Local and Independent Author Program

We are now accepting submissions for MYSTERY titles

Click here to complete an application for our Local and Independent Author Program.

Please join us Wednesday, November 6, 2024 for the KIDS & YA event.

Click here to learn more about our featured authors.

The schedule for the 2024-2025 Local and Independent Author Program is as follows:

• Kids and Young Adult: event November 6, 2024
• Mystery: submissions accepted starting October 18; event January 15, 2025
• Memoir: submissions accepted starting in December; event in March 2025
• Fiction (*cannot be romance or mystery): submissions accepted starting in February 2025; event in May 2025

Subscribe here to receive announcements regarding submission periods (lasting approximately four weeks for each genre). Please note, we receive hundreds of local author event submissions. 

Updates and announcements to the program will also be posted on this page.

Further Details:

A Local and Independent Author event may include up to but no more than six (6) authors.

We will provide the following in support of your event:

• Press release to local TV, print, and radio media. If any media is interested in an interview, we will provide them with the contact information you provide in your application.
• Email calendar notices to over 20,000 customers.
• In-store promotion
• Promotion on our website events calendar and social media platforms.
• Staffing and venue for your event. Please note, given the central location of our Middletown location, all Local and Independent Author Events will be hosted at Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore,  413 Main Street.

Local and Independent Author Event Guidelines and Regulations:

• The author will provide RJ Julia with a completed Local and Independent Author application for the appropriate event/genre.
• RJ Julia requires payment of a $50.00 co-operative and event hosting fee submitted when the event is confirmed by RJ Julia staff.
• The author will provide books at a 40% discount to RJ Julia Booksellers.
• RJ Julia Booksellers will handle all book sales during the event.
• The author must take all remaining unsold books with them; no copies will be left with RJJ for inventory.
• The author is responsible for completing the necessary invoice form (provided by RJJ the day of the event) in order to receive payment for any books sold during the event.
• RJ Julia will consider all event requests but cannot accommodate everyone. 

Thank you for supporting your local independent bookstore and for your interest in hosting an event with RJ Julia Booksellers!