How To Get Your Self-Published Book Into Bookstores

by Debbie Young, Orna Ross (Editor)

Are you looking for a quick and easy way to get your self-published books into local and international bookstores?

"A must-read for all indie authors!"
"Highly recommended!"

New technologies, tools, and distribution methods make it easier than ever for indies to place their books on global bookshelves!

While selling print books through brick-and-mortar stores can be challenging, it is also extremely rewarding. Getting shelf-space will help you to reach readers who prefer print and who like to browse and shop offline for books.

Even if you’re a technophobe, this friendly, easy-to-follow guidebook will take you through every step of the process so you can soon start selling more books in your home country, and across the world.

We’ll cover... - the best way to approach both independent stores and chains
- how to decide on print-on-demand vs batch orders
- how to find your perfect profit point, and much more
You’ll learn… - how bookstores actually operate (and how it can it help you)
- how to easily make your titles bookstore-ready
- why bookstores are essential to all authors like you
You’ve written that great book, published it online, now find out how to get it on the shelves and selling more in this quick, encouraging read by the renowned Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi).

164 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2017

About the author

Hello dear readers!

I hope you will enjoy my warm, witty, feel-good contemporary fiction, full of English humour and heart, inspired by life in the Cotswold village which has been my home for over 30 years. I have three series of cozy mystery novels plus various short fiction, and I've written a couple of non-fiction books too.

NOVELS

My latest book is "Death at the Village Christmas Fair", the third in my Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mystery series. The series begins with "Death at the Old Curiosity Shop", followed by "Death at the Village Chess Club". In this series, moving from the city to the lively Cotswold village of Little Pride, Alice Carroll (50) discovers that nothing is quite what it seems in her new business enterprise. Each novel in this series has at its heart an intriguing item to be found in her bric-a-brac shop, and features eccentric characters, plenty of red herrings and lots of English humour.

My Sophie Sayers Village Mystery series begins with "Best Murder in Show". Originally envisaged as a seven-book series to run the course of a calendar year in the life of the idyllic English Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow, it continues to grow, with the most recent addition being Sophie Sayers' ninth outing, "Driven to Murder",

My Gemma Lamb Cozy Mystery series is a mashup of romantic comedy, gentle mystery and nostalgia for classic children's school stories but aimed at adults. It focuses on the intrigues among the teachers and visitors to the school, rather than the children. "Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's" (previously published as "Secrets at St Bride's"), and is followed by "Sinister Secrets at St Bride's" (formerly "Secrets at St Bride's"), Wicked Whispers at St Bride's", and "Artful Antics at St Bride's". Two further books will follow to complete the series of six, running the course of the academic year at St Bride's Boarding School for Girls.

All of my novels are now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audio in English. There are also German language editions of Sophie Sayers' adventures and Italian translations of Gemma Lamb's.

SHORT FICTION

My series of comedy mystery novelettes, Tales from Wendlebury Barrow, is set in the same world as the Sophie Sayers Cozy Mysteries. The first, "The Pride of Peacocks", is available exclusively to members of my Readers' Club (visit my author website to claim your copy). "The Natter of Knitters" and "The Clutch of Eggs" are available in ebook and paperback. A Christmas special, "Christmas with Sophie Sayers", featuring festive short stories set in the same world, was published for Christmas 2023. Three more Sophie Sayers short stories appear in the charity anthologies, "Fate", "Everyday Kindness" and "The Little Shop of Murders". Look out for another one in the "Courage" anthology, coming in 2026!

My standalone novella, "Mrs Morris Changes Lanes", is a second-chance mid-life romantic comedy with a touch of magical realism, set in the Cotswolds in spring,

Earlier in my career, I published three themed collections of short stories, "Stocking Fillers", "Marry in Haste", and "Quick Change".

PLAYS

I've also now started writing scripts for murder mystery events, My debut play, "The Importance of Being Murdered", was premiered by Hawkesbury Drama Group in April 2025. The original playscript will be published later this year for use by amateur drama groups all over the world, and I'm also working on a novelisation.

AWARDS

The first St Bride's novel was shortlisted for the 2020 Selfies Award given for the best independently-published fiction in the UK. The sixth Sophie Sayers novel was shortlisted for the same award in 2021. My short story "The Alchemy of Chocolate", from "Quick Change", was a winning entrant to the April 2015 Stroud Short Stories competition, and as a result I was later invited to read it at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

FREE EBOOK

Rec

Reviews

[Elizabeth Ducie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-researched and extremely useful overview of the topic, as you would expect from a guide put out in the name of ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors). Debbie Young's writing style is fluent and easy to read. I worked my way through it in a couple of days, highlighting lots of points to return to at my leisure. The final chapter, with a list of 20 ways an author can help and support local bookstores, is particularly useful. It reminded me there is more than one way to buy and sell books these days, and that all routes to market are equally important.

[Clare Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all indie authors. Demystifies the book trade and how to access bricks and mortar stores for your books. Young covers everything from the economics to how to pitch. importantly she encourages authors to ask themselves whether they really want to get into bookstores at all, setting out the pros and cons clearly. Packed full of examples from all continents it is a rich store of information whatever your circumstances.
I got my ebook free from The Alliance of Independent Authors - one of the many membership perks - but like all my favourite reference books I will also be buying the paperback when it is published so it's readily to hand.

[Therese Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was well written, clear, thorough, and helpful. It helped me to pursue getting my books in bookstores rather than just thinking about it.