Want Your Novel in Bookstores?

Imagine to walk into a local Barnes & Noble and find your own book displayed on the shelves…

IBPA

Before you approach bookstores, make sure your book will pass muster with a book buyer.  The Independent Book Publishers Association has published an Industry Standards Checklist for Professionally Published Books.  If you want bookstores to carry your book, please make sure you can check every single box on this list before you bring a copy into their store and ask them to carry it.

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In March 2017, IBPA’s Advocacy Committee published an Industry Standards Checklist for a Professionally Published Book.  The purpose of the checklist is to give book authors and industry professionals an at-a-glance gauge of the professional presentation of any book in order to help level the playing field between indie publishers and large-scale conglomerates.

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How IBPA Helps Authors:
“Too often, IBPA has noticed a bias against self-published authors, independent publishers, and hybrid presses when it comes to choosing titles or authors for review consideration, book award contests, association memberships, and inclusion on independent bookstore shelves,” said IBPA CEO Angela Bole.
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Excerpt From the Industry Checklist for a Professionally Published Book

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COVER DESIGN
Reference the October 2016 issue of IBPA Independent magazine for examples of great design. If you no longer have your copy, email the IBPA office at info@ibpa-online.org to request a new copy for $4.95 per issue.

Win by Design
http://articles.ibpa-online.org/article/win-by-design/

3 Challenging Covers
http://articles.ibpa-online.org/article/3-challenging-covers/

Sample 1: General Cover
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.ibpa-online.org/resource/resmgr/images/checklist/cover-sample-1.png

Sample 2.1: General Cover
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.ibpa-online.org/resource/resmgr/images/checklist/cover-GillianPugsley-awards.jpg

Sample 1: Advance Reader Copy Cover
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.ibpa-online.org/resource/resmgr/images/checklist/ARC-cover-sample-1.jpg

Sample 2: Advance Reader Copy Cover
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.ibpa-online.org/resource/resmgr/images/checklist/ARC-cover-sample-2.jpg

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INTERIOR DESIGN SPREADS
The following interior design spreads are linked with permission of the publisher.

Sample 1: Interior Spread
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.ibpa-online.org/resource/resmgr/images/checklist/book-interior-sample-1.jpg

Sample 2: Interior Spread
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.ibpa-online.org/resource/resmgr/images/checklist/book-interior-sample-2.jpg

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TITLE PAGES
The title page is often the very first page of the book (if you don’t include a half-title page).

Sample 1: Light Messages Publishing
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.ibpa-online.org/resource/resmgr/images/checklist/title-page-1.png

Sample 2: Light Messages Publishing
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.ibpa-online.org/resource/resmgr/images/checklist/title-page-2.png
COPYRIGHT PAGES
Copyright pages vary, but all contain the same general information.  Below are copyright page examples linked with permission of the publisher.

Sample 1: She Writes Press
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.ibpa-online.org/resource/resmgr/images/checklist/copyright-page-sample-1.jpg

Sample 2: Independent Book Publishers Association
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.ibpa-online.org/resource/resmgr/images/checklist/copyright-page-sample-5.png

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“IBPA’s Industry Checklist for a Professionally Published Book will help industry professionals and independent publishers and authors bridge this gap by offering a structured means.  It will ensure that books be judged on merit and quality rather than on the business model used to produce them or the size of the publisher.”

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