Books of gratitude
One thing we're thankful for is the support for indie bookstores that comes from people whose livelihoods don't actually depend on them. The choir is always happy to let someone else do the preaching - someone like Linda Urban, J.D. Rhoades, or Mayor Thomas Ferrini.
The people who've been diligently promoting the idea of books as the perfect present this year deserve just as much gratitude. I've linked to some of them in previous posts, but so far John Hodgman (as Sandy Scott pointed out), Shannon Hale, Liz Burns, Kelly Fineman, Wendy McClure, and the members of The Writers' Group haven't gotten a mention yet.
(As for discussions like this one at the Christian Science Monitor - passed along by Rich Rennicks - well, we'll just skip right over that.)
Other gratitude-inspiring things:
- Studies that confirm the obvious - in this case, that displaying inventory well increases sales.
- Powell's win-the-OED contest - take a look at all the favorite words
- Chronicle's willingness to use its blog as a refuge for deleted scenes - without requiring 3-D glasses.
- Carleen Brice - who has her own take on how we should buy books for the holidays.
- The fact that someone responded to this article - instead of just venting about it like I did.
- Storycorps' National Day of Listening - my relatives should consider themselves warned.
Posted at 12:20PM Nov 26, 2008 by Sarah Rettger in General | Comments[0]
Live From NY -- Morrison and Lebowitz
The National Book Awards wasn't the only a-list literary event in NYC recently. On November 12, The New York Public Library presented "TONI MORRISON in conversation with FRAN LEBOWITZ." John Crutcher, a reader and longtime publishing and bookselling professional, shares the evening with us.
500 readers filled the Celeste Bartos Forum at the New York Public Library for Wednesday’s event on the occasion of the publication of Toni Morrison’s new novel, A Mercy. Part of the distinguished LIVE from the NYPL series, the event had been sold out for days, though more waited in line hoping that no-shows would leave room for them to attend.
The evening was billed as “Toni Morrison in conversation with Fran Lebowitz” and that conversation was lively, as one would expect. My favorite lines from Ms.Lebowitz: “When Toni said to write the book you want to read, she didn’t mean everyone,” and “The common reader has been replaced by the common writer.” When Ms. Morrison said, “I’m talking to the reader. I am the reader of the books I write,” Ms. Lebowitz opined that “You imagine that exchange as ‘we’ vs. ‘you.' I’m not a hostess. I’m a prosecutor. You are a hostess. You want to let them in.” To which, Ms. Morrison replied simply, with a warm smile, “Yes.”
The conversation had, as bookends, two readings by Ms. Morrison in her distinctive voice and in the very distinctive “voices” of two of the major characters in her new novel, which is set in the late 17th century, two centuries before the era of Beloved -— a time when, as Ms. Morrison put it, “Enslaving people didn’t have to do with race,” adding that "the hierarchy of race was not yet entrenched.” The first reading was in the voice of Florens, a girl cast off by her mother into slavery in Virginia. The second was the achingly moving last chapter, where the mother who gave her away under pressing circumstances “talks” to her daughter as if they were not separated.
The audience, which had greeted Ms. Morrison with a standing, hollering ovation, brought that same passion to still, rapt attention to the readings.
Kim Irwin, one of the three-person SWAT team headed by Paul Holdengraber that puts on this distinguished series -— which sometimes has three or four events in a week -— noted that Toni Morrison had set records for books sold and for the longest autographing lines since the series began. Daniel Feinberg, a bookseller from indie bookshop 192 Books, said they’d sold more than 150 copies last night, “a very good evening.”
When I asked if Ms. Morrison had a comment about booksellers, she said emphatically, “I’m glad they’re there. Everything is so scary.”
LIVE from the NYPL welcomes booksellers to link from their websites to the audio and video files on their site. This fall’s series alone has already included, among others, Joan Didion, Garry Wills, Ann Wroe, Marilyn Johnson, Spike Lee. James McBride, Paul Auster, Daniel Mendelsohn, and James Wood, with moderators including Charlie Rose and Pico Ayer. Still to come are a tribute to Rust Hills, the legendary Esquire fiction editor with Richard Ford, Jim Salter, and others, Zadie Smith, and Daniel Barenboim.
And here are transcripts from previous events, as well as recordings of the events at iTunes.
Posted at 09:00AM Nov 22, 2008 by Dan Cullen in General | Comments[0]
Weekly tidbits
There's a lot of great stuff to share this week, but first I'd like to indulge in what the Freakonomics bloggers call a "bleg." (Yes, it's an ugly word.)
We're going to be social at Winter Institute in Feburary - not just face-to-face social, but continuing the conversation and reaching out to everyone who can't make it to Salt Lake City through this blog, other attendee blogs, Twitter, Utterli, YouTube, and any other new tools I discover over the next two months.
And while I'd love to start share the rumor that Scholastic is donating a couple Time-Turners to make the event run smoothly, the truth is none of us has figured out how to be in more than one place at a time. Besides, the whole point of social media is that it doesn't just come from us; it's (to use another awful word) crowdsourced.
If you want to be a part of this, drop me a quick note so I can keep you up-to-date on our plans. ¡Muchas gracias!
Now for the fun stuff.
The shop local/buy books campaign continues, with posts at The Stories of a Girl, The Inkblotter, The Bookmark at the U, Chasing Ray, Books on the Nightstand, A Different Stripe, Beyond Her Book, and Writing and Ruminating, among many others.
(And if your customers need another reason to consider books a good investment, point them to NPR's analysis of the energy usage of new TVs - even those with the Energy Star label don't get high marks.)
Prepare to be amazed by the creativity displayed in Unshelved's annual Pimp My Bookcart competition.
Add this to your blog reader: The ever-fabulous Ann Kingman (one of the minds behind the aforementioned Books on the Nightstand) has launched Booksellers Blog, all about using social media and the Internet to sell books.
Algonquin is excited about the Water For Elephants casting rumors.
Need an antidote to the latest depressing financial news? Take a look at Eight Cousins' Carol Chittenden's report on the immediate reaction to the ABC catalogue, and then stop by Bunch of Grapes' blog to remember that people really love this profession.
(And then heave a great sigh of relief as you enjoy working for a company that doesn't deal with nonsense like this. The only place for time-motion theory in the bookstore is in Cheaper By the Dozen.)
Between the Lynes has the voices covered, but they still might be looking for someone to carve the roast beast.
Another one for the "kids today" files: they're unwilling to suspend disbelief long enough to enjoy Blueberries for Sal.
How "book" became "cool," or why my new phone has a QWERTY keyboard.
Michele Filgate, events coordinator at RiverRun (and my sixth-grade classmate) gets a glamorous write-up in her local paper.
Interesting article, fascinating photo technique (I'm serious; go play around with the slider): The New York Times compares the ad-filled Grand Central of the 1970s to its present state.
Once again indulging my inner middle-schooler by linking to this one only because of its title. (Come on, who doesn't like to see NPR stray into vulgarity?)
GalleyCat's Ron Hogan, valiantly tweeting his way through the National Book Awards, included this observation: "Forget who asked, but Laurie Halse Anderson did NOT wear Indiebound T-shirt at the NBA ceremony. She said she tried, but her husband nixed." Yup, that was me - I loved seeing Laurie's IndieBound shirt turn up at one regional show after another. But I don't blame her for ditching the T-shirt when she had a chance to wear this dress.
And finally, congratulations to Boulder Bookstore's Arsen Kashkashian, proud new dad of Martina!
Posted at 12:36PM Nov 21, 2008 by Sarah Rettger in General | Comments[0]
Puzzles and cell phones and snowflakes, oh my!
Writer John Scalzi started his week by publishing a rejection letter -- to nature. If you think winter is showing up a bit too soon, you might be able to sympathize. (And if you're somehow not swayed by his snarky commentary, consider the amount of traffic he just directed to his local indie!)
Have you checked out all the IndieBound holiday designs? We're trendsetters -- it seems like everyone wants to encourage book presents this year. Authorbuzz is focusing its campaign on 24 titles, while Books For the Holidays is equal-opportunity (and grassroots, with more than a hundred bloggers supporting it). Bookreporter.com counts down the reasons for books, and Random House boils it down to three words: Books Equal Gifts.
Crossword puzzle maven Will Shortz announced this week that he'll leave his collection of 20,000 puzzle books -- old ones, not the hundreds he's edited -- to the University of Indiana. (via Romenesko)
If you've seen more cell phones pointed at your shelves this week, Google might be the reason. After releasing Android, their phone operating system, they introduced the Barcode Scanner application, which ties into Google Book Search. Forget looking up page numbers in the index; just point and search.
Your PSA for the week: Soon-to-be-bookseller Joni Montover is looking for a bookselling mentor. Naturally, her computer sputtered to a stop just after she posted the message, so she can't do much in the way of e-mail. If anyone who's not on Twitter is interested in offering some wisdom, let me know, and I'll pass the message along.
Joni might get some sympathy from Rhys Bowen, whose computer woes this week led her to wonder if there might be an upside to a declining economy: it might be the push we need to repair instead of replace.
800-CEO-READ is facing the global economy head-on with a session of group (book) therapy next week. If you're in Milwaukee, drop in to start planning the rebound. No time to get to Wisconsin? Check out Michael Lewis' take on the financial crisis (think Liars Poker: The Sequel).
If you're trying to forget about the economy for a while, stop by Shelftalker to pair up your favorite characters.
Not really book-related, but too good to miss: Craig Silverman highlights some of the corrections from the fake New York Times distributed this week.
Posted at 01:46PM Nov 15, 2008 by Sarah Rettger in General | Comments[0]
It's all about the marketing
So... there was an election this week. (Not the one decided by the coin toss - the big one!) Newspaper-carrying bookstores saw an uptick because of it, as did the 57th Street Co-Op, where the president-elect is a member.
In other news:
- Advice for retailers using social media
- Bookslut interviews indie bookseller David Del Vecchio
- New term for the week: social proof. If you tell people that millions of artifacts are stolen from national parks each year, they take it as permission instead of censure, and steal even more. (If you complain about how many books are sold through chains and online, it doesn't drive traffic to your store -- something to think about in crafting marketing messages.)
- If you've read through BTW's Surviving Tough Times articles, put this at the top of your TBR list. We sometimes think that MBAs come from another universe, but this Kellogg School professor is giving the same advice we are. (And now I'll take a break from the acronyms. Really.)
- This two-part blog series on how newspapers should deal with their critics is full of points that also apply to booksellers and publishers.
And finally, the stick gets its due: This week it was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Sounds like a good reason to track down the instructions for Poohsticks this weekend - or sell a copy of Winnie-the-Pooh.
Posted at 04:02PM Nov 09, 2008 by Sarah Rettger in General |
Halloween and pre-election edition
Until Tuesday, you'll be hearing from all sorts of people asking you to demonstrate your support for various causes, individuals, and philosophies.
On November 5, people will still be asking you to demonstrate your support for causes, individuals, and philosophies, but the issues will be ones I can legitimately discuss on this blog -- like the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation launching a movement to get The Snowy Day on a stamp.
In the department of "see, gadgets can be useful" we find a credit card processor available in the iPhone app store. That's right: all the iPhone-carrying booksellers can now handle instant transactions at offsite events. (If anyone tries it, let me know how it goes!)
I'm not sure I should actually encourage this, since it's already so easy to find out an hour has gone by when all I wanted to do was check one thing on IMDb. But an online book database -- one that includes the behind-the-scenes stuff too -- might just be irresistible. (via GalleyCat)
Also very cool: a profile of Graywolf Press and the people behind it.
Best description of the store search on IndieBound.org: "OH, WHERE IS AN INDIE BOOKSTORE NEAR ME?"
And today, of course, is Halloween. For that (and for everyone who's not special enough to get a book signed by Ray Bradbury on 10/31), I leave you with Project Runway's review of some book Halloween costumes, courtesy of Collecting Children's Books.
Posted at 05:02PM Oct 31, 2008 by Sarah Rettger in General |
Only down 3% today? I'm getting used to this.
Lessons of the financial crisis, the literary version: "Had Emma Bovary but learned double-entry bookkeeping and drawn up a budget, she could easily have gone on with her hobby of adultery."
Web comic XKCD strikes a nerve this week: "Oops, I read the whole thing."
NPR's Weekend Edition gets their PSA out in less than 140 characters: "A profile of a small-business owner coping with the souring economy, plus listener emails. How're you & your families holding up?"
Really, I didn't make this one up: "Man, I need to stick with reporting the IndieBound bestsellers."
Web comics are so on this week: "They will be bibliophibians." (via Bookavore)
I'm sorry to say I didn't make this one up: "Next month Eminem’s mother will release a memoir, 'My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem.'"
After all my econ classes, I still need a reference like this: "Commercial paper lenders, which are often money market funds, may transfer many millions of dollars to borrowers at lightning speeds." (and check out Planet Money's new logo, designed by Mo Willems)
Chronicle is playing with spam again: "Just drag 'n' drop these designs to your desktop to send your friends some spam they'll actually love receiving. Boundless sensual enjoyments await you if you do. I swear."
W.W. Norton learns something new about its neighbor: "There are 88 miles of shelves at the library!"
Posted at 04:24PM Oct 24, 2008 by Sarah Rettger in General |
Snippets
There's a quote-of-the-day box on my iGoogle page, and today it features this gem: "Statistician: A man who believes figures don't lie, but admits that under analysis some of them won't stand up either. - Evan Esar." He'd probably appreciate the microsurveys 26th Story uses to prove that people do, indeed, read on public transportation.
Latest updates on what makes bookselling worth it, courtesy of various blogs and Twitter.
Latest absurd book challenge (via Laila Lalami): An Iowa man faces a twenty-year prison sentence for possession of "obscene" manga. CBLDF is involved.
Have you read the Bookselling This Week series on bookselling in tough times? Also take a look at these tips - they're targeted at newsrooms, but with a little tweaking, they apply to bookstores too. And John Shableski reminds booksellers that promoting indie retail isn't about preaching to the choir:
I know why I shop local but you; Mr. Bookstore Owner can't assume the rest of the world knows the value of what you do... It is maintaining awareness in the community with constant promotion that does the trick. So tell the world what you do so well and why it matters and you have a better chance of surviving the chaos of economic roller coasters... So, tell your community what you do and say it loud. You can’t expect them to just assume you sell books.
While we're working on that, Kidliterate reviews The Teashop Girls, and calls the author out for not practicing what she preaches:
Since the main plotline of the book involves Annie trying to save her aunt’s independent teashop from being run out of town by the big corporate chain, it would be nice if Schaefer linked to Indiebound or Powell’s. The book also mentions Annie going to Barnes and Noble, but I’m told that the reference has been changed to an independent name, which is nice - the book sends a good message about shopping locally and I’d like to see that carried through some of the marketing as well as through the book itself.
Need some amusement after all the economic news? Bookninja, following up on Margaret Drabble's complaints about having her work "dumbed down", is hosting a book cover contest: Rebrand something literary as commercial. Submit your entry by Sunday or just enjoy the examples. (Bonus points to George for throwing in the phrase "I was chatting with Margaret Atwood last night...")
Posted at 03:50PM Oct 17, 2008 by Sarah Rettger in General | Comments[1]
Blog Action Day 2008
How do booksellers work to defeat poverty?
Fundraising: Over the weekend, bookstores around the country, including RiverRun, The King's English, Joseph-Beth, Hall Book Exchange, Colgate Bookstore, BayShore Books, Aaron's Books, Galaxy Bookshop, and Bear Pond Books hosted 24-hour readathon fundraisers. Many of the stores made their donations to local organizations that promote literacy and distribute books to children. (Other Blog Action Day participants are focusing on literacy too: take a look at this post and this one.)
Sustainability: Maybe you're tired of hearing this from us, but it's true. Local businesses return more of each dollar to the community in the form of salaries, taxes, commerce, and charitable giving than chain stores. You can see some of the innovative ways stores are spreading this message at IndieBound.org, or follow in the steps of the Regulator Bookshop.
Other bookstore blogs participating in Blog Action Day: The Inkblotter. (I'll update this as I find out about more, so feel free to leave links in the comments.)
Posted at 05:04PM Oct 15, 2008 by Sarah Rettger in General |
Bookstore as Mr. Right?
My new favorite description of the difference between indie and chain bookstores:
Sure, the Big Guys have their charms, but it's as if they are like the Good Looking Man in the room, the one who winks at you, whose suit fits perfectly without a pucker or a wrinkle, whose hair is fashioned in the latest cut, and who knows he owns the room; he's also the one who doesn't have time to say much more than a, "Hello! Okay, busy busy busy, have to run now, call me! Or rather, have my people call your people and we'll have lunch." We all know lunch isn’t going to come, unless it's with his representative.
Porter Square Books is one of the places you can pick up a free copy of Give + Take. No, you can't actually buy this book anywhere - the publisher has printed up 1,000 copies and is giving away all of them.
Okay, they're not technically books, but I'm a sucker for anything with writing on it. If you're going to be in the New York area between now and January, stop by the Jewish Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls on world tour.
A School Library Journal article on the unpopularity of recent Newbery winners started a fuss here in blogland. While debate raged about what makes a book appealing to children and why the Newbery committee can't actually consider popularity, former bookseller Sarah Miller pointed out that from a sales perspective, there's no question:
At our shop, Newbery season coincided with returns season, often with amusing results. Every January we examined our entire inventory and weeded out books that hadn't sold at least one copy in the last 6-12 months. In the last four years, we had to 'rescue' Newbery gold-medal winners from the returns pile twice. Both times, we'd joked and placed bets about those very books being chosen for the award even as we pulled them from the shelf.
(Jealous of all those librarians with their Newbery-selecting power? Booksellers are welcome to nominate their favorite children's and YA books for the Cybils, now in their third year. I'm serving on the MG/YA nonfiction panel, so if you want to load up my to-be-read list, now's your chance!)
Banned Books Week is over, but it's nice to see I'm not the only one who's sometimes late responding to a topic. Some that didn't make last week's roundup:
YPulse reports on the best ways to market books to teens. (And Turnrow Books shares one of the best book-promoting letters I've seen.)
A tribute to Paul Ingram's "Ministry of Books."
Posted at 05:09PM Oct 12, 2008 by Sarah Rettger in General | Comments[1]
