There are a few other problems working with trad distributors & retailers that drive publishers batty: - Retailers expect to pay a 55% discount off list and re

There are a few other problems working with trad distributors & retailers that drive publishers batty: - Retailers expect to pay a 55% discount off list and return books that don't sell. (https://outskirtspress.com/articles_trade.html https://outskirtspress.com/articles_trade.html) - Many retailer won't work with anything that's self-pubbed or POD, although the latter issue is changing as quality improves. - Distributors want to have review copies, art, promo materials, etc. in hand many months before the official release date (6 is typical) which forces planning and editorial deadlines to start at least 18 months in advance. Ingram is a silent giant in the U.S. book publishing industry. TFA mentioned IngramSpark for self-pubbed authors, but Ingram has other wholesale and distribution programs aimed at traditional and indie publishers as well as the iPage book database, which many retailers and libraries use to place orders and find titles for their customers/patrons. This post outlines their approach to indies: https://www.ingramcontent.com/blog/demystifying-book-distribution-for-small-to-mid-sized-publishers https://www.ingramcontent.com/blog/demystifying-book-distrib...