From pitch to placement: How authors get books onto bookstore shelves and into library collections

Ideal For: Authors ready to expand beyond Amazon and reach readers through bookstores, libraries, and other retail channels.

If your goal is shelf space—in bookstores or libraries—you need more than a great book. You need a professional pitch, the right materials, and an understanding of how the book trade actually works.

In this two-session workshop, publishing and distribution expert Keri-Rae Barnum walks authors through the practical steps required to sell books into retail and library channels. Each session focuses on a different part of the market so authors understand how the systems work and how to approach buyers with confidence and professionalism.

Session 1: Selling to Bookstores and Retail

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 • 11am-12:15pm PDT (2pm EST)

Bookstores operate within a specific supply chain and buying structure, and they expect books to meet certain professional standards before they will consider stocking them. In this session, we’ll look at how bookstore buying works and what authors must have in place before approaching store buyers.

How bookstores evaluate new titles
The role of wholesalers and distributors in retail placement
Why returnability, pricing, and metadata matter to retailers
Creating effective sell sheets and retail pitch materials

Session 2: Selling to Libraries

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • 11am-12:15pm PDT (2pm EST)

Libraries purchase books differently from bookstores, and understanding those differences is key to success. This session focuses on how authors can position their books for library buyers and the tools librarians use to discover new titles.

How library acquisition works and how librarians evaluate books
The key differences between bookstore and library purchasing
What materials librarians expect from authors and publishers
Real examples of pitches that helped books reach library shelves

Author Business & Book Marketing