Our thanks to Christine Munroe, US Manager of Kobo Writing Life, for this guest post.

I’m excited to share tips on two key ways independent authors and publishers can distribute your titles into bookstores:

1. Sell hard copies of your books through local booksellers.
2. Self-publish through the Kobo Writing Life platform, which instantly makes your eBook available for sale in hundreds of bookstores around the world.

If you have hard copies of your self-published book available, many independent bookstores will consider taking copies on a consignment model. When planning your budget and sale price, keep in mind that typically when the store sells copies, they will give you 60% of the sale price, and keep 40%.

So, do the math and decide whether you can make a profit by going this route, based on the pricing model of your print on demand (POD) provider. If necessary, investigate other POD options that might allow you to price your book competitively and make a profit.

There are several do’s and don’ts to keep in mind as you approach a bookseller:

DO: Be professional and courteous. Respect the bookseller’s time and needs. Remember that your book is a product; the content and packaging must be appealing to the store’s customers. Make yourself available for signings and events. Remain focused and organized, and treat this relationship and your sales like a business.

DON’T: Expect a bookseller will say yes. Mail in an unsolicited box of books and assume a store will sell or keep track of them.

On to part two! The key to eBook distribution is making sure you self-publish your book directly through these main platforms: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks. You can use Smashwords to distribute your eBook to other, smaller distributors. Each of these platforms are free to use, have different benefits to offer, and most importantly, reaches a different group of consumers.

By self-publishing through Kobo Writing Life, your eBooks are automatically available for sale through bookstores worldwide. That’s because Kobo has retail partners in many countries—including the American Booksellers Association in the US (a collective of independent bookstores), FNAC in France, WHSmith in the UK, and more.

As an author, you can encourage your readers to buy their eBooks through their local bookstore, via Kobo. Once a customer buys an eBook or Kobo device through a store, their account is affiliated with that bookstore, which will receive a percentage of every purchase they make going forward. You can find Kobo-affiliated stores near you with our indie app, or by looking at this list. Readers don’t need to own a Kobo device—they can download our free Kobo app on their phone, tablet, or computer.

One of the best parts of my job is coordinating bookstore events throughout the US, building on this partnership by bringing together local indie authors and bookstores. I blogged about it here and here, and the ABA wrote about it, too. I have several events planned throughout 2014, so keep an eye on the Kobo Writing Life blog for more details. These events offer authors and stores another great opportunity to promoting their titles and spread the word that consumers can buy eBooks AND support their local bookstore.

NOTE: For more, read this article from the American Booksellers Association: Kobo Writing Life Events Strengthen Relationships Between Indies and Self-Published Authors