Author FAQs

“How can I make a good first impression with Independent Booksellers?” 

Independent booksellers are some of the best advocates an author can have. Just ask New York Times bestselling authors Wiley Cash, Denise Kiernan, and Beth Revis, who credit us for putting thousands of copies of their books into the hands of readers. Click here for a helpful "How to Talk to a Bookseller" guide for authors. 

If you are interested in seeing your book on our shelves or presenting an event at our bookstore, do not link to Amazon in your request. Please keep in mind that as independent booksellers, Amazon clashes with our core values. The company is not in mutually beneficial relationships with communities, readers, authors, or its own employees. Read more about the value of Indies and about Amazon's effect on the book industry and local economies here and here

One of the best ways to make a good first impression with independent booksellers is to actively encourage your readers to buy your books from independent booksellers. You can do this by linking to your favorite independent bookstore(s) and/or Bookshop.org on your website and social media. And don't just link. Use the most prominent buy button on your website to send visitors to Indies. If you list several purchase options, list the Indie option(s) first. There is no law requiring those lists to be alphabetical!

Remember that just about everyone already knows about the big A, but not everyone realizes that many Indies are also open 24/7 online. And Indies that aren't online are worth a phone call or a visit. Also remember that unlike the company that wants to sell everything from A to Z, independent bookstores need to sell books to stay open.

“How can I get my book on your shelves?”

If your book is available through a publisher or a distributor such as Ingram at a standard retailer discount and is returnable, please contact our Senior Buyer Justin Souther via email at justin@malaprops.com. 

If your book isn't distributed and you are a local self-published author, you may be eligible for our consignment program. Working with individual authors on a consignment basis allows us to carry many titles we would otherwise not be able to offer and strengthens our ties with the community. To be eligible for consideration, the author MUST live in Asheville or the immediate vicinity. You can find more information on our regular consignment process here.  

“How can I get my book listed on Malaprops.com?”

Books that are listed in the ABA's database (indiebound.org) or with Ingram appear on our website. Learn more here 
If your book is not already listed, follow these steps to add it:
1) Log in to IndieBound.org using your personal account. If you don't have an account on IndieBound.org, please create one at https://www.indiebound.org/user/register
2a) Once you are logged in to your IndieBound account, point your browser to: http://www.indiebound.org/addabook
2b) Once you are logged in to your IndieBound account, for missing cover art, navigate to: http://www.indiebound.org/addabook/cover
3) Enter your data, attach an image, and submit.
4) Please allow time for approval by the American Booksellers Association. Once approved, it can take up to 24 hours for your book to appear in search results and on IndieBound.org and indie websites.
All add-a-book requests must be submitted through these forms. Changes and corrections to existing books (other than cover art) should be emailed to addabook@bookweb.org.

“How can I be considered for an event at Malaprop’s?”

We are pleased to host a variety of authors at Malaprop's but please be aware that we receive many more requests than we can accommodate and we cannot host events for everyone who submits an application. Please read carefully to determine what applies to you.

  • If you are a local author with a book that is self-published, print-on-demand, or not available from a publisher or a distributor at a standard retailer discount and returnable, you should communicate your interest in an event for a recently published book after going through the consignment process.
  • If you are a poet and would like to read at Malaprop's, please follow the steps below to be considered for Poetrio or Poet Quartet.
  • If you are neither a poet nor a candidate for consignment, please click here for more information about our events program and the application process.

“How can I be considered for participation in a poetry reading at Malaprop's?”

For many years, Malaprop's Poetrio has showcased three poets every month, January through November. Due to a large influx of requests from published poets, our monthly series now also includes Poet Quartet readings, showcasing four poets.  To be considered for Poetrio or Poet Quartet, please click here to complete our application form. The form also provides more information about the events. Please also forward a copy of your new chapbook or collection, as soon as it's available, to ATTN: POETRIO, Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe, 55 Haywood St., Asheville, NC 28801. Please make sure to include your contact information with the book. An electronic copy of your book may be emailed to poetrio@malaprops.com.