tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post1604653331688281510..comments2024-03-19T03:17:32.228-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: How Can Authors Get Their Books Into Bookstores?Jody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-78514609348710353322012-12-13T09:26:48.001-05:002012-12-13T09:26:48.001-05:00Well I thought my book was listed with EVERY onlin...Well I thought my book was listed with EVERY online bookstore. Seems Ingram may be the one that doesnt carry it. Go figure. :( It is so hard getting my book out. It has been out for a year now and Ive mainly only sold to people I know - with a few others buying as well. I wish there were an easier route. Maybe one day I'll open my own book store and shelf ONLY authors who cannot get shelved elsewhere! Sounds like a good idea to me! On a bright note, at least I fell in love about 20 times today! All the gorgeous and beautiful women that have posted in here really made my day! You all have such tantalizing faces! :)Erick Forsythehttp://www.facebook.com/ThePureLanguagenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-7842612662337815202012-10-05T09:56:11.373-04:002012-10-05T09:56:11.373-04:00Jody, Thank you for taking your time to post an in...Jody, Thank you for taking your time to post an informative blog. I am going to check out Ingram immediately. It would be interesting to know how many books are being ordered online compared to how many books are being purchased in a store.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-23172753190581877312012-02-20T21:33:46.045-05:002012-02-20T21:33:46.045-05:00Hi Sue! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and exper...Hi Sue! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with books and bookstores. Even though it's still a struggle for us to stand out online, I agree that modern technology and the new e-revolution is changing the game! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-55607243003454912712012-02-20T16:41:30.335-05:002012-02-20T16:41:30.335-05:00There is a sobering reality to how one gets their ...There is a sobering reality to how one gets their books into a Christian bookstore, should that be a venue an author wants to pursue, and the reality is this. Christian Bookstores FKA Baptist Bookstores will only ever shelve books from publishers who write for their "core market" readers. Meaning that there are strict "denominational" guidelines and writing restrictions that make the work unappealing to everyone even other readers of Faith. Sadly, the broad label Christian is used giving many authors the idea that the store actually wants books that appeal to many readers of Faith. I went through the entire process of having both of my titles approved by Spring Arbor and still NO Christian Bookstore would carry my books which is fine now that I understand they are totally NOT using the label Christian as it was meant to be defined. Authors need to always check the motive of bookstores before they waste their time attempting to get into one. Chain Christian bookstores will only ever stock books from publishers who understand their "core market" readers and write specifically for them, restrictions and all. But then, why would anyone expect anything else. The Baptist Bookstores founded CBA in 1950 to solicit publishers to write specifically for their store visitors . . . for a fee but gave the publisher exclusive access to their bookstores in exchange. The nice thing is that exclusivity is about to bite the dust with technology being "the great equalizer" making it possible for the voiceless to be heard. It's about time too. ;)Author Sue Denthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15610585940904518767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-54206935695335806242012-01-15T15:10:46.287-05:002012-01-15T15:10:46.287-05:00Love the picture too, Sarah! The photographer was ...Love the picture too, Sarah! The photographer was VERY talented! ;-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-60027791936285956532012-01-15T15:08:49.995-05:002012-01-15T15:08:49.995-05:00Hi Anne,
Yes, I can imagine that it's not alw...Hi Anne,<br /><br />Yes, I can imagine that it's not always clear-cut as to why some bookstores carry our books and others don't. I'm sure there is some variations among stores, depending on the size of the store, customers that frequent it, etc. And yes, I agree! You're very lucky to have a sales rep for a husband! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-86620182344427040562012-01-15T12:21:32.889-05:002012-01-15T12:21:32.889-05:00I still have the dream, and it will (to some exten...I still have the dream, and it will (to some extent) become a reality in April. I've seen other books from my relatively small publisher in bookshops here, but it seems to be a matter of chance as to which titles are stocked by which branches. On the other hand I'm very lucky to have a book sales rep for a husband (non-fiction, admittedly), so I can be reasonably sure that local shops, at least, have a few in stock! :)Anne Lylehttp://www.annelyle.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-40377259977602446632012-01-12T18:21:04.427-05:002012-01-12T18:21:04.427-05:00It only matters to me if my book is carried in a l...It only matters to me if my book is carried in a local store after I first release it and publicize it. Most people are shopping online these days, and a non-famous author's book can easily get lost in a real book store, esp one as big as B&N unless you're publicizing the heck out of it. Out it goes into the discount bin if it doesn't sell - or worse, it gets returned. Local indies are much more amenable to your book and may allow you a book event.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-15927282195156970352012-01-12T14:49:10.973-05:002012-01-12T14:49:10.973-05:00Karen, From what I understand Ingram carries most ...Karen, From what I understand Ingram carries most traditionally published books. But I think your publisher could check for you. Or the bookstore in question could look it up for you too.Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-49282287239812980682012-01-12T14:07:54.673-05:002012-01-12T14:07:54.673-05:00If anyone would explain how an author can find out...If anyone would explain how an author can find out if Ingram is distributing his/her book, I'd be most grateful!Karen A. Wylehttp://www.karenawyle.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-66919627536676198492012-01-11T14:03:06.651-05:002012-01-11T14:03:06.651-05:00Heather, Thanks for sharing your further insights ...Heather, Thanks for sharing your further insights and what's worked for you! Appreciate it!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-12521601525419098882012-01-11T12:04:02.369-05:002012-01-11T12:04:02.369-05:00Some bookstores (such as Barnes and Noble, and Fam...Some bookstores (such as Barnes and Noble, and Family Christian Stores) have submission guidelines right on their websites for authors who wish for them to carry their books. For me, Barnes and Noble carries my book on their website, but to get it into the stores it would either have to have a high sales rate, or I would have to deliver a submission packet to each individual store in the area. If they chose to put it on their shelves and it did well, then it would be put on shelves nation wide.Heather Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06815204762105256632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-70842708518754141262012-01-10T21:42:06.644-05:002012-01-10T21:42:06.644-05:00Very interesting,thanks Jody! That explains a litt...Very interesting,thanks Jody! That explains a little bit better why I can't always find a book I want at a store. ;-)Caseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00920406327885410557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-18741550643560546792012-01-10T17:44:10.692-05:002012-01-10T17:44:10.692-05:00As always, great information. It's good to get...As always, great information. It's good to get another take on the business and what's going on with hard-cover books. Thanks for passing along the knowledge.Kathi Oram Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11959149321213743448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-1836533257835928392012-01-10T15:21:19.533-05:002012-01-10T15:21:19.533-05:00Fascinating, Jody! Thank you so much for sharing t...Fascinating, Jody! Thank you so much for sharing the insider scoop on this. (And by the way, I love that picture you used in your post. ;))Sarah Forgravehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09101753891967001104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-39382113414385508972012-01-10T13:01:46.107-05:002012-01-10T13:01:46.107-05:00Thanks for taking the time to learn all this and p...Thanks for taking the time to learn all this and post it, Jody! I knew there was a lot of work involved in getting books in stores, but you laid it all out quite nicely. :)<br /><br />Oh, my hand is up! up! up! :) That and the library. I can't wait. :)Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08846251713093236356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-52791880042658398382012-01-10T12:43:21.264-05:002012-01-10T12:43:21.264-05:00My hand is up, and the dream is still alive!
Than...My hand is up, and the dream is still alive!<br /><br />Thanks for sharing this information.Loree Huebnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09845600356878587780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-68883067519273155502012-01-10T12:27:08.597-05:002012-01-10T12:27:08.597-05:00This is good to know stuff. Thanks, Jody. (Can a w...This is good to know stuff. Thanks, Jody. (Can a writer sit outside a book store with a stack of books and a tin can??? Probably not.)patti.mallett_pphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453756965198648016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-58772910473109166072012-01-10T12:12:50.547-05:002012-01-10T12:12:50.547-05:00It is a nerve-wracking thought, and, honestly, I&#...It is a nerve-wracking thought, and, honestly, I've been chasing it away from my brain for a while. But at some point, if my book will be published in the traditional way, I will have to face the dilemma :-) <br /><br />Thank you for sharing these fabulous advices on the process!Author A.O. Pearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09522726537375775560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-15184528952436681132012-01-10T12:12:23.745-05:002012-01-10T12:12:23.745-05:00Thanks for sharing this info. It seems that it tak...Thanks for sharing this info. It seems that it takes a village to sell a debut book in a bookstore...or, more presisely, lots of publisher support.Jennifer Hoffinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-80485823331115801352012-01-10T11:42:15.686-05:002012-01-10T11:42:15.686-05:00My book won't be in Barnes and Noble (except f...My book won't be in Barnes and Noble (except for those stores near me). A debut middle grade literary historical isn't exactly a hot seller at our country's biggest chain.<br /><br />And that's okay. May B. will find her place in the indies (and online).Caroline Starr Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04597510685273079757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-4438814421664635782012-01-10T10:26:45.158-05:002012-01-10T10:26:45.158-05:00I have a dream...that one day...I will see my book...I have a dream...that one day...I will see my book in stores ( both hands raised high!). Lol. Great post! Thanks, Jody.Lindsay Harrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09379628592162011068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-46405811595864461162012-01-10T10:15:39.095-05:002012-01-10T10:15:39.095-05:00Jody,
Thanks so much for being willing to share th...Jody,<br />Thanks so much for being willing to share the behind-the-scenes view of publishing with us.Beth K. Vogthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04032849469366266791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-39531509365248786682012-01-10T10:08:34.298-05:002012-01-10T10:08:34.298-05:00It makes so much sense with more and more books be...It makes so much sense with more and more books being published, that there's just not shelf space for them all in brick and mortar stores. Sobering, and humbling to be sure! Its comforting to know that there are ways an author can help get their books onto shelves and makes me thankful for all the Indy booksellers who often have more freedom to work with new and small press authors.Joanne Bischofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12850714020955061159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-51721125244891319182012-01-10T10:08:08.063-05:002012-01-10T10:08:08.063-05:00This is great information! Thanks Jody!This is great information! Thanks Jody!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11657583544798915346noreply@blogger.com