tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post4763237618760411606..comments2023-11-02T02:40:48.410-07:00Comments on Crime Fiction Collective: Have B&N Execs Gone Mad?L.J. Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-59173403798999856882012-01-12T09:07:47.246-08:002012-01-12T09:07:47.246-08:00I, too, have a Kindle but prefer paper books for t...I, too, have a Kindle but prefer paper books for those I want to keep and reread. Too many problems with the Kindle, mostly relating to difficulty of turning back to check something. I'm hoping indy book stores will reap the customers the big stores took away once the biggies are gone. Love to hang out in indy stores!EileenHamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09921619045110636249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-65246874782037306312012-01-11T23:39:30.663-08:002012-01-11T23:39:30.663-08:00I think it's Amazon's business model that ...I think it's Amazon's business model that has made them so successful. They singlehandedly gave the Indie Author Movement a shot in the arm while the others seemed to have jumped on the bandwagon, and in many cases, it was too little, too late. <br /><br />Pubit seemed like a knee-jerk reaction to Amazon's DTP program, and from where I stand, it was done in a half-hearted manner. There's a huge deficit where their author support is concerned. There isn't even a phone number to call when problems arise during the publishing process. I'm sorry to see B&N go under, but at the same time, it seems they simply didn't step up to the plate. The key to success during these highly competitive times lies in the ability to reinvent oneself, and quite honestly, B&N has done a poor job of it. Now they are paying the price.ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-89819538623411221832012-01-11T10:48:09.498-08:002012-01-11T10:48:09.498-08:00Pamela,
I have really enjoyed Bouchercon. It'...Pamela,<br /><br />I have really enjoyed Bouchercon. It's packed with people who love mysteries. The problem for a small author is that it doesn't make financial sense. Most writers I know sell a dozen or so books and they are left with a $2,000 travel bill. <br /><br />Finding indie venues to connect with readers would be great. There are some fantastic indies, but they are slipping away.CJ Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13520787721959143183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-83323639187977840412012-01-11T10:40:03.408-08:002012-01-11T10:40:03.408-08:00CJ, Peg,
I'll take an indie bookstore over th...CJ, Peg, <br />I'll take an indie bookstore over the overcrowded, conventions that seem to be where authors are having to connect with readers. READERS, and writers too. <br />Cons seem to be the up and coming venues - combo bookstore, signing, and costume party, all in one overcrowded hotel space (or two, as in DragonCon). <br /><br />Two of the best known here in ATL are hanging on by a thread.Pamela Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06350308693959960754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-31127489179194319972012-01-11T10:11:55.231-08:002012-01-11T10:11:55.231-08:00Wow! So much happening, so fast! I have a Kindle b...Wow! So much happening, so fast! I have a Kindle but still prefer paper books, even though they aren't the best choice environmentally. I just love flipping through books in a bookstore, and find it hard to flip forward and back as easily on my Kindle. But it's all a learning process, I guess, as we all adapt to these changes in the industry. E-books are cheaper for consumers and so much better for indie authors, too, it seems, which is great!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-87052999588768643632012-01-11T09:19:17.685-08:002012-01-11T09:19:17.685-08:00I'm very fortunate to live in place where we h...I'm very fortunate to live in place where we have a very vibrant indie . . . Tattered Cover. Three locations, each of them very author-friendly and working to stay viable.Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-64448561020473988922012-01-11T09:08:56.645-08:002012-01-11T09:08:56.645-08:00Pamela,
The death of B&N & Borders has to...Pamela,<br /><br />The death of B&N & Borders has to open up great opportunity for independent bookstores. As an author I have found them a nightmare to deal with. It's just not practical to contact them to sell books at one single location or even a half dozen.<br /><br />What I do sincerely hope is that the indies will become THE place for authors to go out into the world and shake hands with their fans.CJ Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13520787721959143183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-11939864236801645172012-01-11T08:52:34.863-08:002012-01-11T08:52:34.863-08:00I think you may be right -- sad to see another one...I think you may be right -- sad to see another one bite the dust, but it's hard not to come to that conclusion. <br />I'm all for epublishing - indie and boutique. I use a Kindle 3g & an Android, and we have Apple'rs in the house also, so I'm no technophobe. <br />I'm a middle aged mom with teens who straddles the gap, staying up to date with geek teen speak and the publishing industry. That said, it saddens me to see our quieter, everyday face to face interactions and community disappear.<br />I can only hope that indie bookstores will be able to hang on through all this and become that niche. Futile perhaps, but hope lives on.Pamela Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06350308693959960754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-47263634337989793652012-01-11T08:24:31.237-08:002012-01-11T08:24:31.237-08:00I agree with Daring. Whatever is going on with B&a...I agree with Daring. Whatever is going on with B&N, it's happening fast.<br /><br />My last experience going in to a "flagship" B&N was sad. It felt like silly gifts were beginning to take over the books. The book I wanted wasn't in stock, and the salesperson told me I'd have to get it on Nook. I happen to be on my third Kindle (Fire—love it!).<br /><br />I left the store.Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-88720898301937838582012-01-11T08:11:55.180-08:002012-01-11T08:11:55.180-08:00Good point Daring about people in stores. I questi...Good point Daring about people in stores. I questioned the wisdom of the huge Nook displays right in the storefronts when they put them up.<br /><br />I don't have the numbers but I'm guessing they sell most of their Nooks in stores. They don't have the traffic that Amazon has online, so if they lose the stores, their Nook sales may also drop way off.CJ Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13520787721959143183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-23109003956935267152012-01-11T08:09:48.066-08:002012-01-11T08:09:48.066-08:00I have a Nook Color, and I love it. Where I live i...I have a Nook Color, and I love it. Where I live it's over an hour to a brick and mortar bookstore, so having access to all those books without driving is a boon. However, when I do get down the mountain, I love stopping into a "real" bookstore instead of relying on grocery stores or Walmart, which are my only local options.<br /><br />I wish B&N would be more 'author friendly' on the digital side. Amazon has Author Central, which lets readers "meet" authors--although to be honest, I've rarely checked out an author page. <br /><br />Terry <br /><a href="http://terryodell.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Terry's Place</a><br /><a href="http://www.terryodell.com" rel="nofollow">Romance with a Twist--of Mystery</a>Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-64483964944627538092012-01-11T07:44:00.403-08:002012-01-11T07:44:00.403-08:00I agree with L.J. -- it sounds nuts, but they may ...I agree with L.J. -- it sounds nuts, but they may very well be prepping to completely sink the ship.<br /><br />I also think that this may be obvious to investors, which makes me wonder if the change is going to happen fast.<br /><br />One of the problems on the customer end: part of the popularity of Nook is the access to help at the bookstores. I know people who are very technophobic, who chose Nook specifically for that reason.The Daring Novelisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01676188266569869059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-8166898239771538852012-01-11T07:36:57.025-08:002012-01-11T07:36:57.025-08:00B&N also recently sold its successful publishi...B&N also recently sold its successful publishing business as well. I think it's shedding the profitable parts of its business, so they won't go down with the ship when they start closing bookstores.L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.com