Local Author Book Submission Guidelines for Next Chapter Books

 

Congratulations on publishing your book and creating something unique!

 

We’re thrilled that you want to share your work with our community. We receive many requests from independent authors, and with limited shelf space, we need to consider each submission carefully to see if it's a good fit for our store.

 

To help streamline the process, please read the following criteria before submitting your request. If your book meets our guidelines and we’re interested in carrying it, we will contact you.

 

Please note: We do not buy inventory directly from authors. You must ensure that your title is available through a reputable publisher or wholesaler such as Ingram.

 

We carefully review all submissions but cannot provide feedback on why a book may not be selected. Please respect our decision, as we know our customers best.

 

Priority Consideration may be given to titles that have:

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• Recency - The book must have been published within the last two years.

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• Full Trade Discount and Returnability - The book must have bookstore friendly terms through your publisher or platform. We recommend 40% or greater wholesale discount and returnability.

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• Local Relevance - We prioritize books that have broad appeal to nearby and regional residents.

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• Strong Availability - The book must be available through a reputable publisher or wholesaler (such as Ingram).

 

Information to Include in Your Submission

 

Please email the below information to info@nextchapterbkstore.com.

 

• Personal Information: Your name, email, phone number, and billing/invoice address.

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• Website: A link to your official website or online presence.

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• Social Media Handles: Links to your active social media accounts.

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• Book Details: Title, EAN (ISBN), Publication Date, List Price, Genre (BISAC) Number of Pages and Total Copies Sold since publication.

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• Pitch: A brief 3-4 sentence description of your book, its themes, and why it’s a good fit for our bookstore.

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• How to buy: Where can people find your book online? Please indicate if the title is available through a reputable publisher or wholesaler (such as Ingram). If you have an Ingram Spark Share & Sell link, please ensure retail pricing is reflected there. We also appreciate Bookshop.org links. Please avoid Amazon links as we consider Amazon a direct threat to our business.

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• Marketing: A brief 3-4 sentence outline of how you will encourage your readers to shop at our store. We are not responsible for external marketing of individual books to our patrons.

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• Review Copies: You may be asked to provide a review copy of your book for further consideration. Please do not drop off books unless we have requested you to; our space is limited.

 

Other Best Practices for Author-Bookstore Collaboration

 

Here are a few additional best practices for authors to help ensure a successful relationship with Next Chapter Books

 

• Professionalism and Respect: Always approach the staff and owners with courtesy and professionalism. Understand that space, time, and resources are limited, and we often balance many requests.

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• Clear Expectations: Establish clear expectations upfront about events, marketing, consignment, pricing, and promotional efforts. Misunderstandings can lead to frustration.

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• Collaborative Marketing: Be proactive in working with bookstores to plan events or promotions that benefit both parties. Cross-promote on social media, include local business collaborations, or offer exclusive author merchandise.

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• Promote Local, Support Local: We encourage authors to focus on building relationships with us. Supporting one another is crucial to fostering community and growing your readership. Be a good bookstore customer, too.

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• Follow-Up: After submitting your request, follow-up after a reasonable amount of time. But be mindful of our busy schedule - don’t overwhelm us with frequent emails or phone calls.

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• Social Media and Networking: Be sure to tag Next Chapter Books in your posts when you promote your book or events. This helps strengthen the partnership and increases visibility for both you and us.

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• Customer Engagement: Remember that the Next Chapter Books staff is an extension of your audience. Be gracious and approachable with the customer when you’re in store for an event or when you stop by to check on your book’s progress. And never rearrange a bookstore’s inventory!

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• Be Adaptable: Understand that bookstore inventory decisions may change based on customer demand and other factors. Flexibility and a positive attitude go a long way in maintaining good relationships.