Self publishing woes

[Paul]

For all you budding authors out there, self publishing might seem like the way to go but just be aware that most physical book stores in Australia including libraries will not stock your book because it is self published. So its only online for SP.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I transferred this thread to the Author section Paul...

[Paul]

Brenda wrote: "I transferred this thread to the Author section Paul..."

Okay thanks

[S.]

Well best only to make it an e-book and if there are demand then you could always print it later. Make sense to me :)

[Katie]

Paul, I know there are stores here in WA that do stock self-published books. I'm in the country so I haven't tried it with my own novels, but I've illustrated books that have been sold in Dymocks in suburbs of Perth. Libraries will stock your book, too, as far as I know, if they get reader requests. But yes, most sales of physical self-published books come through hawking them at markets.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

My library here holds self published books too. I was just looking at a particular authors last night:)

[S.]

How interesting. Different libraries and stores with different practices it seemed.

[Paul]

Thanks John, mine is held by the National Library however today I was told by a reader that the Qld State Library will not stock it because its self published. I will follow this one up further...thanks mate

[Katie]

So John, are we supposed to send them a copy? I didn't know that.

[Paul]

Katie wrote: "Paul, I know there are stores here in WA that do stock self-published books. I'm in the country so I haven't tried it with my own novels, but I've illustrated books that have been sold in Dymocks i..."

Thanks Katie, I am finding that the bigger bookstores like QBD wont order it in for customers because its self published.

[Paul]

John wrote: "Paul wrote: "Thanks John, mine is held by the National Library however today I was told by a reader that the Qld State Library will not stock it because its self published. I will follow this one ..."

Thanks John

[Geoff]

I self published in Oz (printed by a book printer in SYD) so I had to send a copy to the National Library, NSW Library, NSW Parliamentary Library and the NSW University (don't ask why this bit), all at my expense including postage. At least I did receive a reply from each acknowledging that they had received the book.
I live in NSW so not sure what the local arrangements are for other States. I issued by own ISBN and then later issued another ISBN for the e-book version, but as this was listed on Amazon, and various other outlets, not sure if the Oz authorities require a record of the e-book.
The paperback was also printed via Lightning Source in the US, UK & Europe (and Canada I think) but as it had an Oz ISBN I was not required to hand out any more free - bees.
At least it shows up when one interrogates the National Library data bank :-)
I just wonder if anyone has read it . . . . .

[S.]

Oh how interesting!