Publisher Acquisitions
SPD -- Small Press Distribution, Inc -- is a non-profit distributor of literary small presses: publishers specializing in poetry, fiction and related critical and cultural writing. SPD was founded in 1969 in Berkeley, California, and today distributes books from over 500 active publishers.
SPD is dedicated to distributing small publishers of high-quality literary writing, whose publications are well-produced, and
supported by the publisher through promotional & marketing
efforts, advertising, etc. Our emphasis is on contemporary poetry, non-mainstream fiction, literary translations and literary or arts-oriented criticism and cultural writing. (We don't carry genre publishers -- thrillers, sci-fi, romance; self-help or "inspirational" books; technical or academic specialty publications; children's books; nor monthly or weekly ad-driven glossy magazines.)
Ideally, presses distributed by SPD would publish two (or more) books per year by a variety of authors (though we will pick up a press on the basis of a good first publication). As a rule we do not carry self-published books or single author presses.
We distribute a limited number of literary magazines/journals published in perfectbound book format (with very few exceptions, we generally don't carry staple-bound or newspaper format periodicals).
Located in Berkeley, California, SPD warehouses limited quantities of over 13,000 titles from better than 500 publishers. SPD acts as wholesaler of books & magazines to bookstores and libraries, and we sell books directly to individuals via the Web and via direct catalog sales. We provide a toll-free 800 number for orders, accepting and processing orders 40 hours per week. Links are available fron our Web site to client publishers' sites. Currently our highly respected twice-yearly new titles catalogs reach more than 10,000 bookstore buyers, librarians, and individual writers, teachers and readers.
SPD's primary function as a wholesaler is to provide fulfillment to bookstores, libraries and individuals. We provide marketing support via our seasonal catalogs, supplementary checklists and a variety of updates to the trade and to librarians. We regularly attend tradeshows, bookfairs & conventions (national & regional in scope), conduct phone & fax sales with select bookstores and bookstore chains, and supply new titles on standing order to select university library collections.
SPD's mission is to nurture a cultural environment in which the literary arts are valued and sustained. SPD provides services to literary audiences, writers, and publishers via its book distribution activities, public programming, and advocacy efforts.
Though acquisition policies are not based solely on commercial criteria, we need information about your marketing & editorial plans in order to determine whether SPD can help with your distribution needs.
Click here for our Publisher acquisitions questionnaire.
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