Last June, I posted a blog entry, “Writers Helping Writers”, wherein I wrote about the benefits of writing groups. At the other end of that thread are reading groups — book clubs. They’ve been around almost as long as there have been books, being helped in the 1400s with the invention of the printing press. […]
Loyal followers of my blog know I’m a fervent supporter of independent book stores. They provide opportunities and services to authors and booklovers that Amazon, big chains and discounters cannot. On an even more personal level, book clubs also benefit authors and booklovers. At first glance, the benefits are obvious: readers share the reading experience […]
Let’s be honest. For speed, convenience and a cost savings, it’s hard to beat Amazon. I confess that I use it. Statistics strongly suggest you do too. It’s a brilliant business concept. Except that it tends to destroy its competitors. That’s how the market works, you say. As consumers, it’s in our interest to seek […]
April 30th will mark the second annual Independent Bookstore Day across the U.S. Followers of the Book●ed Blog know I’m a longtime big supporter of indie stores. Last December, I re-ran a post that first appeared in March 2013, titled Guilty as Charged. Little did I know, three years ago, the important role independent bookstores […]
Prolific readers know the power and enjoyment of being able to pick up a book and enter its world. For developmentally disabled adults – who are too often excluded in many aspects of social life – the joy of sharing book discussions in traditional book clubs has been out of reach, one more barrier to […]
No, I’m not talking about Amazon, the publishing giant. I am talking about fearless women in the book industry. In Greek mythology, Amazon women were fierce warriors, strong and brave. In 2014, the real Amazon women were in the book business. While headlines were dominated by the seemingly intractable war between Internet giant Amazon and […]
There are two reasons why authors do book signings: to sell books and to sell themselves. Well-known authors are celebrities who easily attract an audience. But even lesser known or new authors can gain much and they offer much to the people who attend their book signings. There’s usually some presentation — at a bookstore, […]
This is the third in a 3-part series for authors who want to get their books published. Part 1 posed the questions: Why do I want my book to be published? and How much control am I comfortable giving up? Part 2 addressed: What will it take to get my book accepted by the kind […]