What To Send to a Bookstore Buyer?

When selling a book to the bookstores, libraries, and chains, remember that the people seeing your book sales kit see hundreds of sales kits a day. They will choose a very small percentage of the books they see. Your kit can make the difference between a purchase order and a politely worded e-mail (We regret to inform you …). When you send a package to a buyer for consideration, it is your first and perhaps only chance to impress them. Here is a checklist of what is recommended for inclusion in your package:

• Color printout of the cover on heavy, glossy paper.


• A bound ARC/galley or comb-bound manuscript if the book is finished. Sample chapters printed out if it is not.


• Fully outlined marketing and publicity plan


• One-page title information sheet with :
  ISBN
  Title
  Subtitle
  Author
  Author bio
  Author hometown
  100-word description of book
  Order contact information
  Book category
  Retail price
  Page count
  Trim size
  Ship date
  Publication date
  Format
  Print run
  Co-op and advertising budget
  Title and ISBN of previous books by author or in the series
  Title and ISBN of books similar to yours