Independent book shops

For a self-published author, writes Iqbal Ahmed in The Independent, independent book shops can be your only route to an audience.

I discovered an unspoken fraternity among the independent booksellers of London. When I went to deliver copies of my book to Newham Bookshop one afternoon, Vivian Archer picked up the phone and called Eastside Books for me. They were happy to stock my book on Vivian's recommendation. Similarly, Mary in Prospero's Books introduced me to Muswell Hill Bookshop. It took me just ten months to sell out the first edition of my book.