In my email news bag this morning, thanks to Query Tracker, I was able to see the national list of Borders stores on the hatchet list for closure. Thank goodness, none were listed within the state of Maine. In truth, I don't know how many Borders Bookstores are located in Maine. I do know the one in Bangor is a treasure. It would be such a loss to have that one close. I have also heard wonderful things about the Borders Bookstore located in San Diego, CA. That one wasn't on the list either. The closest one to San Diego on the list is in El Cajon. Too bad. El Cajon needs as many places of literature and art as businesses will bring into the area.
****
Another piece of Internet news this morning was that the state of Texas decided to go after Amazon for $270 MILLION in taxes. It seems Amazon.com's distribution center has been located in Austin, Texas. Perhaps it should be noted that the state of Texas does not have a state income tax. For sure it should be noted that it was also reported that Amazon is moving its distribution center OUT of the state of Texas.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
WHAT HAPPENS TO WRITERS WHEN MAJOR BOOKSTORES GO BUST
From today's email came this missive from Josuha Bodwell, President of Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance (MWPA). As a writer trying to get that first publisher book, the news about Borders is pretty devastating. Are we all doomed to write only for e-books and Amazon.con?
***
HELLO ALL,
As I drove to Bangor earlier this week (the MWPA is co-sponsoring the Bangor Book Festival in October!), I listened to the radio squawk news of the pending Borders bankruptcy. The news made me cringe at the thought of how many small presses, publishers, and therefore writers would lose their hard earned dollars.
Later in the week, Publisher’s Weekly put numbers to how much Borders owes:
“Publishers are on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars led by Penguin Group (USA), which is owed $41.1 million, followed by Hachette at $36.9 million, Simon & Schuster at $33.8 million, Random House at $33.5 million, and HarperCollins at $25.8 million.”
The trickle-down effect of these losses—if in fact these publishers are not paid back by Borders—could have a serious impact on authors and writers hoping to be published—I don’t think devastating is too strong a word.
Then I came upon this other headline in Publisher’s Weekly: “Bookstore Sales Fell 1.4% in 2010.” An ominous tone?
Well, I was surprised to read the story and find that total bookstore sales equaled $16.50 billion in 2010. Billion. That could hardly be considered bad news, right?
Out of curiosity, I did a little research and found that 2010’s annual movie ticket sales totaled $10.65 billion—about $6 billion less than 2010’s bookstore sales. Pretty interesting, ay?
Wouldn’t conventional wisdom have us believe that far more people go see movies than read books today? I mean, aren’t we inundated with pundits bemoaning the death of books and reading? Well, this news about bookstore sales figures made me think of my favorite line in the book Freakanomics: “Conventional wisdom is often wrong.”
I was buoyed by the bookstore sales figures. And I hope you are, too. We know that things in the book business are changing. And quickly. But beyond that, very little can be assumed. So let’s keep faith, okay?
In the meantime: buy local.
***
HELLO ALL,
As I drove to Bangor earlier this week (the MWPA is co-sponsoring the Bangor Book Festival in October!), I listened to the radio squawk news of the pending Borders bankruptcy. The news made me cringe at the thought of how many small presses, publishers, and therefore writers would lose their hard earned dollars.
Later in the week, Publisher’s Weekly put numbers to how much Borders owes:
“Publishers are on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars led by Penguin Group (USA), which is owed $41.1 million, followed by Hachette at $36.9 million, Simon & Schuster at $33.8 million, Random House at $33.5 million, and HarperCollins at $25.8 million.”
The trickle-down effect of these losses—if in fact these publishers are not paid back by Borders—could have a serious impact on authors and writers hoping to be published—I don’t think devastating is too strong a word.
Then I came upon this other headline in Publisher’s Weekly: “Bookstore Sales Fell 1.4% in 2010.” An ominous tone?
Well, I was surprised to read the story and find that total bookstore sales equaled $16.50 billion in 2010. Billion. That could hardly be considered bad news, right?
Out of curiosity, I did a little research and found that 2010’s annual movie ticket sales totaled $10.65 billion—about $6 billion less than 2010’s bookstore sales. Pretty interesting, ay?
Wouldn’t conventional wisdom have us believe that far more people go see movies than read books today? I mean, aren’t we inundated with pundits bemoaning the death of books and reading? Well, this news about bookstore sales figures made me think of my favorite line in the book Freakanomics: “Conventional wisdom is often wrong.”
I was buoyed by the bookstore sales figures. And I hope you are, too. We know that things in the book business are changing. And quickly. But beyond that, very little can be assumed. So let’s keep faith, okay?
In the meantime: buy local.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
JANET CHAPMAN BOOK SIGNING AT BORDERS BOOKSTORE
Janet Chapman, Romance writer, conducted a reading and book signing at the Bangor, Maine, Borders bookstore last Saturday, January 29. She had fans showing up from as far away as Presque Isle, Maine and New Hampshire - long drives for all, especially during this winter when the daytime high temperatures have hovered at 20 degrees.
Janet, who lives in one of the small communities outside Bangor, was at first unbelieving that the people were there just for her - thinking they must have been in the store and just stopped by the table on the second floor that the Borders' staff had set up for her. NO, those people made it quite clear, they were there for her. Good thing she wasn't scheduled before 3pm. The people from New Hampshire must have started out very early or driven up the day before. and Presque Isle isn't much closer.
Darn good thing Borders decided to have some of Janet's books sent overnight via Federal Express.
On the other hand, the Borders' staff have always been more than supportive of the Writers Group this writer belongs to. And they never complain if we want to carry our coffee (from their cafe) with us as we roam the bookstacks, or need help finding a reference book. It's practically a personal library with snacks, WiFi and comfortable chairs - and heat. No small benefit this winter here in the too-much-snowy north.
Janet, who lives in one of the small communities outside Bangor, was at first unbelieving that the people were there just for her - thinking they must have been in the store and just stopped by the table on the second floor that the Borders' staff had set up for her. NO, those people made it quite clear, they were there for her. Good thing she wasn't scheduled before 3pm. The people from New Hampshire must have started out very early or driven up the day before. and Presque Isle isn't much closer.
Darn good thing Borders decided to have some of Janet's books sent overnight via Federal Express.
On the other hand, the Borders' staff have always been more than supportive of the Writers Group this writer belongs to. And they never complain if we want to carry our coffee (from their cafe) with us as we roam the bookstacks, or need help finding a reference book. It's practically a personal library with snacks, WiFi and comfortable chairs - and heat. No small benefit this winter here in the too-much-snowy north.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
TIME FRAMES, RESEARCH & THE VALUE OF WRITERS GROUPS
Sometimes the smallest things can trip up a writer. Almost happened to this one. But for the good eyes and critical thinking of my Writers Group, who don't even write the same genre as I, a piece of work I am working on would have continued with a significant error.
The problem came about because I changed the original time frame to fifteen years earlier. The reason isn't important; I just felt other elements would work better. In the process I failed to research that certain critical elements that couldn't be changed hadn't been developed by the new time frame, i.e. the Internet and emails not to mention certain "language" we commonly use such as BTW, FYI, LOL, etc.
Fortunately, one of the members in my Writers Group raised the issue. She wasn't sure but.... Stop the Presses and send out group "Help" messages to people of the appropriate ages and who lived in the story's location at the time of the story's time frame. Seems the Writers Group was on the money. And it was my daughter (!) who found the most "on the mark" piece of information needed.
Yes, the story can be "fixed", the time frame can be changed to fit the accuracy of that critical element - BUT what if I had not had the eyes and critical thinking of my Writers Group? Deep doo doo. That's what.
I had done research on car models and colors of the cars being used (not every color is produced by every car maker in a given year - something to check out). I had checked out the appropriateness of certain perfumes and men's colognes. But the Internet and the availability of email communication? Nope.
With so much technology evolving so quickly - and taken so much for granted by so many, writers need to be careful when incorporating any aspect of it in their writing. Once more, a butt was saved from the fire. Could have been a bonfire without that catch....
The problem came about because I changed the original time frame to fifteen years earlier. The reason isn't important; I just felt other elements would work better. In the process I failed to research that certain critical elements that couldn't be changed hadn't been developed by the new time frame, i.e. the Internet and emails not to mention certain "language" we commonly use such as BTW, FYI, LOL, etc.
Fortunately, one of the members in my Writers Group raised the issue. She wasn't sure but.... Stop the Presses and send out group "Help" messages to people of the appropriate ages and who lived in the story's location at the time of the story's time frame. Seems the Writers Group was on the money. And it was my daughter (!) who found the most "on the mark" piece of information needed.
Yes, the story can be "fixed", the time frame can be changed to fit the accuracy of that critical element - BUT what if I had not had the eyes and critical thinking of my Writers Group? Deep doo doo. That's what.
I had done research on car models and colors of the cars being used (not every color is produced by every car maker in a given year - something to check out). I had checked out the appropriateness of certain perfumes and men's colognes. But the Internet and the availability of email communication? Nope.
With so much technology evolving so quickly - and taken so much for granted by so many, writers need to be careful when incorporating any aspect of it in their writing. Once more, a butt was saved from the fire. Could have been a bonfire without that catch....
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
NEW RESOURCE FOR FICTION CRIME WRITERS
In today's QueryTracker email is an interview and notification of Carolyn Kaufman's first book for writers, THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO PSYCHOLOGY: How to Write Accurately About Psychological Disorders, Clinical Treatment and Human Behavior. It hits Borders bookshelves today - December 1, 2010.
How fortunate I am to have a great Borders bookstore right here. In fact, that's where our Writers Group meets.
This book, which I intend to gift to myself, is being praised by bestselling thriller writer and psychologist Jonathan Kellerman as "thoughtful, scholarly, comprehensive and a boon to writers aiming for accuracy when depicting the world of abnormal psychology and clinical treatment." Another bestselling author, Jilliane Hoffman, adds, "Every writer who even thinks about creating or explaining a character with a psychological disorder should have a copy on their desk, right next to their dictionary and thesaurus..." (which is where I will have my copy, BTW)
According to the article on QueryTracker, "Carolyn Kaufman's doctorate is in clinical psychology, and she is a former psychotherapist turned full-time psychology professor at Columbus State Community College in Columbus, Ohio. She is frequently consulted by journalists as an expert source, and her specializations are clinical/abnormal psychology and media psychology."
I know that I have often read her columns on QueryTracker and found them insightful and true in accordance with experiences and individuals I encountered during my career in the law enforcement/corrections field.
Even in the brief introduction provided in this morning's column the author talked about the differences in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychotic and psychopathic and errors made in television and fiction when trying to use these illnesses to describe characters.
This book will be a treasure trove for any writer who desires to write credible stories with characters of depth and validity.
How fortunate I am to have a great Borders bookstore right here. In fact, that's where our Writers Group meets.
This book, which I intend to gift to myself, is being praised by bestselling thriller writer and psychologist Jonathan Kellerman as "thoughtful, scholarly, comprehensive and a boon to writers aiming for accuracy when depicting the world of abnormal psychology and clinical treatment." Another bestselling author, Jilliane Hoffman, adds, "Every writer who even thinks about creating or explaining a character with a psychological disorder should have a copy on their desk, right next to their dictionary and thesaurus..." (which is where I will have my copy, BTW)
According to the article on QueryTracker, "Carolyn Kaufman's doctorate is in clinical psychology, and she is a former psychotherapist turned full-time psychology professor at Columbus State Community College in Columbus, Ohio. She is frequently consulted by journalists as an expert source, and her specializations are clinical/abnormal psychology and media psychology."
I know that I have often read her columns on QueryTracker and found them insightful and true in accordance with experiences and individuals I encountered during my career in the law enforcement/corrections field.
Even in the brief introduction provided in this morning's column the author talked about the differences in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychotic and psychopathic and errors made in television and fiction when trying to use these illnesses to describe characters.
This book will be a treasure trove for any writer who desires to write credible stories with characters of depth and validity.
Friday, November 19, 2010
SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL WRITERS
On Saturday, December 4 from 11 AM to 12:30 PM, MWPA (Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance) member Jeff Foltz will be at the Bangor Public Library and then at the Rockport Public Library from 3:30 PM to 5:00PM with his new historical novel, Birkebeiner.
It has been a real treasure to find other local writers. Even more surprising is the LARGE number of published poets in the state.
Finding "First Readers" has been interesting as well. In addition to the writers in the Writers Group in which I participate, I recently "recruited" a select group of individual "First Readers." These are friends and associates who read mysteries and police procedurals simply as a hobby. After all, these are my would be buyers. Better to find out their thoughts, interests, opinions, etc.
Some seem to devour pages with almost daily - at least weekly - feedback and requests for the next chapter. Others have had personal "bumps in the road" to handle. Afterward they are quick to let me know, they are back at it with their feedback to follow. And others... Well, I'm not quite sure where they are.
This last group are mostly individuals who are still holding down full-time jobs. And we are all happy for them - even for those who could fold-it-up if they wanted. So maybe they are just busy with the business at hand. Who knows. But the one thing I don't do is to push the issue. One of the objectives is to write something the reader doesn't want to put down - can't wait to read the next page. So the absence of feedback is feedback after all.
It has been a real treasure to find other local writers. Even more surprising is the LARGE number of published poets in the state.
Finding "First Readers" has been interesting as well. In addition to the writers in the Writers Group in which I participate, I recently "recruited" a select group of individual "First Readers." These are friends and associates who read mysteries and police procedurals simply as a hobby. After all, these are my would be buyers. Better to find out their thoughts, interests, opinions, etc.
Some seem to devour pages with almost daily - at least weekly - feedback and requests for the next chapter. Others have had personal "bumps in the road" to handle. Afterward they are quick to let me know, they are back at it with their feedback to follow. And others... Well, I'm not quite sure where they are.
This last group are mostly individuals who are still holding down full-time jobs. And we are all happy for them - even for those who could fold-it-up if they wanted. So maybe they are just busy with the business at hand. Who knows. But the one thing I don't do is to push the issue. One of the objectives is to write something the reader doesn't want to put down - can't wait to read the next page. So the absence of feedback is feedback after all.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
BENEFITS FROM WRITERS CONFERENCES/RETREATS
Finished the chapter - polished and re-written 'til I'm blue in the face (like the corpse). But I've come to realize I would never have thought of this "new" first chapter without having gone to the retreat, without having been in that particular workshop, without having had the benefit of learning from an experience and published writer in a related genre.
There is just so much a writer can learn from reading "teaching" books, articles, email blogs, etc. Sometimes you just have to invest in being where the professionals are, making contacts with those who've walked the path ahead of you, creating networks that include people who will generously share their knowledge and will extend even more of that knowledge once you have gone home and are plodding along.
Courage and hard work are part of the journey. Writers Groups and then Friends in the Biz help, too. Always remember to say "Thank You" to those who extend a hand and the offer of helpful suggestions even when, at first, you think "I thought it was done. Oh, boggers!"
There is just so much a writer can learn from reading "teaching" books, articles, email blogs, etc. Sometimes you just have to invest in being where the professionals are, making contacts with those who've walked the path ahead of you, creating networks that include people who will generously share their knowledge and will extend even more of that knowledge once you have gone home and are plodding along.
Courage and hard work are part of the journey. Writers Groups and then Friends in the Biz help, too. Always remember to say "Thank You" to those who extend a hand and the offer of helpful suggestions even when, at first, you think "I thought it was done. Oh, boggers!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
