It sounds great. B&N announced the new Nook Press print platform that gives self-published authors the ability to produce hardcover and paperback books. Eligible authors will be able to sell their books at Barnes & Noble stores as well as selling both their print and ebooks online. They will also have the ability to participate at in-store events such as readings and book signings.
But hold on a minute. Notice the word ‘eligible’. When you visit the Nook Press website, it says that Top Selling authors may have the opportunity for in-store placement or in-store author events. Who qualifies as a top selling author? Someone who’s sold over 1,000 units of their NOOK Press eBook in the past 12 months. Those authors may be eligible to get their books in a Barnes & Noble store on a local, regional, or national level. For in store events, authors must have sold over 500 units of their NOOK Press eBook in the past 12 months, then it may be eligible for a signing event at a Barnes & Noble store.
For both the in store sales and the in store signing the book must be reviewed by Barnes & Noble small press department and one of the company’s corporate buyers. For in store events the local store manager must approve.
Clearly, this capability is geared towards authors who are already successful. If you’re a new author just starting out you won’t qualify this for this program for a while. What should you do to prepare yourself and your book to take advantage of it in the future?
- Create a high quality manuscript, one that is formatted properly, has the standard components of a book published by one of the Big Five professional publishing houses, and has been professionally edited and proofread.
- Create an interesting book title with a professionally designed cover
- Build and implement a marketing plan to maximize your Nook book sales
Keep in mind that the Nook platform is only one of several where you should be placing your book. It may be difficult to get a thousand units sold on just one platform, especially if you’re a nonfiction author like the ones I work with. Their goals are usually much broader than simply selling a lot of books. They use their book to increase their visibility and authority with their clients. They leverage the book to get speaking engagements and to sell workshops. Their book marketing plan encompasses multiple selling platforms as well as community building and outreach activities. Become a subscriber for more non-fiction book writing, publishing, and marketing tips.
