Pretty incredible that they are abandoning what saved them (more local control) and going back to super centralized corporate control which is what almost killed them.
Max, I'm trying to make it by your store and may be able to do that Tuesday afternoon - not sure yet. Can we get cards, flyers, printouts, whatever you have, that we can put out to help promote Ghoulish Books? You've been in our bookstore - Crazy Lady Used Books - and I think we can put something up in our horror section that will get attention. We will also cross promote any events I see pop up on Facebook to our followers. Or I'll give you my email and you can send directly to me for posting. Just think about what we can do to help send traffic your way. Linda
Thanks for sharing those horror bookstores at the end. I'd love to buy books direct from each press, but Canadian shipping be expensive, and I thought my only anti-Bezos option was to buy hauls from B&N, until now!
Important article, one I will share. This simply reinforces my personal decision to always order direct (from store, publisher, author) when purchasing books both for my own store, and for my own collection. Thanks for putting the word out, Max. And thanks for what you do.
Great article and insight. This reinforces my expectation that we are self-reliant as an industry of readers and writers to lift each other. It also reinforces my plan to publish wide and avoid dependence upon any single retail behemoth. Direct sales are becoming more and more appealing. The missing element is the broad exposure. We must refer, promote, lift, and broadcast ourselves and others as much as possible!
At my signing/reading at B&N on May 5, there was a slight hint as to all of this. Management there we’re still committed to supporting the cause but the indication they gave was that it would be less than they’d been empowered to do so.
Thanks for sharing this. Wasn’t there (relatively recently) an article about how one of the things that had helped B&N thrive in troubled times was that they were allowing the staff to curate the book selection? From experience (both as a retailer, a customer, and a writer) there is hardly a more depressing comparison than that between a bookstore shelf lovingly stocked by someone who loves books and a soulless corporate selection.
This is really eye opening. I feel incredibly sorry for the people who've been putting their heart and soul into curating their horror (and other genre) sections, who are now going to see all that work fall by the wayside.
I figured the indie trend at B&N was too good to last, but it still makes me sad. Seeing pics of my book on the shelf of a bookstore on the other side of the country was a big career milestone for me, and it sounds like it’s probably not one that will repeat...
Once again B&N falls by the wayside. Shades of the early 2000s with them again. If all they're selling are the same ten damn authors, they probably deserve to fold. But I would hope the actually wonderful booksellers employed by them can move on to better places who support small press.
We've been with Lightning Source a little longer even than you, and I doubt I'd call it fair. Their print prices are so high you can't possible offer the 55% discount and returns and make any money. We priced a 176 page hardcover yesterday. It would have be $29.99 for us to make less than a dollar in royalties. The KDP books (I know from OTHER reliable sources) are often printed through Lightning Source... and then... the print price is still cheaper at KDP and the cover price lower than if you go directly to Lightning source? By two dollars a book? They are also ruining POD.
Pretty incredible that they are abandoning what saved them (more local control) and going back to super centralized corporate control which is what almost killed them.
Max, I'm trying to make it by your store and may be able to do that Tuesday afternoon - not sure yet. Can we get cards, flyers, printouts, whatever you have, that we can put out to help promote Ghoulish Books? You've been in our bookstore - Crazy Lady Used Books - and I think we can put something up in our horror section that will get attention. We will also cross promote any events I see pop up on Facebook to our followers. Or I'll give you my email and you can send directly to me for posting. Just think about what we can do to help send traffic your way. Linda
Thanks for sharing those horror bookstores at the end. I'd love to buy books direct from each press, but Canadian shipping be expensive, and I thought my only anti-Bezos option was to buy hauls from B&N, until now!
Important article, one I will share. This simply reinforces my personal decision to always order direct (from store, publisher, author) when purchasing books both for my own store, and for my own collection. Thanks for putting the word out, Max. And thanks for what you do.
Great article and insight. This reinforces my expectation that we are self-reliant as an industry of readers and writers to lift each other. It also reinforces my plan to publish wide and avoid dependence upon any single retail behemoth. Direct sales are becoming more and more appealing. The missing element is the broad exposure. We must refer, promote, lift, and broadcast ourselves and others as much as possible!
At my signing/reading at B&N on May 5, there was a slight hint as to all of this. Management there we’re still committed to supporting the cause but the indication they gave was that it would be less than they’d been empowered to do so.
Thanks for sharing this. Wasn’t there (relatively recently) an article about how one of the things that had helped B&N thrive in troubled times was that they were allowing the staff to curate the book selection? From experience (both as a retailer, a customer, and a writer) there is hardly a more depressing comparison than that between a bookstore shelf lovingly stocked by someone who loves books and a soulless corporate selection.
Daunting but necessary coverage. Thanks for speaking out.
This is really eye opening. I feel incredibly sorry for the people who've been putting their heart and soul into curating their horror (and other genre) sections, who are now going to see all that work fall by the wayside.
This is so frustrating and long term won't do B+N any favours, but they can't see that!
I figured the indie trend at B&N was too good to last, but it still makes me sad. Seeing pics of my book on the shelf of a bookstore on the other side of the country was a big career milestone for me, and it sounds like it’s probably not one that will repeat...
Thank you for sharing, Max!
Thank you for sharing all of this, Max!
Good job, Max!
Once again B&N falls by the wayside. Shades of the early 2000s with them again. If all they're selling are the same ten damn authors, they probably deserve to fold. But I would hope the actually wonderful booksellers employed by them can move on to better places who support small press.
We've been with Lightning Source a little longer even than you, and I doubt I'd call it fair. Their print prices are so high you can't possible offer the 55% discount and returns and make any money. We priced a 176 page hardcover yesterday. It would have be $29.99 for us to make less than a dollar in royalties. The KDP books (I know from OTHER reliable sources) are often printed through Lightning Source... and then... the print price is still cheaper at KDP and the cover price lower than if you go directly to Lightning source? By two dollars a book? They are also ruining POD.