Indie Bookstores are a New Author's Saviour

It's the Easiest Way for an Unknown Author to Get in Bookstores

Sep 19, 2008 Demetria Head

Unlike the mega book chains like Barnes and Noble, Independent bookstores are almost always picking up unknown and new authors when other stores won't give them a chance.

Many Indie Booksellers hold on for dear life trying to stay in the book market to compete with huge chains like Barnes and Noble. And....many have fallen off by the wayside because the super bookstore around the corner or across the street has all too often enticed the reading public with discounted books and an indoor cafe loaded with all the mocha lattes and cappachinos anyone would ever need.

But let's not forget the significance a corner Indie Bookstore has on the community; picking up local and regional authors who are looking for at least one bookstore to have mercy and display their first novel along side John Grisham. And they actually take the time to read every book they stock!

There is Hope For the New Author After All

Newbies, don't dispair. It's not uncommon for a new author to invest so much of their time into convincing a huge book chain to stock their books. Likewise, it's not uncommon for a mega bookstore to turn them down. Why is this? Well, what's becoming popular among the masses of new authors is that most are self-published and in some cases their books are POD or Print On Demand. Barnes and Nobles seldom accept these type of books unless the author meets the following criteria:

  1. A new, unknown or self published author has to have a reputable agent that has the right connections with the big publishing houses such as Random House.
  2. A famous name always gets their foot in the door.

This is by no means a reason to give up. The saviour that has always been around to pick up the newbie when kicked down is the Indie Bookstore just around the corner. The biggest advantage a new author has to getting their books on the shelves of these stores is that Indie booksellers stand by A. R. R. (Acknowledge, Read, Recommend). Another plus is their power to recommend a new author for the Indie Bestseller List. And if the author is regional and willing to travel for stock signings, that's even better.

There are over twelve hundred Indie Bookstores throughout the United States , Puerto Rico and British Columbia that are registered with the American Booksellers Association. So even if an author is from Michigan, they can still have their book adorning the shelves of Indie Bookstores in Florida. Finally, there is some relief for all of the newbie authors of the world.

The copyright of the article Indie Bookstores are a New Author's Saviour in Resources for Writers is owned by Demetria Head. Permission to republish Indie Bookstores are a New Author's Saviour in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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