Importing Books from Amazon
How to import your existing Amazon book listings to BookAuth using ASIN or ISBN — including what data transfers and what you'll need to add manually.
If you already have books published on Amazon, BookAuth's import feature lets you pull in book metadata to jumpstart your catalog without re-entering everything manually. This feature is available on Pro and Business plans.
What You'll Learn
- How to access the book import feature
- What data is imported from Amazon
- What you'll need to add manually after import
- Plan requirements and usage limits
Prerequisites
- Subscription: Pro or Business plan required
- Identifier: You'll need your book's ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) or ISBN-10/ISBN-13
- Finding your ASIN: On your Amazon book page, the ASIN is listed in the "Product details" section, or in the URL:
amazon.com/dp/[ASIN]
How to Import
- Navigate to Content > My Books
- Click "Import Book" (or the import icon in the top-right)
- Enter your ASIN or ISBN in the search field
- Click "Search" — BookAuth queries Amazon's product data
- Review the imported data — a preview shows what will be imported
- Click "Import" to create the book listing
- The book is created as a Draft — review and edit before publishing
What Gets Imported
| Data | Imported? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Title | ✅ Yes | Imported directly |
| Synopsis/Description | ✅ Yes | HTML formatting preserved |
| Cover Image | ✅ Yes | Downloaded and stored on BookAuth's CDN |
| ASIN | ✅ Yes | Stored in external identifiers |
| ISBN | ✅ Yes (if available) | Stored in external identifiers |
| Publication Date | ✅ Yes | Mapped to BookAuth's date field |
| Page Count | ✅ Yes (if available) | Stored in metadata |
| Genres/Categories | ⚠️ Partial | Amazon categories are mapped to closest BookAuth genres |
| Price | ❌ No | You set your own BookAuth price |
| Reviews | ❌ No | Reviews don't transfer between platforms |
| Manuscript File | ❌ No | You must upload your ePub/PDF manually |
| Sales Data | ❌ No | Only BookAuth sales are tracked |
What You Need to Do After Import
After importing, review and complete these fields:
- Upload your manuscript — the import only pulls metadata, not the actual book file
- Set your price — pricing must be configured separately on BookAuth
- Review genres — Amazon categories don't map 1:1; adjust to BookAuth's genre taxonomy
- Add tags — Amazon doesn't have an equivalent to BookAuth's tag system
- Set content warnings — add any applicable content warnings
- Change status to Published — imported books start as Draft
Usage Limits
| Plan | Imports per Month |
|---|---|
| Free | ❌ Not available |
| Pro | 10 imports/month |
| Business | 50 imports/month |
Tips for Bulk Importing
If you have a large backlist on Amazon:
- Start with your best sellers — import books with the most reviews and sales first
- Upload manuscripts in batches — gather all your ePub files before starting
- Use consistent tagging — establish your tag strategy before importing, then apply consistently
- Import series in order — import series entries sequentially, then create the series on BookAuth and add them
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I import from platforms other than Amazon?
A: Currently, import supports Amazon only. Manual book creation is available for books from any platform.
Q: Does importing affect my Amazon listing?
A: No. BookAuth reads public product data from Amazon. It does not modify your Amazon listing in any way.
Q: Can I re-import a book to update its data?
A: If you import an ASIN that already exists in your catalog, BookAuth will prompt you to update the existing listing or create a new one.
Q: Is ISBN required for import?
A: No — you can use either ASIN or ISBN. Most Kindle books only have an ASIN.
Related Articles
- Uploading Your First Book
- Managing Book Metadata & Details
- ISBN, ASIN & External Identifiers
- Managing Your Subscription (Free/Pro/Business)