Selling your book in bookstores?

So, yeah...I've been thinking about this. If we use self-publishing as a method, can we, like, sell our books to bookstores here in the Philippines (like National Bookstore, Powerbooks, Fullybooked)? If so, how do we go about it?

I'm asking because I'm planning to do this as a backup just in case no agent wants to represent me and my book.

Best to just ask them methinks. But I did see a self-published book on the shelves in a National Bookstore once, although I think it was distributed there not through the POD group but by the known publisher the book was produced by. From what I know, though, it depends on the publishers themselves whether they will distribute to bookstores or not. Some POD publishers have their own bookstores so there isn't a need to, but there are also known publishers who distribute to chain bookstores while also keeping a store themselves, like Rex or Anvil.

I'd recommend just e-publishing. Because even if you do get published traditionally or through Publish-on-Demand, chances are you'll still have to work as much on keeping up an image and selling your book yourself as if you'd e-published. The reason most of us writers are rejected isn't because we write crap but because the agents or the publishers don't think niche audiences are profitable; but through e-publishing, it becomes much easier to reach audiences. Plus, most publishers take as high as 75% percent of the income, which leaves you 25% of it -- oh, and add to that the 15% your lit agent gets -- which makes e-publishing more profitable when done efficiently. And, in fact, some initially e-published books have been taken on by publishers!

But if what you're after is seeing your baby on the shelves of a National Bookstore or Fully Booked branch, I won't blame you, because that's what a lot of us here want, really. :P