Getting into Independent Bookstores

Seeing your graphic novel on a bookstore shelf is a thrill — and a local bookstore can become a real partner, hosting events and recommending your books to customers. Here's how to approach one.

Make sure they can order it

Most bookstores order through distributors, not Amazon. Your book needs to be available through a channel they use — see IngramSpark for graphic novels and ISBNs explained. Stores also look at the wholesale discount and whether the book is returnable.

Start local

Independent bookstores often love supporting local creators. Begin with stores in your town or where your book is set.

Visit — politely

• Buy something, or at least be a customer first.
• Ask when the buyer is available; don't pitch a busy staff member at the register.
• Bring a finished copy and a one-page sell sheet: cover, description, age range, page count, price, ISBN, and how to order.

Consignment

If a store won't order through a distributor, many accept local books on consignment: you supply copies, and the store pays you an agreed share when they sell. Agree the terms in writing — the split, how long they'll keep the books, and when you'll check in.

Offer an event

A signing, a reading, or a drawing workshop ("Turn a classic into a comic") gives the store a reason to stock your books and bring in customers. Children's events, school-holiday activities, and classic-literature book clubs are natural fits.

Make it easy to sell

• A shelf-talker (a small card for the shelf) describing the book.
• Signed copies with "Signed by the author" stickers.
• A free reading guide for parents and teachers.

Keep in touch

Check in occasionally, restock consignment copies, and tell the store about new books in your series. A good relationship with one store often leads to introductions to others.