As part of our mission to support local authors, Bridge Books has an open submission policy which welcomes independent authors to submit their publications to be considered for sale by Bridge Books.

We love to see new work, and to experience South Africa’s diverse literary culture. We want to make your work available to as many readers as possible. 

Since we opened in 2016, we have been overwhelmed by the volume and diversity of independent publishing. We now work with nearly 100 independent authors, and that number grows every month. Because we’re a small shop, with limited staff and limited retail space, we have changed our submission policy and our consignment agreement.

If you have a publication that you would like us to consider, please send us a single review copy with a completed Book for Review form, available for download here. We cannot review your book without this form.

Please do not send anything else with your publication.

Please Note: Due to the volume of submissions, we cannot offer return service for submissions, nor can we accommodate collections. In the event that your book is not accepted, it will be donated to the non-profit African Book Trust, which will place it in an underserved school or library.

Before submitting your book, please take a moment to read the following FAQ regarding the types of publications we’re able to consider, our consignment policy, and other important information about the submission process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of publications can I submit?

You can submit any type of publication, in any language. Your book must already be in print, and priced for a general market, rather than single or limited editions.

What types of publications are not considered?

We cannot handle collectible or antiquarian books, and would refer you to James Findlay Collectibles which specializes in this area. We are generally not looking for books conceived as individual works of art, though art books are welcome.

Do I need to submit a physical copy of my book?

Yes, we do want to see a physical copy of your book so that we can understand its production values. We want books that will sit comfortable on our shelves alongside the rest of our collection. That’s why we cannot accept galleys or PDFs.

How are books selected?

Books are selected by our experienced team of booksellers.

How long should I expect to wait before hearing?

We try hard to review submissions in a timely manner, but please remember that we are a small team. Usually it takes about one month to hear back from us, though it can take longer during busy periods – around especially book fairs or during holiday periods. Please be patient.

What happens if my book is accepted?

If your publication is accepted, we will email you with a consignment contract and an initial order quantity. Please print the contract and fill out as many of the blanks as possible. This helps us create correct entries for your book. Return the contract in the same package as the books. Publications may be sent by courier or dropped off in store. The South African Postal Service cannot provide a reliable delivery. Please keep a copy of the contract for your records. We will email you with a countersigned copy.

We charge a R100 admin fee to process your book into our system and onto our website. This can be paid at this link. We will agree to keep your book for 90 days. After 90 days, if your book has not had any sales, we will ask you to collect the books. We can return them by courier. We work with three different couriers and will charge you the lowest rate that we can receive. 

Books not collected with 30 days of notification will be donated to the African Book Trust.

What happens if my book is not accepted?

We have limited space, which means that we cannot accept every book that is submitted. If we cannot accept your book, please understand that it may not have anything to do with the quality of your book. Your book may not be a publication that we feel well-placed to sell.

If your book is not accepted it will be donated to the African Book Trust.

What are the conditions for selling my book?

Bridge Books works on consignment, because we simply do not have the resources to buy the books outright. You set the retail price of your publication. 15% of the retail price goes to VAT, 30 percent to Bridge Books, and you receive the balance. Your consignment contract and initial consignment order will explain this in detail.

Theft, shelf wear, and other types of damage from accidents are a reality. Bridge Books cannot be held responsible for losses or damage due to theft, shelf wear or other accidents. We will provide a report with your sales report and payment.

What happens to the review copy I submitted?

The single copies submitted with your review form do not form part of the inventory consigned to Bridge Books. We will use the review copy for display or in-store reading. In the event that the book is sold, you will be paid for it according to our usual consignment terms. If they are damaged through handling to the point they are not sellable, we are not accountable for compensation.

How do I get paid for books sold?

We make payments monthly. You will receive an invitation to create an account where you can track your sales and stock in real time.

Bridge Books pays by EFT for South African suppliers, and via Paypal for international suppliers. We are not able to pay cash.

How do I restock my publication?

We do our best to keep on top of restocking publications. Because we have limited space, we may not restock everything that we have carried in the past. This way, we can create space for new publications.

Do I pay for postage?

Bridge Books cannot pay any shipping costs for delivering books to us. Books may also be dropped off at 59 Fourth Ave in Linden, with a completed review form or a completed consignment contract.

Will Bridge Books wholesale my book to other bookstores?

Bridge Books offers a default 20% wholesale discount to bookstores of all consigned stock. In the event that your publication is purchased by a wholesale customer, you would still get your usual 30% of the sale.

How do I consign or sell a rare and collectible book?

We cannot handle rare books. We recommend James Findlay Collectibles for antiquarian and collectible books.

Who do I contact if I have any other questions?

Please write to info@bridgebooks.co.za with any questions about book submissions, or call the store at 071 892 8830.