If you can't find what you want, email us on: info@griffinbooks.co.uk
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If you can't find what you want, email us on: info@griffinbooks.co.uk
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Local Author Policy

POLICY FOR STOCKING SELF-PUBLISHED BOOKS

Congratulations on writing and publishing your book! We love to support independent authors and publishers, and in this article we will supply you with useful information on how best to get your book stocked by a local bookshop.

Griffin Books is a small shop with limited shelf space. With over 200,000 new titles published each year through traditional channels and a similar number of self-published books we have to be very selective in what we stock.

Generally, we strictly limit the self- and independently published titles we take on to:

  • Authors living in Penarth
  • OR books directly related to Penarth
  • OR books available from Gardners, the national wholesalers, or from the Books Council of Wales, on our standard trade terms (ie standard trade discount, sale or return).


Traditionally Published Authors

If you are published by a mainstream or independent publisher, it is likely that we already have an account with them and will have been notified of the publication and marketing plans for your book.

Independently Published and Self-Published Authors

If you are planning to self-publish it is important to do your research – make sure your book is visually appealing and consistent with current industry design standards. It needs to be a standard size and have a spine with the title printed on it and it should have been edited to a professional standard.

Once you are ready to proceed with publication, then you will need to ensure the following:

  • Your book has an ISBN number and barcode
  • Your book has a printed price
  • The price of your book falls into the current range of pricing (e.g children’s picture book £6.99-£7.99, fiction paperback £8.99-£9.99, non-fiction paperback £10.99-£12.99)

Your book fits with our existing selection and is relevant to our customers

We do not stock books published by Amazon.

Terms and Conditions

If we agree to stock your book it will be on a Sale or Return basis and subject to our standard Terms and Conditions. Griffin Books will take 45% of the sale price of any copies sold, in line with the trade discount we receive on traditionally published stock.

How to Get in Touch

Please get in touch by email: info@griffinbooks.co.uk. This gives us time to consider your submission. We are a busy shop so please do not drop in to discuss your book or leave copies with us without having been in touch first to arrange an appointment.

The Pitch

If you’ve read the above and are confident that your book is a good fit for Griffin Books then please send us an email with the following information:

  • Cover image
  • Brief synopsis of the book
  • A bit about you and anyone else involved with the book, i.e. illustrator
  • Publisher and distributor info
  • The Recommended Retail Price (RRP)
  • Why you believe your book is a good fit for Griffin Books
  • An indication of how you intend to market and promote your book and advertise that we are stocking it, if we decide to take it on.


You can contact us on: info@griffinbooks.co.uk