A discussion on here regarding what makes us buy books, got me thinking. How easy/difficult is it for authors to get their books into bookstores? And is it easier to get into independent one's or high street (i.e. WHSmith, Waterstone's, Border's)?

I'd be really interested to hear from anyone on this, as I quite like browsing bookstores and I have often found a new author by chance.

Charlene x

Hallo Charlene,
You've started an interesting discussion here. Unfortunately I can't truly contribute. Although I have written three books in English I live in Hamburg, Germany. I have approached bookshops here, but shelf space is limited and reserved for names. So I haven't had any luck on this front.
Dave
(On amazon D.M. Samson, also at www.davidmsamson.com)

My experience is somewhat limited in this matter, but I did try both independents and the high street shops. Mostly the big boys simply tell you that stocking policy is down to head office and the only way to get in is to write to head office and make your case. This rarely results in a positive reply. The independents will agree to stock on sale or return and of course they want 40% clear. This often means you are selling books for next to nothing. I am not critical of the independents or the big boys its just the way it is for unknown authors.
Travelman

Ditto Travelman. My local Waterstones made vague noises about stocking Summerset then decided they wouldn't make enough of a profit then I approached several local bookshops and none were interested. I then read Borders had a partnership with lulu and promised to stock their books so I sent Mad About the Boy to Borders HQ and got a curt response saying they didn't stock lulu books (seems that in America they do). In fact America seems a lot more friendly towards independent authors, I've made friends with quite a lot of US authors and they're always telling me to do interviews with my local radio station or newspaper. Ha! Even local radio stations are only interested if you're some minor celebrity.

So, it's down to leaving things on the internet and hoping for the best ;-(

Hi, It is very difficult to get books on the shelves.I'm trying hard at the moment to get ,'HIGHLAND ADVENTURES' noticed as I 'm sure it would sell in a big wayespecially at airports and stations.
Aperfect book for the traveller.Check my reviews if you wish.
No bother getting radio coverage and local paper reviews though.
Still persisting with the big outlets though...

I'm not an author but I can imagine how hard it can be. I do read discussions regularly on here, but if I didn't I wouldn't even know about most of you. Borders absolutely infuriates me though. They stock some of the strangest titles and then don't have some of the things I imagine they would (if that makes sense). The bloody staff are beyond belief too. Everything is far too much effort for them. I have often walked out of there and bought a book elsewhere.
It seems that bookstores make their decisions on who you are published by, from what many of you have said, which doesn't seem very fair to me.
Charlene x

And the thing is, even if we were with big publishers and got our books in bookshops we'd probably get about 50p for each book sold.

Bookshops can be pretty useless. I discovered an author called Kitty Neale through my local Asda. They were letting one of her books go for £1 and as I had the flu and all I could do was lie on the sofa and read, I got through this book in 24 hours. When I was better I went to Waterstones to get some more of her books and discovered they didn't stock them, neither did Books etc. So I ended up getting them off here.

So, I take it you get more for each book by just selling them on amazon? As well as amazon, I also buy from play, but I notice many of you are not on there. Any reason?

I work in an independent bookshop. We do take unknown/self publishd authors but economics dictates that we can only do it on a sale or return basis, also discounts can be negotiated and are usually closer to 30% but I can understand why some expect 40%. Independents are struggling to stay afloat as they can't afford to sell at the same prices as the chain stores and supermarkets, we don't have the buying power. It is also a fact that debut novels even when published by the likes of Harper Collins or Random House can be hard to sell. In general people buy what they know and are wary of taking a chance on a new author. If you find an independent who likes your book and believes in it then they will encourage customers to buy it. Also it has to admitted that some of these book are just not up to scratch. Writing/editing/proofing a novel takes a great deal of time and I understand that it must be devating to be told it isn't good enough and that no-one will sell it, but sometimes people in the indutry have to be cruel to be kind. If you look into the history of some of our best known novelists you will find that they found it hard to get started, they were turned down, struggled to get their books sold and probably have at least one unpublished manuscript to their name. It is important to ensure that your finished novel looks as professional as possible, it can be easy to spot the self published/print on demand titles and that can put people off even before they read the blurb.

Harry Potter was apparently turned down four times before Bloomsbury agreed to try the first one. I bet those four publishers are kicking themselves...

Charlene

I've just checked Play.com, they're showing the very first edition of Summerset and listing it at the original price so the distributors obviously haven't updated them.

I prefer to sell on Amazon, while lulu set the price at £10-12 because I'm the author I can get it at a lower price and so I sell my own copies cheaper. If I set the price at £5 or £6.99 I figure it's the same price as a bookshop. I can then order the book directly from the publishers and while I don't make a profit at least people are reading my books. I got a lovely complement on here from a girl who bought Summerset then immediately bought the other two on the back of that, and that means a lot. Whereas if I sold my books via bookshops people wouldn't have the chance to give feedback like that.

A small independant book shop did put a couple of my books, Time Keeper, for sale. Unfortunately though because of the cost for them to buythe books in the first place then for my book the cheapest that they could sell them for was £10. naturally they did not sell. Quite a few of my books have been sold through Amazon but I know that it will only be a hobby and that I will not be able to give up the day job. Still it was fun writing the book and I will still carry on writing.

I think it is so sad that you can't get into more bookstores. They might be passing up a real gem.
Sorry, Karen, I've now found your book on play. However, I prefer the cover on Amazon. So, I take it your publishers supply to play, while you supply to amazon?

My own experience is that it is hard to get your book on the shelves unless it is already a best seller. My own book, Half-truths and White Lies, was the winner of the Daily Mail First Novel Award and was published in April 2009. It was my understanding that Borders, Waterstone's and W H Smith Travel had all agreed to stock it (your publisher will arrange this initially) but, whilst some branches have been extremely supportive, I frequently find branches who have yet to order a copy because they are not aware it is out there. Usually they agree to order, say, three copies to see how it sells and then 'hide it' on the shelves. Once it is in the stores, you really want to be on the tables at the front or in a specific areas for debut novelists. Where the cover of my book has been on display in large numbers it has sold well (It has a very eyecatching cover with a fantastic quote from Joanne Harris). The publisher has to pay to get your book into a special offer section (3 for 2, etc.). Where only the spine has been on display it has not sold so well. I make a point of going to all book shops everywhere I go and asking about how they order their books and if they are willing to stock it. Reactions differ. It took me four visits to a bookshop while I was on holiday in Stratford recently to manage to speak to the person responsible for ordering books, but I have now got some very good relationships going which have led to book signings and readings, etc. This has turned into a bit of a rant, but the truth is that this is part of the job and it can be good to get out and meet people when so much of a writer's time is spent in solitary confinement. Janex

Hi Jane

I mentioned above that I work in a bookshop and we have stocked your novel. I would have to check to see how sales went but I know that as an award winner it would have spent time in a diplay area along with other winners/shortlisted and book club recomendations.
We try to encourage the buying of unknowns by having an area for books that staff have read and enjoyed and we write up short recomendation cards, this has proved successful. Just so you know there are independents out there who are trying to persuade people to buy something different from the top 20 best sellers, but it is not easy.

@ Charlene

No, the same distributors should supply to all. But I changed the cover about 6 months after it was published and it seems the distributor only updated certain outlets. No wonder I've had no sales through Play with that horrible lulu template cover! x

I see. Just to let you know, my voucher came through today and I've ordered your book. I hope I like it (and that I get the new cover!)

Charlene x

Thanks! You will get the new cover. When you get it you'll find my contact details in the inside cover. If you email me your address I will send you a copy of the sequel when it's released (providing you like Summerset that is!!)

Karen x

Ok, will do. That's be fantastic. Thanks very much. What's the synopsis for the new one?

Charlene x

I've found that whenever I've done a book signing (The Crossing) then that shop will stock your book for a certain time, but it's usually on a sale and return basis. To get the stores to stock them permanently is difficult. Also, the book is always put up for the full retail price - 9.99, and it's hard to compete with the 3 for 2 prices. I think if you manage to sell 6 or more then you've done well in this market.
Faith

@ Charlene

It's about the grandchildren of the original characters of Summerset and their battle to gain control of the family company. Don't want to give too much away yet!!!

Kx

Ooh sounds good x

Dear Readalot,
Thank you for your feedback - and for your support. Much appreciated. Generally the independents tend to be far more clued up about new releases and their staff are very widely read, and therefore in a better position to make recommendations. From the discussions on Amazon it seems that many readers are very willing to take a risk on new writers and I thnk it really pays to have an area for debut novels. I don't know where you are based, but I'm always willing to come in to sign a few books if you are within striking distance of Surrey/South London. Many thanks, once again. Jane

Hi, Wow have you asked the golden question?

I am currently living the experience and beleive me when I say it is extremly hard. The very sad facts are that the publishing world is very in house, and as an outsider it is very difficult and staggeringly expensive to break in and get a foot hold that will give you the right exposure to the bookstores. I have spent the last three months since the release of my book working night and day and to be honest it has not been a very pleasant experience. the frustration levels are huge. I write a blog on some of my experiences as a self published and self promoting new writer, if you are interested have a look and share your thoughts in the comments box.. www.heirstothekingdom.com/rjmblog

I'm not surprised new authors struggle, when a major publishers comes out with a mass market paperback with a print run of like a hundred thousand copies and with an Amazon price of £5 or £6 who is going to buy a book from an unknown author who's book retails for twice that amount?.

I'm sorry for new authors but the facts are when i'm spending a tenna on a book I had to know that I like it, I can't afford to take a chance on a new author I may or may not enjoy.

I think the only novel by a new author i've bought is Earthcore by Scott Sigler, he produces free podcasts of all his novels so I can be sure I like it. I've now got all the one's he has in print.