My agent, Weronika Janczuk, forwarded this email to me a week or so ago and I forgot to post about it here:
Hi everyone,
I’ve gotten sick of reading the bookstore obituaries in the publishing news, so I’m starting a viral campaign to get people, on one day, to go buy books from their local bookstore. Might not end up changing the tides, but it’s something small I can do and I’m getting a good response so far. Here are the details for you to pass on to your friends/family/fellow booklovers:
Who: You and all the book-lovers in your life
When: June 25th, the first Saturday of Summer!
Where: Your local bookstore (and if you don’t have one near you, Powell’s ships)
Why: Because bookstores are dropping like flies and we want them to stay alive
Thanks for passing this along to whomever you think would want to get on board.
Warmest,
Kelly
Kelly Sonnack
Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Prefer to read on your god-damned Walmazart Kindle? Then buy a book for a book-lover you know!
Mark your calendars! DO IT!
Most of the stuff I read on my Kindle are free books I won as just Kindle copies or manuscripts for other writers (better, for me, than printing it all out), or my own manuscripts for proofreading. Sometimes I'll buy a Kindle copy of a book I already own so I can easily take a whole bunch of books with me while I'm traveling somewhere (saves packing space).
ReplyDeleteThe saddest thing in my life, though, is that I can't buy a lot of physical books anymore simply because I have nowhere to keep them in this tiny place I live. Gah. I've already got books stuffed under the bed and in bookshelves and closets. I love the library, and I love bookstores. I still buy books at bookstores, and I'll make a point to visit on the 25th of June to buy the next one on my list. :)
Oh! You know my favorite books to buy in bookstores that would never work on a blasted Kindle? CHILDREN'S books! And you know, I look at my Tolkien collection with all the beautiful artwork and fonts and layout and I think how absolutely sad it would be to not have such beauty on my shelf. My favorite part of publishing a book is holding it in my hands, not turning on my Kindle to see it there. I just don't understand how physical books could ever go away. I don't think they will. I love my Kindle, but it will never replace physical books. I would hope most Kindle owners feel that way. Most that I know do.
ReplyDeletei refuse the Kindle, and other carry around e-readers. Give me the something that I can feel and smell and touch that is a book,,,a real book.
ReplyDeleteSo far this year I have purchased 21 real books from real bookstores, some new, some used, some paperback, some actual new hardback. I currently own 956 books which live with me and the dachshunds in a 630-sf house. There is plenty of room for more, so I will be in a bookstore on June 25. Just as I usually am pretty much every weekend.
ReplyDelete-Alex MacKenzie
Alex, I'd have a lot more room for books if I didn't have a four-year-old and an armory. :)
ReplyDeleteMy big issue is that we should purchase locally whenever we can, rather than support faceless and soulless corporations. Even if it costs more, because the health of my neighborhood is more important than my ability to buy cheap and portable books. Which means that for people who don't have Kindles or Nooks or iPhones or iPads, you should buy a book locally instead of shopping amazondotcom. Or, as Kelly suggested, go to Powell's online shop (or visit Indiebound to find the nearest bookstore). To quote the Indiebound website at length:
ReplyDeleteWhen you shop at an independently owned business, your entire community benefits:
The Economy
Spend $100 at a local and $68 of that stays in your community. Spend the same $100 at a national chain, and your community only sees $43.
Local businesses create higher-paying jobs for our neighbors.
More of your taxes are reinvested in your community--where they belong.
The Environment
Buying local means less packaging, less transportation, and a smaller carbon footprint.
Shopping in a local business district means less infrastructure, less maintenance, and more money to beautify your community.
The Community
Local retailers are your friends and neighbors—support them and they’ll support you.
Local businesses donate to charities at more than twice the rate of national chains.
More independents means more choice, more diversity, and a truly unique community.
Now is the time to stand up and join your fellow individuals in the IndieBound mission supporting local businesses and celebrating independents.
I like to get books from The King's English - a fantastic Indie bookstore in SLC. I'd like to do a book signing there sometime.
ReplyDeleteThe bookstores all around me are closing. In fact, I bought three huge bookshelves from a Borders that was closing near me. The plus side to that is that I have a lot more shelf space now. There's one good bookstore left a few blocks away from me. If I go on a Saturday, the local dog shelter also brings their dogs to the front of the store for adoption!
ReplyDeleteThe closest bookstore to my house closed last year. A cool used bookstore near where I work closed a few months ago. But some other used and new bookstores are doing all right (as far as I know). We buy books all the time. Earlier this month I found really nice old editions of "Hamlet" and "Sons and Lovers" to add to the collection. Today at lunch I'm going to buy some Charles Portis if I can find any.
ReplyDeleteFinally a holiday not created by Hallmark.
ReplyDeleteAs someone that ONLY buys printed books, the idea sounds like a good one to me. I'm also one of those Death-before-Home-Depot guys and I prefer supporting the Mom & Pop stores over the national chains whenever possible.
I'm all for this.
ReplyDeleteCentral Florida isn't exactly riddled with local bookstores (oh, how I miss Seattle) BUT I vow to find one and support them.
I WOULD NEVAH EVAH READ ON A KINDLE! I say, no way! I say no how!
ReplyDeleteI shall be at my bookstore on June 25th buying my little heart out. When hubby asks why I'm spending all that money, I'll just say, "Bailey said to." :-) I will repost this on my blog tomorrow, Scott. And I'll tweet it too.
Stay alive bookstores! Stay alive!
Robin: Thanks! Read real books! Because Bailey says so! Support your local bookseller! Because Bailey says so!
ReplyDeleteThanks for supporting the cause and spreading the word!! We have a poster for the campaign now. If you want to use it drop me a note on twitter or facebook!
ReplyDeletePerhaps you should be more concerned about Save A Writer Day?
ReplyDeleteHave you seen a bunch of bookstores hold that?
Well, Bob, the bookstores in Seattle (and others like Tattered Cover in Denver) treat authors pretty well, so I guess I have seen that.
ReplyDeleteExcellent initiative! I am a faculty at Caltech and our beautiful bookstore was closed down by the administration (without consulting with the faculty at all) three years ago. We are still struggling to have it back! I invite everyone who is trying their best to save bookstores to help us out by signing our online petition to reopen our bookstore. Thanks a lot to all who are willing to help and pass this information to others!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.change.org/petitions/california-institute-of-technology-reopen-the-caltech-bookstore-2