workflow to create book mockups for our clients and put together social media image packs.
Canva
Ideal for marketing visuals and promotional materials (NOT recommended for book interiors).
Reviews, ARC Teams & Early Reader Feedback
Book Bounty
Designed to help authors build up reviews on their Amazon KDP publications. I personally use this for my own Amazon books. Especially powerful when combined with a Kindle Select free book promotion!
https://book-bounty.com/?via=goldenstarling
BookSprout
A widely used ARC distribution platform that connects authors with readers willing to leave reviews. Particularly effective for advance review campaigns and launch support when paired with realistic expectations.
https://booksprout.co?ref=robin49
BookReverb
BookReverb is a promotional platform that connects authors with targeted reader audiences through curated newsletters and discovery posts. It’s designed to help books gain visibility among engaged readers who are already actively looking for recommendations and new titles. Many authors use BookReverb as part of a broader launch or marketing plan to support discovery alongside review campaigns and ads.
https://www.bookreverb.com/register?invitesource=golden
Booksirens
A curated ARC platform that focuses on matching books with genre-appropriate reviewers. Generally higher-quality feedback and stricter acceptance criteria, making it best suited for polished, market-ready books.
StoryOrigin
In addition to promotions, StoryOrigin supports ARC teams and review coordination. Most effective for authors actively building newsletters and peer networks.
BookFunnel
While not a review site itself, BookFunnel is the industry standard for delivering ARC copies securely to review teams and early readers. Often used in combination with review platforms and launch strategies.
Goodreads
A major reader discovery platform owned by Amazon. Useful for giveaways, reader engagement, and visibility, though review activity can be unpredictable and should not be relied on as a primary launch strategy.
BookBub is a highly visible book discovery platform used by millions of readers. Authors can use BookBub to create Featured Deals, which significantly boost visibility and sales when a discount is promoted to BookBub’s curated audience. In addition to Featured Deals, BookBub offers Paid Ads and Author Profile tools that help books reach new readers across its large recommendation network. Because placement is competitive, results vary by genre and timing, but many authors find BookBub to be an important component of a comprehensive launch strategy.
Advertising
Adigy provides automated, managed Amazon Ads services designed specifically for authors. Their system simplifies ad setup and ongoing optimization, making Amazon advertising easier to manage and often more cost-effective than running campaigns manually. It’s well suited for authors who want Amazon ads running in the background without needing to learn complex dashboards, bidding strategies, or daily optimization.
Workflow & Operations
Google Sheets
Used for tracking timelines, metadata, keywords, and production workflows. We use a master spreadsheet to track every publishing project so we know exactly what stage we’re in and what needs to happen next.
https://workspace.google.com/products/sheets/
Trello
A visual project management system used to track publishing stages, deadlines, and handoffs. We use this for project management and collaboration between
https://trello.com/robinschroffel/recommend
Have a favorite you’d like to see added to the list? Reach out and let us know at info@goldenstarlingpublishing.com.