Comments on: BEA or BUST http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/06/03/bea-or-bust/ Ten Authors. Five Genres. One Blog. Because the only thing scarier than a loaded gun pointed at your head....is writing about it. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:39:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: B.E. Sanderson http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/06/03/bea-or-bust/#comment-229621 B.E. Sanderson Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:51:14 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=2452#comment-229621 <em>Of all Americans 13 or older, 50% bought a book last year.</em> I don't know how that compares to prior years, but it's still just depressing. I know I just dropped a wad of cash at Borders and B&N. Between my daughter and I, I think we scored 12 new books (could be slightly more or less - depending on what she purchased). I can't imagine not buying any for a whole year. It still shocks me when people brag about not reading. Like that's something to be proud of. Sheesh. Of all Americans 13 or older, 50% bought a book last year.

I don’t know how that compares to prior years, but it’s still just depressing. I know I just dropped a wad of cash at Borders and B&N. Between my daughter and I, I think we scored 12 new books (could be slightly more or less – depending on what she purchased). I can’t imagine not buying any for a whole year.

It still shocks me when people brag about not reading. Like that’s something to be proud of. Sheesh.

]]> By: John Shableski http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/06/03/bea-or-bust/#comment-229603 John Shableski Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:54:10 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=2452#comment-229603 I found BEA to be enlightening and surprisingly good. Compared to the gloom and doom that was predicted the show did come off well. I live in the world of graphic novels and it was great to see a book like Stitches by David Small(WW Norton) get the same kind of buzz as the traditional 'books'. I thank you for the statistics because they underline a critical point the publishing industry is missing-they are marketing books in way that is simply bizarre. Hand selling is still the best tool and the only place to get that is with the indie booksellers. Instead, the pubs are focused on the big retailers. What happens when the big boys have trouble? You lose that source. On the other hand you have indie retailers who also need to adapt to the market place and learn to reach beyond their doors and remind consumers and fans what we enjoy most about the book buying process-its the social interaction. Here's another peeve: the indie retailers need to start marketing to kids. There is a distinct difference in marketing to parents and grandparents and marketing to kids. Kids will actually buy books, you have to carry the books they want. And you have to have a store that feels like some place they belong. In the end, the publishers who had small booths and no ARCs saw the errors of their way...we can hope. Pay close attention to what happens with that book Stitches and you will see that the big houses will be throwing a lot of graphic novels into the mix this year. Cheers! John I found BEA to be enlightening and surprisingly good. Compared to the gloom and doom that was predicted the show did come off well. I live in the world of graphic novels and it was great to see a book like Stitches by David Small(WW Norton) get the same kind of buzz as the traditional ‘books’.
I thank you for the statistics because they underline a critical point the publishing industry is missing-they are marketing books in way that is simply bizarre. Hand selling is still the best tool and the only place to get that is with the indie booksellers. Instead, the pubs are focused on the big retailers.
What happens when the big boys have trouble? You lose that source.
On the other hand you have indie retailers who also need to adapt to the market place and learn to reach beyond their doors and remind consumers and fans what we enjoy most about the book buying process-its the social interaction.
Here’s another peeve: the indie retailers need to start marketing to kids. There is a distinct difference in marketing to parents and grandparents and marketing to kids. Kids will actually buy books, you have to carry the books they want. And you have to have a store that feels like some place they belong.

In the end, the publishers who had small booths and no ARCs saw the errors of their way…we can hope. Pay close attention to what happens with that book Stitches and you will see that the big houses will be throwing a lot of graphic novels into the mix this year.

Cheers!

John

]]> By: Silver James http://www.murdershewrites.com/2009/06/03/bea-or-bust/#comment-229602 Silver James Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:20:21 +0000 http://www.murdershewrites.com/?p=2452#comment-229602 Wow... I think maybe being with an epublisher that also offers POD books through the major suppliers isn't such a bad thing. Deep down, I still long to walk into a bookstore and see my title there on the shelf, but in this economy, I'll take what I can get! Romance novels and Harlequin seem to be bucking the overall trends in the publishing industry. That bodes well, I hope. Thanks for the eye-opening stats, Deborah! Wow…

I think maybe being with an epublisher that also offers POD books through the major suppliers isn’t such a bad thing. Deep down, I still long to walk into a bookstore and see my title there on the shelf, but in this economy, I’ll take what I can get!

Romance novels and Harlequin seem to be bucking the overall trends in the publishing industry. That bodes well, I hope. Thanks for the eye-opening stats, Deborah!

]]>