Doom, Gloom, and an Internet Boom
Don mentioned Book Expo America (BEA) yesterday, and for a moment, I thought he was going to scoop me on my idea for today’s blog. Fortunately, he had all that good news to report from BEA. What I wanted to talk about today . . . well, it’s not so good.
At least if you believe what’s in the newspapers.
I have a friend (Maureen Child–if you haven’t read her, check her out, she’s a fabulous author!) who attended BEA in Los Angeles last week. She signed books at the Harlequin booth and had a great time. She said the show was packed with readers, writers, publishers and booksellers and that everyone was upbeat and excited.
A story in last weeks Cleveland Plain Dealer, though, was a little less rosy, starting with the headline: Booksellers looking for ways to boost sales. (Subtext, sales are bad, we need to beef them up.)
According to the article, publishers are talking doom and gloom because sales are flat and there are no new blockbusters (ala Harry Potter) on the horizon. One publishing exec is quoted as saying, “It’s a tough time for the book business.” Others are looking for e-reader to be the salvation of the industry because, they claim, the traditional book is dead and readers are anxious for easy–and instant–access.
I don’t know how true any of this is. The statistics CR gave us to ponder on Monday seem to show that not much has changed, that people who have always read are still reading, and that they want to read printed words on paper, rather than electronic words on a screen.
As for the doom and gloom, I can say this: if you’ve been around this industry long enough (I have), you hear this sort of end-of-the-world talk every now and then. Publishers tighten their belts and their purse strings. They pass on manuscripts they say they would love to buy, if only they could. They scrimp on publicity, they cut advertising, they say they can only push a book if it’s new and different and quirky–and then they end up publishing the same old, same old.
Sigh.
So what can writers do? Well, those folks reporting from the BEA say that publishers and authors need to look to the Web as a means of engaging the public. Already in Japan, the article points out, best-selling novels are written on and shared via cell phone.
Written on cell phone? Do they mean like texting? If that’s the wave of the future, I’d better get started. It takes me at least 10 minutes just to text a “hi” to my daughter!
On a personal note:
This Friday, I’ll be guest blogging at:
www.thestilettogang.blogspot.com
Stop by and say hi.
And this coming Monday, June 9, I’ll be at the Parma South branch of the Cuyahoga County Library at 7 p.m. The library is located at 7335 Ridge Road, just north of Pleasant Valley. Join us for a mystery discussion and book signing and sale.
