HELP FOR SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHORS!

Getting Your Book In Barnes & Noble

How to be Considered for an Author Event


Each year, we review more than 100,000 submissions from publishers of every size and background. Our buyers review publishers’ catalogues, marketing materials and galleys or sample copies to help them make their decisions. Most of these books are added to our book database and a small order is placed for our warehouse. This makes a title available for sale on our Web site and for order through our stores.

If you would like your title to be considered by our buyers, please submit a finished copy (no manuscripts please) of the book along with marketing and promotion plans, trade reviews, and a note describing how the book meets the competition (what makes it unique) to:

The Small Press Department
Barnes & Noble
122 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10011

Please include your phone number and e-mail address.

The information must include the ISBN and the suggested retail price. The review process takes about six weeks. The Small Press Department responds to all submissions in writing.

All books will be considered for store placement based on subject matter and salability. Please consider the following points when publishing and presenting your book.

Points to Consider

Does your book have an International Standard Book Number (ISBN)?
Does your book have a bar code?
What sort of binding (saddle stitch, staple, perfect, plastic comb, ring) does your book have?
Is your book available through a wholesaler?
Is your book priced competitively with other titles of a similar topic and quality?
Why should Barnes & Noble place your title on its shelves?
Where can you find more information on the topic of book writing, publishing, and marketing?


Does your book have an International Standard Book Number (ISBN)?

We use the ISBN to track inventory and sales information. An ISBN is a 10-digit number that specifically identifies your title. ISBNs are furnished by:

ISBN Agency
630 Central Avenue
New Providence, NJ 07974
(877)310-7333
(908)219-0188 (fax)
www.isbn.org

Processing takes 10 working days. An extra fee brings 72-hour priority handling. If your book has already been printed, you can sticker your book with the ISBN once it is assigned. The ISBN and price should appear on the back cover of the book.
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Does your book have a bar code?

Bar codes help our stores handle books more efficiently. The bar code which incorporates your ISBN is scanned at the time of purchase, thus recording accurately the sale of your book. The book industry uses the Bookland EAN bar code, not the UPC. If your book is already printed, you can have pressure sensitive labels produced for placement on the back cover. For a list of commercial Bar code suppliers, visit the BISG website: www.bisg.org/barcoding/bc_suppliers.html.
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What sort of binding (saddle stitch, staple, perfect, plastic comb, ring) does your book have?

Perfect binding is more expensive, but perfect-bound books have the potential for a longer shelf life and better sales because the name of the book can be printed on the spine. Since most of the titles in our stores are placed on the shelves spine out, stapled or saddle stitched books essentially disappear. If your book is plastic comb-bound or perfect-bound, the title and other pertinent information should be printed on the spine. Otabind is another type of perfect binding that allows a paperback to lie flat.
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Is your book available through a wholesaler?

Your willingness to place your book with a book wholesaler may determine whether or not we carry it. Wholesalers normally expect a 50-55% discount, pay in 60-90 days, and expect books to be returnable. Some expect free freight. Placing your book with a wholesaler will simplify your billing (one invoice to one location). It also allows Barnes & Noble to place larger orders and put the book on automatic replenishment. Wholesalers are used by many segments of the book industry: publishers, libraries, and booksellers. Other bookstores order from the same wholesalers used by Barnes & Noble. We can help put you in touch with an appropriate wholesaler.
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Is your book priced competitively with other titles of a similar topic and quality?

Price can be a determining factor for a customer when looking at books similar in content, presentation and format. Look at the pricing of other like books in the same category, and try to price yours competitively.
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Why should Barnes & Noble place your title on its shelves?

Tell us what makes your book unique or special. What is your marketing plan? Send us your publicity and promotional plans, along with any reviews or articles that may have been written about your book(s).
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Where can you find more information on the topic of book writing, publishing, and marketing?

The reference shelf in your favorite bookstore or local library features a wide variety of titles about writing books and the business of publishing.
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