Monday, January 5, 2009

My Resolution: Save A Book Store


Nope, I'm not going to talk about resolutions. I'm going to use this space to beg you to read the news post and call in to Creatures 'n Crooks with your phone order.

This lovely feline's name is Hamilton and he's the live-in shop cat. We can't have him growing lean, now can we?

On a lighter note - I have been astounded by the support I've received from the writing community when I sent out a few emails asking for book donations. The mailman is not pleased, byt hundreds of books have landed on my doorstep, along with little notes for the book store owner and well wishes regarding the benefit. From bestselling authors to self-published, small-press unknowns, the authors have been generous and kind.

Am I proud to be a struggling writer today? Hell, yes! I was last year too, but it took this event to make me realize the connection between writers. It crosses sales number lines, genre lines, socio-economic lines and comes down to one, simple truth: We all love books. We write because we love them and we want to produce the best ones we can. Then, we want to show up at books stores just like C 'n C and sell them like crazy.

There isn't a lot of money in this game. There's no glamour. But there's this network of incredible people and they make it worth the blood, sweat, chocolate-binges, and tears. Thanks for letting me go all gushy on you!

3 comments:

Sue Ann Jaffarian said...

I heard over the weekend that Crime and Cheesecake in Henderson, NV may also close soon if things don't turn around quickly for them. And when I was on Catalina Island over Thanksgiving, I saw that their one bookstore is for sale. It's very sad. The economy is hurting everyone, everywhere, but book stores going under breaks my heart in a personal way.

G.M. Malliet said...

I am still in shock that the Olsson's chain of stores closed in my area in 2008. You are right, Sue Ann - this does hurt on personal level.

jbstanley said...

Rumors are circulating about a number of stores. It's a tough battle, but we desperately need these places to hand-sell us!

Let's hope we can all weather this economic tsunami!