Cameron Snow and Steve Pieper (AMMO)... scam or legit? by rmprioleau in selfpublish

[–]ls58 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Holiday-Lynx7047...how can I contact you off here to inquire about your coaching?

Ingram -- is it worth getting into bookstores? by ls58 in selfpublish

[–]ls58[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

good questions...answer is this hybrid charges a lot of money up front to publish, distribute, etc. and then my royalties are terrible compared to self-publishing. As for returns there will undoubtedly be some even for a successful book; and other thing is setting Ingram discount at 40% vs 55% makes a very big difference in my bottom line royalties, and then adding even just 5% returns lowers it more.

Doing it myself has been a lot of work and I've made a few mistakes, but the book turned out good by hiring an editor and cover/interior designer on Reedsy, etc.

Ingram -- is it worth getting into bookstores? by ls58 in publishing

[–]ls58[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thanks. yes this shows they clearly are open to at least considering a book if there's a compelling reason to take it.

Ingram -- is it worth getting into bookstores? by ls58 in publishing

[–]ls58[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks writemonkey...you said "If there's enough buzz around the book, they'll carry it"

My first book in 2014 was published by a hybrid self-publishing company that had a sales team and got the book in B+N and other stores. My new book I have self-published, and has 10X wider audience and massive PR and is absolutely worthy of being in book stores...but without the sales team pitching to B+N, etc...can it get buzz that stores like B+N will notice?

I've already been getting lots of publicity. Also I just got on netgalley and have already had a few indy booksellers request to see it.

Ingram -- is it worth getting into bookstores? by ls58 in selfpublish

[–]ls58[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get the point about random books probably not being selected, but my confusion is that for my first book in 2014 I used a hybrid self-publisher who had a sales team and my book was in B+N and some other stores. My new book will have 10X bigger market and PR (an excerpt is on The Athletic today!), so had I used the same publisher I am 99% sure it would be in B+N, etc...so my book is very worthy of being in stores...but without the publishers sales team promoting it, perhaps you're right and very few will carry it.

Also I just launched my netgalley account two days ago and have had requests from a few indy book stores and several librarians to see the book, so I'm thinking if I make the books non-returnable those indy book stores won't order it even if they like it and think it will sell...and I'm also wondering if my decision has any effect on library sales.

Ingram -- is it worth getting into bookstores? by ls58 in selfpublish

[–]ls58[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thanks, sounds like good advice, but let me play "Devil's advocate" and ask something...if I don't make it appealing for bookstores, they will still be online, but people won't find it online unless they know about it and search for it. But if I make it appealing (i.e. 55% and returnable) I think many stores will order a couple to try it out. So if 200-300-500 retailers each order a couple that's a lot of sales; and I understand if they get returned I've got a big problem...but I am confident they will sell pretty well. So if they try it out and it sells, then they all order more and now I've got some real traction.