Thanks for writing.
1.
You do not have to have a publisher to put the book on Amazon, but you will have to take care of some of the administrative details a publisher would normally handle.
The minimum requirements for listing your book on Amazon (assuming it is a physical, printed book) are for it to have an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), and for that ISBN to be printed (or stickered) on the back cover of the book along with a barcode that includes the ISBN.
If you do not have an ISBN for your book, you can get a block of 10 numbers for around $205 from
R. R.
Bowker.
Even if you don't need 10, that's the minimum
(you can always use the other numbers for subsequent books, revised editions, electronic editions etc.)
The barcode must be a BOOKLAND/EAN barcode that incorporates your ISBN. It does not have to reflect the price, but many bricks & mortar bookstores prefer if the price is listed with the barcode. You can find agencies that provide barcode film (for traditional offset presses)
here.
If you are having your book designed on a computer your designer may have software that can generate a barcode (one well-known package is called Azalea), saving you time and money.
2.
To register your book with Amazon you must either:
a. Register it through the Amazon Advantage Program (more info
below), or
b
Wholesalers like Ingram and Baker & Taylor stock books from many different publishers and supply them to booksellers. These wholesalers will require that you give them at least a 55% discount off the cover price. They may pay shipping costs.
Ingram has recently made it harder for independent authors to have their books accepted into their warehouse (they have a finite amount of space and must feel that there will be a strong demand and a good marketing campaign for your book before they will stock it). Baker & Taylor may be more flexible.
Wholesalers usually pay in 90-120 days.
You can contact them for their requirements at the following addresses:
Baker & Taylor
1200 U.S. Highway 22
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 218.3863
Ingram
One Ingram Boulevard
La Vergne, TN 37086
(800) 937.0995
AMAZON ADVANTAGE
The Advantage program allows authors and artists to list their products directly with Amazon - avoiding the wholesalers' restrictions. Amazon maintains a small inventory of the title and lists the book as 'available in 24hrs'. If your book sells, they will probably re-order a couple of copies, to keep their stock up. (Their initial order, is usually for 2-5 copies).
Amazon expects a 55% discount off the list price of the book. They also expect you to pay any shipping charges when sending books to them for their inventory. They will not pay you until a copy sells (you will be paid the difference between the list price and the 'wholesale' price, in the calendar month following the sale. In other words, they will pay you 45%).
If the book stops selling, Amazon may return their stock to you - at your expense.
To apply to become part of the Amazon Advantage program, start
here:
This page gives you their sales pitch, then a link to sign up.
After they approve your application, they will send you an initial order for your book. They expect the order to be filled quickly so don't apply until you are ready to ship the book.
It can take some weeks to see your book show up in Amazon's database. It will probably show up with minimal information at first, then they will add any summaries, reviews, cover art or other materials you have supplied. You can supply cover art or they will scan the cover of the first copies you send.
Your Advantage account is managed online - they give you a 'homepage' at their site where you can check on the status of your books, their orders and any payments they owe you or have paid you.
Hope this helps,
Julie
