God bless ‘em. This past weekend they were in Detroit at the Great Lakes Booksellers show, and they showed up in droves. I don’t know if it was a better than expected turnout or less than expected, but they were everywhere at the convention. And the publishers showed up as well, with wonderful new books timed for the holidays. Even though I spend a lot of time in bookstores, big and small, it is still hard for me to fathom the themes, titles, styles, and variety of books that are available…and keep on coming.
My point is that the sellers were optimistic. They know times are tough, but they are passionate about their product, they treated the authors like royalty ( well…almost), and the entire event gave me new hope for the book business. I love their attitude!
Anyone who checks out this site is a reader. The next time you have to take a house gift…forget the bottle of wine or box of chocolates. Take your host a book. The next time you are getting a gift for the holidays, or a birthday, or an anniversary…find a signed copy of an appropriate book.
Graduation gift? Give a book. When someone asks what you want for Christmas, tell them you want a book. Your child’s teacher…give them a book at the end of the year. Your favorite cook…give them a cookbook. Books make the best gifts in the world, and where wine is disposable, and other gifts are breakable…remember that no-one throws away a book. They may re-gift it, but a book lasts forever.
Thanks again to all book sellers. You help make this writer’s life possible. I had a great time at your show and I’ll be back next year!
-
Books instead of wine. Great idea.
by Patti Abbott
on October 7th, 2008 at 7:20 am
-
Amen! I ran an independent book store in Hazel Park, right outside of Detroit. The most popular books were on horse racing. Of course, the Hazel Park track probably had a lot to do with that.
by Orroz
on October 7th, 2008 at 7:46 am
-
Great gift giving ideas, Don! People are thrilled with books, especially when they’re autographed. You’re a genius! Glad you had a good time at the show. I went a couple years ago, didn’t make it this year. Do you know where the next one will be held?
by Casey
on October 7th, 2008 at 7:53 am
-
Sounds like a fun time. I enjoyed it a few years ago. Did you go up for the whole weekend, or just a day or so?
by Judy
on October 7th, 2008 at 8:31 am
-
Two days. Got to hang out with Tim Dorsey, Max Allen Collins…met Brad Meltzer and of course all the great book sellers. I think Brad was number on on the NYT list last week.
by Don
on October 7th, 2008 at 8:53 am
-
When ever I go to Detroit, I stop in to watch the Tigers play.
I tried reading once while at a game…..got hit with a wild foul ball….so I’ve stopped reading books. I drink wine instead!
Zz
by Zorro
on October 7th, 2008 at 9:58 am
-
Ah, there’s the weirdness we were missing. Good to hear from you Zorro.
by Don
on October 7th, 2008 at 10:02 am
-
Ye cats! Were you there for outgoing GLIBA president Carol Besse’s throwdown? She’s not exactly suggesting replacing a bottle of wine with a book. “Don’t buy books from Amazon,” a call to authors to disable any links to Amazon on their websites, and “Don’t expect publishers to be our allies.” (Quotes from Publisher’s Weekly.)Pretty tough talk.
by Steve
on October 7th, 2008 at 10:04 am
