Last Updated on May 25, 2026 by NEK Editing

Many authors may wonder, “Where should I sell my book?” But, that is only one part of the equation for getting the word out about their published book.

The other part of the equation is for authors to discover where their readers are on social media and where they buy books.

Continue reading to learn how to market, handle bookstore rejections, and control your book’s distribution.

Where Do Readers Discover and Buy Books?

Readers discover new books through social media, online book recommendations, and in-person author events. Other places readers hear about a book include podcasts, news outlets, and book signings at bookstores and libraries.

They also find and buy books through online bookstores like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, traditional bookstores, libraries, and even through recommendations from family, friends, and book clubs. Other places readers buy books include an author’s website and craft fairs.

Take the time to research where your book’s target audience discovers and buys their books. Then market and sell your book in those places.

Why Would a Bookstore Owner Refuse to Sell My Book?

Some bookstore owners may refuse to sell a self-published author’s books. They may have concerns about quality, limited distribution, and the potential for low sales. They may also consider the book’s genre, pricing, and whether the author offers a return policy and discount. Additionally, some bookstores may prefer selling books from established publishers with wider distribution networks. 

Independent bookstores are known for being a community gathering place, but that doesn’t mean they can always carry every author’s books. To make the business succeed, they still need to sell the books they have on the shelves.

It may be great that a traditionally published or self-published author has success selling their books on Amazon but indie bookstores compete with them. Just because your book sells well there won’t help you get it in your local bookstore. 

Before approaching a bookstore owner, get a feel for the customers and the types of books sold. Similarly, find out what kinds of author events they typically host. When you meet with the owner, use this information in your pitch and mention if they have a certain type of customer who will be interested in buying your book.

Also, let the bookstore owner know how you will support the marketing of your book to drive customers to buy it at their store. A solid marketing plan shows them that you will take the initiative and have confidence that your book will sell.

Can I Prevent My Book From Being Sold on Amazon?

Yes, you can prevent books from being sold on Amazon by third-party vendors or bookstores.

If you previously published your book on Amazon, you can remove it by going to your KDP Bookshelf and selecting “Unpublish.” This will make your book unavailable for purchase on Amazon until you choose to republish it. 

You can report your book being sold on Amazon without your permission by addressing the issue to Amazon’s Customer Service and filing a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notice, a formal request to remove the copyrighted material. You will need to provide proof of your copyright ownership.

Sell Where Your Readers Are: Know Your Book Selling Options

No matter how or where you choose to sell your book, know you have control over whether or not your book is sold on Amazon, in a bookstore, or a combination of these options and more.

In addition, if you’ve published your book on KDP, you can unpublish it. If someone else is selling your book without your permission, there are steps you can take to address the issue and have it removed.

Most importantly, if you sell where your readers are, your book has a better chance of succeeding.

If you have any questions during your book publishing journey, contact NEK Editing to see how we can help.