Developmental Editor Talks to Writers About Book Distribution in Publishing World

DALLAS - Feb. 27, 2015 - PRLog -- DALLAS, TX: Susan Mary Malone, (http://www.maloneeditorial.com/) award winning book author and developmental editor, recently wrote to authors on the role distribution plays in the publishing world. Miss Malone examined many of the factors involved in distribution, with special attention to the differences between distribution available in the traditional publishing mold and in the self-publishing world. Miss Malone has helped over 40 authors get published to traditional publishers in her career.

In the article, Miss Malone stressed that while self-publishing may be tempting, looking to get self-published books distributed in major stores is a battle lost before it’s begun. “Here’s the deal: Traditionally published books are distributed through Ingram. And it’s through Ingram that brick-and-mortar stores stock their books. Baker & Taylor is another player, but small in comparison. And Ingram doesn’t distribute self-published books. Period. See the dilemma? If you self-published your book and want to see it on the shelves at the local Barnes & Noble, you’re out of luck. There is no distribution method to get there. That door is closed before you even knew it existed.”

Malone went on to comment on the changes on the traditional publishing side: “In the ever-changing world of all aspects of publishing, because of the distribution model they’ve always used, the big publishers got caught with their pants down. Until the last few years, most books were still purchased through brick-and mortar stores. We all know what’s happened to that. Bookstores have folded right and left. Even the monolith of Barnes & Noble shut down 30% of their stores last year. With doubtless more to follow.”

“There are so many changes in the publishing world, it changes practically to the minute! I’ve been writing these articles to cover the aspects of it that I have run into in working with authors who have gotten published. If this field is going to keep changing (and it is!) then authors need to know what the changes are, preferably before they plunge into the wild world of literary publication,” Malone concluded.

The full text of the article can be found here: http://www.maloneeditorial.com/blog/lessons-from-the-trad...

Susan Mary Malone has worked as a freelance book editor since 1993, with a BS in Political Science and minors in English and Journalism. Her client list includes NY Times Bestsellers, Essence Bestsellers and books featured in Publishers Weekly. She is also an award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction herself. She participates as a speaker in literary conferences such as the Harriett Austin Writer's Conference (at the University of Georgia), the Blue Ridge Writer's Conference, the SouthWest Writer's Conference, the East Texas Writer’s Guild, the Lexicon Conference, and the upcoming NETWO Spring Writer’s Conference among others. Her full biography and featured list of published authors can be viewed at http://www.maloneeditorial.com