Last week, I decided to go to a local bookstore and talk to them about stocking my book. I had gotten their guidelines before and followed them. But part of it didn’t include any feedback. So, on advice of a friend who is a great mentor on being an independent writer I went to the main store to see if I went in person, I could get some kind of momentum going.
The store I am talking about is Powell’s and it even features in my novel.
I walked in from the crisp fall day. I passed the busy cashier area and went to the info booth in the Sci-fi section.
Two bright youngish looking employees greeted me with humor and smile. Was there anything I needed help with.
I told them I am a local author and I was wondering how to get my book stocked in their store.
At first, they were gracious and admiring they pulled a card that has their guidelines and procedure and handed it to me. I smiled and thanked them. I took it put it in my back pocket. I had followed the guidelines in March.
As they explained to me that the stocking department was a remote location not in the stores.
I nodded, “I tried it this way in March, I haven’t heard anything back.”
They looked at each other knowingly. The young man said, “Is it self-published? Is it available anywhere?” His lip curled even though he tried to keep a smile.
I smiled broader and winked, “Yes, it is. It is on Amazon.”
They both started looking really busy. No one was behind me to distract them. I got the body language and the brush off. I said before I parted. “Yeah, I self-published, if I went through a publisher, I would still have to do this but instead of getting twenty-five cents a book, I get a dollar.”
I walked away knowing this was not the right place to make a stand. Wanting to tell them everything I understand about the book business. I still marvel at how it can be done now. How before it required thousands of dollars, because of that there were gatekeepers to what was published and not published.
How lucky we are to live in a world where taste is no longer dictated by the few and the formulaic. That with the internet. Society is changing what becomes popular and what does not. There is also the staggering array of choice.
There is amusing dichotomy happening here. Powell’s is an independent bookstore. It is fighting for the local customer. Making a stand in the world of behemoths like, Amazon and I-tunes, yet it won’t even offer a reason why it is rejecting a person’s book. An independent local author. It has no venue for review. Just on their end.
Hmmmm...
I remember them having a self-publishing venue. I guess, I should investigate it.
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