Where Do You Get Your Books?

I’ve started asking my fellow authors this because I’m amazed how many only buy their books from Amazon. I'm not going to say I never shop at Amazon. My cart always has a strange variety of items. My most recent haul included a frame for a painting by my aunt, two frames for kendo certificates, a frame we are using to build a shadow box, and a set of sashiko templates. These are all things I couldn't find locally.

I also add things to my cart that I don’t want to forget. I buy some of them from Amazon, but I also shop at my local independent bookstore. If you don’t know what an indie bookstore is, it is a bookstore that is independently owned. It is a small business. 

Shop at an indie and you are supporting people who live in your community. Last weekend, my husband and I were in a part of St. Louis known as the Loop. We dropped into Subterranean Books. A friend had recently recommended Percival Everett's books, so I decided to cut my teeth on Half an Inch of Water, a book of short stories. They also had my friend Pat's book, Delmar the Dinky and the Olympics. When you shop at an indie store, the author will receive a larger royalty and a local business owner will earn a living. 

In addition to Subterranean Book, my local indies include Half Price Books, Left Bank Books, and Main Street Books. Not sure how to find an independent bookstore? Type your zip code into the Indie Bookstore Finder at Indie Bound and you’ll get a list of the closest stores. 

I’m a realist and I know that books are expensive. So, if you read more than you can afford to buy, visit your local library. No, really. Go to the library. Recently I suggested the library to someone who told me that she hadn’t been there since her children were small. If you live near a public library like I do, it is free to use. 

At this point in time, my husband and I have 2 movies checked out, 2 audio books, and slightly more than 15 books. Whenever you check out, my library tells you how much money you’ve saved. On this last trip, I saved $79.81. So far this year, I’ve saved $4,963.45. 

Not only do I save large sums of money by using my library, but my library also offers so many services that benefit writers. I do research at my library. I’ve attended writing workshops offered by award-winning authors. There are signings, author tours and a wide variety of talks that I mine for writing ideas. No, I’m not taking ideas from other writers. There are speakers who teach about history, astronomy, botany, and more. I’m lucky to live in an area with a lot of available resources. 

Where do you get your books? 

 –SueBE

Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 55 books for young readers.  

• To find out more about her writing, visit her site and blog, One Writer's Journey.  
• Click here to find her newsletter.

She is also the instructor for 3 WOW classes which begin again on August 5, 2024. She teaches:

• Pitching, Querying and Submitting Your Work 
• Research: Prepping to Write Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults 
• Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults 

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3 comments book buying, book buying habits, indie bookstores, libraries

How Do You Buy Books?

LuAnn and her grandsons, reading together. A daily habit.

Now, that may seem like a strange question, but I'm curious about book buying habits.

Publishers Weekly reports mass market paperback sales decreased in unit sales by more than 20 percent. But it's not just fiction that's taking a hit.

Adult non-fiction book sales fell by 13 percent.

In past years, I've purchased anywhere from 50 to 100 books. Sometimes, more, depending on time commitments and extra spending money.

But in 2012, I only purchased 20 books in various genres.

And that makes me wonder: What changed my book buying habits?

Yes, with writing deadlines, school obligations, and family matters, I didn't feel I had as much time to devote to reading in 2012.

But for me, my Kindle may be the culprit. I downloaded close to 200 books last year. Now, I'm not saying I've had the chance to read all of them yet...but they are there, like a trusted friend, when I find myself awake at 2:17 AM, unable to sleep.

Have your book buying habits changed? If so, what's the reason?

by LuAnn Schindler (photo of LuAnn and her grandsons reading, snapped by LuAnn, too)  Read more of her work, including her weekly newspaper column, Nebraska-isms, at her website. 

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11 comments book buying, book buying habits, book sales, ereaders, kindle sales, LuAnn Schindler

Do Your Homework Before Self-Publishing

One lazy afternoon, over a bucket of beers and stale pretzels at a local watering hole, I had an epiphany. A nonfiction book idea poured into my mind, and when I shared my best-selling proposal with my husband, he asked the one question an author doesn't want to hear: "What if you can't find a publisher?"

Since that day, I've been investigating publishing options, including self-publishing. After talking with writing friends who have pursued this route, I've learned several valuable lessons about entering the publishing market:

1. Investigate the competition. What sets your proposed deal apart from what's presently available in the market? How many books are already printed on this topic? How recently were they published? Once you know these answers, you can strategize the best ways to set up your book. Can you add infographics? Photographs? Sidebars? Think beyond the printed word and you will be one step ahead of your competition.
2. Hire the best of the best. Once the book is written and edited, you should plan to hire a professional editor to give the script a once-over. A writer has an intimate working relationship with her script and all too often, you tend to overlook even the simplest of mistakes. Better to hire a professional than to print a book filled with glaring mistakes.
3. Look professional. Your book needs to look professionally printed, and this begins with the outside package: the cover. Design a book cover that draws attention and actually fits the book. (How many times have you looked at a book cover and wondered if the author threw together a graphic?) Also don't forget that your book needs an ISBN number. Contact ISBN.org for information. You may want testimonials or positive reviews for the book jacket. Consider who you can ask for a review. What sets their opinion apart from others?
4. Check on the inside. Not only does the cover need to draw attention, but the inside of the book needs to be reader-friendly. Text shouldn't run too close to the binding. Margins need to be precise so the page layout doesn't look crowded.
5. Investigate publishing options. So many options exist today, so make sure you thoroughly investigate publishing options and costs. The least expensive option isn't always the best option, but don't get carried away with option overload either. Does your book need all the bells and whistles offered? Or can it it survive - and SELL - with the KISS method?
6. Establish a marketing plan. Authors should be considering a market plan from the beginning. I've been working on the platform for my book at the same time I've been writing. I've remained open to options and ideas from my research subjects. Marketing must begin before the book prints. Otherwise, how will you sell books?

I'm still working on publishing options, but since I've done my homework, I feel comfortable about the possibility of heading down the self-publishing route.

Have you done your homework? What options have you considered for publishing your work?

by LuAnn Schindler. Read more of LuAnn's work at Writing on the Wall.

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Leave a Comment book buying, book covers, book sales, ISBN numbers, LuAnn Schindler, marketing, page layout, professionalism, self promotion, self publishing, self-promotion, self-publishing

Finding a Friend

Yes, it's obvious. But sometimes we all need a reminder:
Sometimes you just never know who you're going to meet...or read. Putting aside any pre-judgements can help you discover other writers or books you might not have discovered.
On a day when you might run across leprechauns, keep your ears and eyes open.
While working on an editing project in my client's office, I started speaking with a web and graphic designer. In the chitchat that we all start with new-to-us-friends, she revealed that she was working toward her master's. As the conversation flowed, she explained that she is writing short stories to fulfill her degree requirements. That was not something I had anticipated from a designer.
As we discussed writing and the writing process, what we liked to write and how we decided to start, we fell into a conversation that felt comfortable. It was if I were in a foreign country and I'd run across someone who spoke my native language.
Because our jobs tend to keep us out of the same meetings, I could have thought we had nothing in common.
Imagine if we behaved the same way about books and their graphics? Have you ever decided to read (or not read a book) because of its cover? To illustrate that concept, there is an interesting exhibit of book art you should check out. Unfortunately, I missed seeing anything about it in 2010, but fortunately, The Independent has kept the gallery online. Take a look--first at the art--and then try to figure out what the book is about. There were some that, yet again, I was incorrect.
You just never know what you are going to find in front of you--or between the covers of the book covers.
Then look around you--is there any person or book your are missing out on because you've decided you don't have anything in common?

Elizabeth King Humphrey is a writer, editor and coach living in North Carolina.

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2 comments book buying, Elizabeth King Humphrey, reading

Proceeding to Checkout: The Response

By Jill Earl

Last week in her post, ‘Like to Proceed to Checkout?’, WOW! teammate Alison got me thinking about my own book-buying habits, which can be found below.

My book buying habits are determined more by interest and how discounted they are. I’ve set up wish lists at a pair of online bookstores, with copies saved on my computer. Once I’ve made my choices and factor in the genre(s) and/or author(s) striking my fancy at the time, then I move on to the purchase.

Topping the list is my local library. It’s here during my Saturday visits where there’s often a lack of self-restraint. They have a darn good sale section, with frequent overstocks of new releases, all for ridiculously low prices. This is the place where I seriously get my book on!

Writers’ conferences are in the mix, coming in second. This is where I pick up the how-to’s and other resources every few months or so. And sometimes, back issues of journals and magazines are available for reduced prices , great opportunity to research new markets.

Third would be good old brick-and-mortar bookstores. Definitely don’t rush me here! A friend tried that once---twenty minutes, can you imagine? Fortunately for him, the cheesecake smoothed things over. Barely. I seldom leave without my trade magazines at least. And some chocolate. Gotta keep one’s strength up while wandering the aisles!

And last for me are online bookstores. Like Alison, I receive online sale ads with coupons from these places and have recently used them to place a couple of orders. I usually do more virtual window shopping than ordering, though.

Even though I do try to budget, it’s getting a bit out of hand. For one, no one’s been able to sit on my loveseat for ages, so I need to think more about budgeting for a couple of bookcases rather than books.

One thing’s for certain, I’ll be more careful with future book buying. Accountability is always a good thing.

Thanks, Alison!

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2 comments book buying, books, Jill Earl, purchasing books