This is a question we all wish there were a simpler answer to, but… The short answer is that it is very difficult to get a self-published book into general bookshops – but not necessarily impossible. Think about the economics of it: all bookstores have a finite amount of shelf space and the smaller the shop, the less there is. Their job is to sell books – so the more likely that a book is a safe bet for selling, the more likely they are to order some copies and put them on the shelves. They will nonetheless strive for some diversity – having a variety of interesting stock is important, and many book buyers will respond to the serendipity of happening across something they haven’t heard of before. And booksellers play an important curatorial role, keeping up with the popular titles but also finding hidden gems.
How do I get my book into bookstores?
How do I get my book into bookstores?
How do I get my book into bookstores?
This is a question we all wish there were a simpler answer to, but… The short answer is that it is very difficult to get a self-published book into general bookshops – but not necessarily impossible. Think about the economics of it: all bookstores have a finite amount of shelf space and the smaller the shop, the less there is. Their job is to sell books – so the more likely that a book is a safe bet for selling, the more likely they are to order some copies and put them on the shelves. They will nonetheless strive for some diversity – having a variety of interesting stock is important, and many book buyers will respond to the serendipity of happening across something they haven’t heard of before. And booksellers play an important curatorial role, keeping up with the popular titles but also finding hidden gems.