Quote:
Originally Posted by fjtorres
A point to consider is that Indies these days *can* get into print and B&M so the only strang/lehold the BPHs hold is on the payola front tables.
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Indie authors, taken as being authors signed with smaller traditional publishers, have as I understand it always had some access to B&M stores through their indie publishers who provide the traditional services including arranging and paying for printing and distribution. There are also many stories about self-published authors, even in the days of the so-called "vanity" press, going door to door convincing individual stores to stock their books. I have no doubt at least some Indies, except of course Amazon imprints, can find places in B & M stores. Self-published authors, whilst not subject to a boycott, simply do not have the logistics in place or the resources to get their books into any meaningful number of these stores.
I don't like the conclusion any more than I like the Big 5, but it seems to me that to have a serious presence in those stores you essentially need the Big 5. If I am wrong on this I will be delighted.