Marketing - to Publishers more book Sales

3 October 2011, Marketing - to Publishers more book Sales

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little.  I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon.  The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel.  Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing.  In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes.  You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published.  I'll keep you informed along the way.  At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.

Today's Blog:  I wrote about classical books sales agreements and discount book sales agreements yesterday.  They are both kind of depressing and distressing.  The question is are there other ways of making book sales? The answer is yes. Then what are they? 

The publishing and book selling business has changed radically in the last 15 years.  The main method indie writers can use to get their books into bookstores is by consignment.  Many bookstores will stock your books as long as they get a cut, and you take them back instead of them having to ship them back to the publisher.  This won't make you much money, and you can only put books on consignment where an independent shop will do it.  Additionally, you have to be able to bring the books to them--so nationwide sales are out. 

I'll repeat, your take with this method will be very little, usually 10 cents or less per book, but you can get your book on bookstore shelves.  When I teach classes, I usually put some of my books on consignment at a local store.  That gives my students a place to buy my books directly--if they don't purchase them from me.

Self sales are always an option, but you have to pay the taxes, and you have to usually get a state vendor's license.  If you have a friend with a license, you can have them pay the taxes for you.  You definitely want to be able to make sales of your books when you speak or when you have book signings etc.

You can see that the classic publisher route is the best way to go to get your books on bookstore shelves, but there are now many other ways to sell your books.  I'll write about them tomorrow.
I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples:   http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites:  http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.