I’m looking to self-publish my poetry book soon..

[Guest]

..and wanted to start by selling it on Amazon, and then eventually sell physical copies in local book stores. My question is, how can I go about getting it printed?

[Brownell]

Unless things have changed since the last time I tried, it's very difficult to get a printed book on demand from KDP to book stores.

[Jeff]

Yes, you can have Amazon publish them. That’s a solution to your printing needs, but it’s going to hurt your chances of a store carrying your book unless you a) have some connection to the store owner that makes them happy to help you; or b) purchase your own ISBN and assign it to this book. If you use Amazon’s ASIN they give you instead, the book will come up in the store’s system as being published by Amazon, and many store owners will reject it outright at that point.

[Dani]

Amazon prints them just release a paperback version and buy bulk.

[Lissy]

Getting self published into book stores is not easy. Amazon will have the book sold at B&N but only online. Not in their stores.

[JJ Alleson]

Best ask the book shops first if they'll stock it.

[Michael]

Yes the others are right. You publish through KDP. Then you order a bunch of author copies. Then you should be able to sell on consignment from local stores.

Getting stores to actually order it from someone other than you is not something I fully understand. I don't think it's that easy for self-publishers. But I've heard that it is possible. To do that, most people also publish using Ingram spark.

But KDP and selling my consignment is a good way to start.

[Joseph]

Having your own isbn number and not the freebie Amazon of lulu etc can give you helps a lot in not making you look… well, for lack of better phrasing.. like sone hack.

I know isbn numbers are pricy in the states, but Canada and some other countries offer isbns free, but in the case of Canada at least, I had to create a publishing label/entity which is its own hassle. Cheaper than buying isbns in the way Americans need to by far, but still a considerable hassle.

Not hazing Amazon listed on the required title/legal page is occasionally a benefit to the potential readers now and then too. It doesn’t happen a lot, but at conventions I’ve seen people seek out the publisher name. If they see “published by Amazon” or createspace or lulu- some people see that as a sign that the book was not made with professional standards.

My own publishing label, Ozero Publishing has no clout, but any stigma if might carry was just from my own books.

If a reader asks, I honestly just tell them I AM the company, (my only other author is my son who co-wrote a very silly little thing with me) and if someone wants to judge me as a nobody for not pursuing an established publisher, sure, fine, let ‘em. Or they might decide to see me in industrious and independent. I can’t control everyone’s thoughts.

But yes. Unless your local book store has a soft spot for locals, (sone do, some don’t) having Amazon or similar listed as your publisher can be like a stone wall.