Frequently Asked Questions
BOS FAQ’s- Author.
Q. How long is the arrangement with the BOS and the Book Gallery?
A.4 months for 10 books- 6 months for 20 books, or until all books are sold- whichever comes earlier.
Q. BOS has three promotion categories. The BOS Future Words, The BOS Encore Series, and the BOS Café Shelf scheme. Can you explain them?
A. Future Words is aimed at new authors. The Encore Series is for previously published authors, and the Café Shelf promotion caters to all types of authors whose works are suited to the café scene. It is also a more affordable option that allows BOS to accommodate a wide range of author budgets.
Q. If I decide on the 10-book BOS option, can I get more books printed than the 10, so I have some on hand?
A. Yes, you can print more books. However, your novel can only be promoted by BOS promotions and Indie Books NZ during the four months your book is on display in our partner book gallery, or until all 10 [or 20] copies are sold, whichever comes first. You may sell them to friends and
family, but you cannot publicly advertise them with any third party during the term.
Q. Will the Indie Books NZ promotions provide for my book to be purchased through an online service?
A. Yes. The buyer can purchase from the store's online service, which displays the book in-store.
Q. Do I own 100 % of my book rights at all times?
A. Yes.
Q. Once my agreement is finished, either after 4 months or when the books are sold out, do I have any ongoing obligations to BOS or the Bookseller?
A. No. Your success is our success. Even during your time with BOS and the bookseller, you can pursue every other opportunity that is on offer to you. Please note that you cannot execute any competing deal for the title we are promoting during the terms of our agreement. However, once done, we will even help you. We offer a print-on-demand service, but you can choose
your own printer. We're happy to print extra copies of the title we marketed on your behalf at cost, provided the agreed cost is paid in advance. [Printer's terms]
Q. Is it right that the royalty I earn from the bookseller is 50% of the agreed retail value of the book- capped at $12/book?
A. Yes. We have internally worked on an upper price range of $40-$50. For books priced over $50, we will negotiate a higher royalty rate at that time, but the maximum royalty will be $12/book.
Q. How often will the bookseller pay the royalty to me?
A. Fortnightly - and once sold out, all royalties owing will be settled within 2 weeks.
Q. You say that BOS will underwrite [ guarantee] the royalty payments- how does this work?
A. Should some eventuality occur that prevents the bookseller from paying you your entitled royalty, BOS will pay you. On all deals, we guarantee that the royalties owing on 10 books will be paid. This also applies to those authors who have entered into a 20-book deal. BOS will guarantee the royalties on 50% of the sales. [ 10 books]
BOS FAQ’s -Bookseller.
Q. BOS is making a big play about the introduction of a shelf rental. What inspired this development?
A. One of the founders, Christopher Herbert, grew up in a home filled with books. Not just shelves, but a working library, carefully catalogued by his mother throughout the 1960s and 70s. Back then, books mattered. They still matter to him now. And so does the health of the industry that carries them. Today, that industry is under-resourced—especially at the bookshop level.
Christopher brings more than sentiment to this issue. In retirement, he turned to writing. What he found in the self-publishing world, particularly in the United States, was not opportunity but disappointment—the worst commercial experiences of his career. There had to be a better way. Digital platforms, including Amazon, once opened doors for authors. But today, they are
overwhelmed—buried in volume, stripped of human connection, and increasingly unable to facilitate true discovery. Books are everywhere. But they are no longer being found. Books on Shelves is Christopher Herbert and Matt Golding’s response to that failure. A return to discovery, to presence. To the simple power of a book, on a shelf, in a real place. The artist is seen.
The work is noticed. And sometimes, as with artist Jackson Pollock, greatness is uncovered not by algorithm—but by chance, instinct, and a bit of luck. This is what we want for our authors. And this is why BOS has developed the shelf- rental scheme to reward booksellers for making their shelves available for discovery, whilst at the same time introducing a profit factor for the bookseller that is significantly above normal margins.
Q: You say that BOS elevates profit margins to booksellers when measured against the average standard industry net profit margins. Can you disclose the margins
A. Sadly, booksellers, much like hospitality operators, have recently seen profit margins plummet. Most booksellers would be fortunate to net 5%, according to Epos Now.
What is a good profit margin for retail stores?
Their prediction is 0.3-5%. Analytics firm Straight Dope-Booksellers predicts net margins of -2-5%. BOS achieves net profit margins of 80% on the 10-book deal and 70% on the 20-book deal.
The BOS Author Exchange Scheme
Q. What is the BOS Author Exchange Scheme?
A. The BOS Author Exchange is a curated programme that will connect authors from different markets, enabling them to support, endorse, and introduce each other’s work to new audiences.
It will be developed over the next 12 months.
It aims to improve discovery through authentic author-to-author advocacy and is part of our premium BOS Global+ and BOS Global Elite pathways.
For full details on how the Exchange works, please visit the BOS Author Exchange section of our website.
The BOS Café Shelf Scheme.
Q. Tell me more about the BOS Café Shelf Scheme.
A. It is well known that the hospitality industry has suffered greatly over the past few years, particularly post Covid. The industry is literally on its knees in the UK. New Zealand and Australia have been victims of declining margins piling on, year upon year. The average profit margin on a strong, well-run café is approximately 12%. The average margin on a standard cup of coffee is 10-
12%. It was based on this experience that the BOS Café Shelf scheme was introduced to help improve cafe margins whilst, at the same time, exposing authors to a new readership and developing a community culture around books and their authors.
Q. What are the fundamental differences between the Bos Café Scheme, the BOS Future Words Scheme, and the Encore Series?
A. Firstly, BOS does not pay the café a shelf rental. This is because they are not a specialist bookstore. The shelf rental is solely the domain of the booksellers.
Secondly, we work on a lower value per book of $25.00- but this is subjective. It is very possible to have a higher-priced publication.
Thirdly, the royalty the author receives is lower at $10/book.
Fourthly- Cafes are not set up to record sales like bookstores are- as it is not their core business. For that reason, BOS pays the author's royalties on behalf of the café in full, once the books reach the café.
Fifthly, we only do a 10-book deal for cafes. We print 12 copies, so there are 2 for browsing whilst the remaining 10 remain in mint condition. BOS absorbs the cost of the extra 2 books printed, but they are returned to BOS at the end of the campaign.
Sixthly, if the author wishes to exercise a royalty-free deal, then the cost of the 10-book package will be reduced by $100.00
Q. Why should a café owner support the BOS Café Scheme?
A. Because they make a 100% margin on sales, equivalent to the net profit on 416 coffees! [ Ave $6 coffee]
The BOS Author Review Scheme.
Q. What is the BOS Author Review Scheme?
A. It is a curated process designed to produce a credible endorsement and a professionally presented review that you can use across your book and marketing.
Q. What are my options?
A. There are two ways to participate: Author Exchange Review – a reciprocal review between you and another author Independent Author Review – a one-way review from a curated BOS
reviewer.
Both options deliver the same professional outputs.
Q. What do I receive?
A. Every BOS Author Review includes:
1. A curated author-to-author review.
2. A short, quote-ready endorsement.
3. A structured written review (100–150 words), refined for clarity and
professional use.
Q. How are authors matched?
A. For Author Exchange Reviews, BOS carefully matches authors based on genre, tone, and audience compatibility.
We prioritise meaningful pairings over speed, ensuring the exchange is relevant and valuable.
Q. What if I don’t want to review another author’s work?
A. You can choose the Independent Author Review option.
In this case, BOS arranges for a reviewer from our network to read your work and provide a structured review, with no obligation on your part to review another author.
Q. Who writes the reviews?
A. All reviews are written by authors within the BOS network.
They may be emerging or experienced writers, but all are selected for their ability to provide thoughtful, constructive, and professional feedback.
Q. Are the reviews edited or curated?
A. Yes.
All reviews are lightly refined by BOS to ensure they are:
1. Clear and well-structured.
2. Constructive in tone.
3.Suitable for public and promotional use.
Q. What if the review is not positive?
A. BOS reviews are guided to focus on strengths, audience appeal, and overall reading experience.
The aim is to provide a constructive and usable endorsement, rather than critical or editorial feedback.
Q. Can I choose whether to use the review?
A. Yes.
You are under no obligation to use the review or endorsement. You can choose how, where, and whether to include it in your marketing.
Q. How long does the process take?
A. Typically, the process takes 2–4 weeks, depending on matching and reading time.
We prioritise quality and thoughtful engagement over speed.
Q. Is this the same as a professional editorial review?
A. No. The BOS Author Review Programme is not a manuscript assessment or editorial critique. It is a peer endorsement — a perspective from another writer, designed to support your book’s
presentation and discovery.
Q. How is this different from reader reviews?
A. Reader reviews reflect audience opinion.
BOS Author Reviews provide:
1. A writer’s perspective
2. Greater credibility
3. A structured endorsement suitable for professional use
Q. Do I retain full rights to my work?
A. Yes.
You retain full ownership of your work and complete control over how any review or endorsement is used.
Q. Can this lead to further opportunities within BOS?
A. Yes.
Participation in the Author Review Programme can be a first step into the broader BOS network, including our BOS Global+, and BOS Global Elite pathways.
Q. Why should I consider this?
A. Because a thoughtful endorsement from another author carries weight.It signals that your work has been read, considered, and recognised — and in a crowded marketplace, that can make all the difference.
Q. Just remind me of the cost again?
A. For the author-to-author review BOS charges $150- $75 each. The Independent review is via a quote from the reviewer. BOS place a $75 management fee on top of the accepted quote.