For book/ebook authors, publishers, & self-publishers

Chapters Not Supporting Canadian Authors

After many months of sending numerous unanswered emails I finally received the rude, abrupt and, at first, devastating news. Chapters/ Indigo, although now dealing as a vendor for my printer, refuses to actually make any books available that are printed by them. With many spelling and grammar errors, the only person to contact me back explained how ridiculous any author was to think that they would sell books not printed in Canada, simply because they convinced themselves they would lose money in doing so.

As a Canadian I expected more support from Canadian book sellers and initially went to Canadian printers for pricing, unfortunately they just were reasonable in their expectations. Now I have the uphill battle of actually making my book available in my own country.

I was thrilled to discover my province, New Brunswick, adopt a book policy recently which primarily supports authors in the province to get into schools and be available in stores. Upon following up on the possibility of finally being recognized locally I was discouraged to hear of the conditions and exceptions to this policy which disqualified me from anything they had available. All I simply want to do is continue with my efforts of making the Canadian rate of childhood obesity decrease instead of continue to increase.

Canadian Living, a national magazine, was fantastic enough to include a small article about Sending You Sammy in April 2007 which was phenomenal but since then I've been struggling to get noticed in my province of residence.

Obstacles only make me more determined and I'm now contacting every company that sells books in Canada to make sure that Sending You Sammy and Brain Tales will be available to my fellow Canadians while continuing to be available in the USA.

Sarah Butland

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Comment by Sarah Butland on March 15, 2009 at 5:05pm: I promise I'm just as baffled. I first contacted them and received almost immediate response and thought that I was on my way. They told me clearly that I needed to be listed with a distributor that they dealt with or promise something completely ridiculous. Hearing that my printer made the proper connections with Chapters/Indigo I was thrilled and got on the phone immediately (to family, friends, fans). I was anticipating the first time I saw my book on www.chapters.indigo.ca as while visiting many local schools everyone wanted to know if my book was available through Chapters.

After three weeks of my printer being in contact with Chapters and it not being online I began emailing (my original contact, the boards online, the customer service email online, etc) to no avail. I was never provided with any contact information or assistance until finally the original guy wrote me back and then began the insults.

This all happened just after my second book went to print and I realized it shouldn't have to be a battle to make books available in book stores.

I am on my way no matter the obstacles.

I'm glad to hear others didn't have this obstacle to deal with, I wouldn't wish it on anyone, but I don't think anyone should have to do this.

Comment by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on March 15, 2009 at 1:20pm: I'm still baffled. I've had wonderful support from Chapters/Indigo.

I hope things get straightened out for you.

Comment by Sarah Butland on March 15, 2009 at 1:02pm: Hi Cheryl;

In fact I have been part of their community for almost one year and placed random inquiries in random locations with no response at all.

I do deal with a distributor who accepts returns and this hasn't even been mentioned by Chapters through our brief email correspondence.

I thought they'd be great, I've heard many good things but this just blows me away. I've trid everything I could possibly think of and this guy that I've been in contact with just tells me, in so many words, that I'm ridiculous. I'd love to walk through a store with him and point out how many books they have printed in the US and worldwide that are on their shelves. I would also love to give him a spell check program or buy him a dictionary. lol

It sounds like I'm bitter, I'm not, I've dealt with rejection before and it has only made me more determined. I'm just typing this while at work and running out of time.

Will follow up later.

Comment by Cheryl Kaye Tardif on March 14, 2009 at 3:47pm: I'm wondering about this, Sarah, and it's too bad you've had such a negative experience with Chapters. They're usually really great with authors.

I've been dealing with Chapters/Indigo for a number of years and I know many authors who also deal with them. I have never heard or been told that books need to be PRINTED in Canada for Chapters to accept them. Many of my friends have books printed in the US.

What I do know is this: If your book is self-published by a subsidy publishing company (like Trafford or iUniverse), the publisher must have Canadian-side distribution. This is so Chapters/Indigo can accept returns. If this is in place, then Chapters can enter your book into their system and can order in books for your signings.

If you have fully self-published the books and you are the publisher, then it's basically the same. You have to take returns to be included in Chapters' computer system.

However, self-published authors who don't have this (returns and Canadian distributor/centre) can always consign their books through Chapters. I've been doing this for years. I have 2 self-published novels and one traditionally published novel.

I've worked very closely with Chapters (all their stores) and this is the only obstacle I've faced. I have found that the Chapters, Coles, Indigo and Smithbooks stores in Alberta and BC are VERY supportive of self-published authors. I've done hundreds of signings with them. :-)

Have you joined the Chapters online community? If not, it's one place you should be. You can contact people who work at Chapters there. I find they're always friendly and helpful. :-)

Congrats on the Canadian Living feature!!

Cheryl Kaye Tardif
bestselling author of Whale Song
http://www.cherylktardif.com