Many independent publishers feel a great divide between them and the Big 5 publishers. One of the biggest issues is access to various sales markets, such as bookstores, retail stores, and more. The good news is that there are new ways that these major publishers and indies can work together to the betterment of both.

One such way is through distribution. It can be quite difficult for independent publishers to land traditional distribution, but some indie publishers have found a path through Simon & Schuster. Simon & Schuster Vice President of Publisher Services Keith Parent joins “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share details about how to apply.

PARTICIPANTS

Keith Parent is Vice President of Publisher Services at Simon & Schuster. Keith originally joined S&S as a Sales Manager in the International Sales department in 2014 and returned to S&S in 2017 as an Account Executive in the Distribution Division. In 2022 Keith was promoted to Vice President of Publisher Services. In his role as Vice President, Keith manages the team tasked with supporting and maintaining all distribution client partnerships; providing sales, marketing, and publishing related strategic guidance to all independent publishers distributed by Simon & Schuster U.S. Prior to joining S&S, Keith held sales and business development roles with academic publishers such as Wiley, Sage Publications, and Congressional Quarterly Press. Keith is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore Maryland and a proud resident of Jackson Heights, Queens.  

Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 4,000 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.

LINKS

Learn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membership

Learn more about applying for traditional distribution through Simon & Schuster here: https://www.simonandschusterpublishing.com/sns-distribution/

Follow IBPA on:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonline
X – https://twitter.com/ibpa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/

Follow Keith Parent on:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-parent-34548523/