167 Non-Bookstore Places for Authors and Publishers to Sell Their Books

Real authors and publishers I know have sold books at all these places, often in larger quantities than at bookshops

Photo by Jezael Melgoza on Unsplash.

It can be SO hard to sell books. Until it isn’t. When you start seeing readers and opportunities everywhere. When you start recognizing where to find and how to find your customers and fans.

Because it’s so easy to fall into thinking that no one reads anymore. Except that 331 million ebooks alone were checked out of U.S. libraries last year.

Or fall into thinking that no one buys books anymore. Until you face the fact that almost 789 million books were purchased in the U.S. last year. The U.S. book industry is big, about $30-billion-a-year-big.

Some times we just need a new perspective. How about this one? People in the U.S. are reading tons of books and buying tons of books. Now factor in that there are almost four times as many humans who know English outside of the U.S. — well over 1 BILLION humans — as in the U.S.

There are readers and there are book buyers all around us, ok?

Below are 167 places and ways to sell books that aren’t bookstores. That aren’t Amazon.

These aren’t possible or theoretical places you might try to sell books. These are actual places I as an indie book publisher for over 25 years — and other authors and publishers I know — HAVE ACTUALLY SOLD BOOKS. Often in large quantities and with less hassle than at bookstores.

Skim this list to just get a sense of it, then come back when you have some time and begin brainstorming the possibilities for your own book/s.

Then go out there and sell some books. Try it out and make it so.

1. Academic forums, newsletters
2. Acting schools, actor workshops
3. Adult ed programs
4. After church-service events
5. After speaking events
6. Airport stores
7. Alumni organizations
8. Amusement parks
9. Antique stores, malls