- 1). Once your book has been edited and is in final stages of prepress, you need to file and acquire an ISBN code for the book along with a suggested retail price.
- 2). After your ISBN is granted, but before publication, galley copies of your book need to be made. Galleys, unproofed manuscripts that look similar to what will be final product, are used to share with buyers and media outlets. Usually publishers run about 40 or 50 copies to distribute.
- 3). Now you need to find the buyer of your book genre. The buyers are divided up into book genre as well as regional titles. To find the appropriate person, call your local Barnes and Noble and ask to speak to the community relations director to get additional information.
- 4). Approximately six to eight weeks prior to publishing and 3 to 5 months before release date, the publisher contacts the buyers at Barnes and Noble for potential shelf space.
- 5). The buyer will need to see actual copies of the book (two to five copies), any information of forthcoming media exposure, any information you may have about a book tour and which book distributors will be distributing your book (the most common is Baker and Taylor.)
- 6). If the buyers at Barnes and Noble find the book worthy of placement in their stores, they will order a copy count for each store. It could be as minimal as one a store or dozens - depending on the topic.
- 7). When your publication date becomes closer, you once again contact the Barnes and Noble to see what, if any, copies maybe ordered and follow up with any additional information about your book.
- 8). Barnes and Noble also may not order any copies but put your book information into their system so when a customer calls it can be ordered immediately.
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