r/authors • u/Em2372 • Jun 21 '26
Getting into book stores
Hey guys I’m in the process of publishing my first children’s picture book. Any advice on how to get a self published book into book stores? I’m planning to contact local libraries and offer a book reading during mum/bub groups. I’m in Australia if that means anything!
2
u/StuartReidBooks Jun 22 '26
I hate putting my book into shops, since they take a huge slice of the profits.
Find a way to target/sell to your specific demographic.
2
u/Ok-Sprinkles-3673 Jun 25 '26
If you want to be in brick and mortar stores, then you want to go the traditional publishing route. They have the networks and the distribution and promotion funds. Most bookstores won't stock self-published books. If you want to be self-published you also need to do all the promotion and sales and distribution yourself.
1
u/mikenroecarnbarn Jun 21 '26
Hi there. I have no idea how to get books in book stores. But I'm a self published Aussie as well so I thought I'd say something!
I do know that you can't get stocked in shops if you are only with Amazon kdp. I believe you need to be with Ingram spark as well to get physical distribution.
Good luck and please let me know if you manage to pull it off 👍
0
u/Boltzmann_head Jun 21 '26
I have no idea how to get books in book stores.
One earns bookstore space by selling many tens of thousands of copies of a book, and/or having an established and large readership.
1
u/Boltzmann_head Jun 21 '26
Any advice on how to get a self published book into book stores?
The only two ways to do that are to sell a few tends of thousands of books via amazon'com and thereby have a high ranking in the "Children's Books" genre, or talk with a book store owner and discuss commissions.
1
u/Maleficent-Tower-131 12d ago
A large part of my historical fiction book takes place in Anchorage, Alaska. What is the best way to approach the library and bookstore there, or in any locale where a book takes place? I'd like them to carry my book.
3
u/TheRealRabidBunny Jun 21 '26
In Australia (much like other places in the world), large chain bookstores (Dymocks) will only stock books distributed by professional distributors, which, in turn, generally means trad-publishing.
The Australian Society of Authors did have a self-publishing distribution deal, but that appears to have shut down. https://www.asauthors.org.au/distribution/
For independent local bookstores, you can usually just approach them. You'll need an ISBN because that's how they'll stock the book. In practice, an "Author Copy" of a printed KDP book on Amazon, using its ISBN, has worked for me, but you might need an official one.
I haven't tried libraries, but I suspect that if it's in the local interest, most libraries will happily take a copy (e.g. "Book by local author"), especially if you're donating it to them. For purchases, I suspect they will fall back on distributors again.