The Impact of the economy on book sales - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T08:07:45Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:162289?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A162394&feed=yes&xn_auth=noTend to agree that more peopl…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-10-27:537324:Comment:1639812008-10-27T11:29:39.152ZHazel Edwardshttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/HazelEdwards
Tend to agree that more people will borrow library books rather than buy. I also predict a rise in audio books (also borrowed from libraries) as people listen in the car or around home while doing other activities. I think there will be a rise in 'How To....nonfiction works, as well as absorbing fiction which offers other worlds into which readers can escape.
Tend to agree that more people will borrow library books rather than buy. I also predict a rise in audio books (also borrowed from libraries) as people listen in the car or around home while doing other activities. I think there will be a rise in 'How To....nonfiction works, as well as absorbing fiction which offers other worlds into which readers can escape. I think you're right about pe…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-10-25:537324:Comment:1638432008-10-25T21:26:56.201ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
I think you're right about people looking for escape. I think you're also right that agents will take on new clients if they think a certain editor is looking for this sort of book, and not if publishers aren't buying.<br />
You are also right about the libraries and used bookstores, but I have said so before, and equally guiltily. I certainly get all bestsellers from the library. No sense in throwing more money out when those guys are already getting millions. And finally, you're right about the…
I think you're right about people looking for escape. I think you're also right that agents will take on new clients if they think a certain editor is looking for this sort of book, and not if publishers aren't buying.<br />
You are also right about the libraries and used bookstores, but I have said so before, and equally guiltily. I certainly get all bestsellers from the library. No sense in throwing more money out when those guys are already getting millions. And finally, you're right about the market deciding whose books get published, the sure-bet bestselling author's, or the new guy's. It rather limits the reader's choices. In another view, I wonder how…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-10-25:537324:Comment:1638022008-10-25T12:30:21.783ZCliffhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Cliff
In another view, I wonder how the economy will impact novelists searching for representation. I've been wondering this myself the last few months. It's already hard enough to get published and I would think that it would only make it harder. I should have my rough draft for my book finished by the end of winter and then after editing and revision start shopping around by the spring. I hope that the economy will begin to pick up again, but it might get worse.<br />
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My thinking, though, is that people…
In another view, I wonder how the economy will impact novelists searching for representation. I've been wondering this myself the last few months. It's already hard enough to get published and I would think that it would only make it harder. I should have my rough draft for my book finished by the end of winter and then after editing and revision start shopping around by the spring. I hope that the economy will begin to pick up again, but it might get worse.<br />
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My thinking, though, is that people will want to turn to escapist books. At least I hope so. Even in the Great Depression people bought books. They might turn to cheaper fare like cheaper paperbacks instead of spending $20 on a hardback. This is a different day than the Great Depression, though, when books and movies were the only ways to escape. Now the Internet and cable TV can also get potential readers. It's just going to make an already tough business even tougher.<br />
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There's already been some comments from people saying they are turning more toward used book stores and loaning from the library. I'm not saying I'm against that because it would be hypocritical for me because I'm doing that. The only problem is that when you decide not to buy that new book that means no money is going into the publisher, agent or writer's pockets and that in turn means less published books, less selection and less opportunity for new writers and diminishing opportunities for established writers.<br />
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But to round out my rant, based on the above quote from the Borders exec, I do think more people will look for escapist books. Thrillers, murder mystery, sci fi, etc...<br />
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At least I hope so... Great, Eric. Thanks. They're…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-10-22:537324:Comment:1635972008-10-22T20:54:49.474ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Great, Eric. Thanks. They're saying the same about movies. Should we hope for more bad financial news? No, better not, because the publishers won't buy new titles then. A book is a perfect escape -- and lasts longer than a movie.
Great, Eric. Thanks. They're saying the same about movies. Should we hope for more bad financial news? No, better not, because the publishers won't buy new titles then. A book is a perfect escape -- and lasts longer than a movie. Here’s an encouraging quote f…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-10-22:537324:Comment:1635842008-10-22T17:53:32.179ZEric Christophersonhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/datahog
Here’s an encouraging quote from a leading Borders books exec regarding the impact of the recent financial crisis:<br />
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<i>Popoff said sales of fiction have been strong in the past month, with a trend toward thrillers. "We're really looking at that as the place that people are escaping to," she said.</i>
Here’s an encouraging quote from a leading Borders books exec regarding the impact of the recent financial crisis:<br />
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<i>Popoff said sales of fiction have been strong in the past month, with a trend toward thrillers. "We're really looking at that as the place that people are escaping to," she said.</i> Well, personally I took to th…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-10-18:537324:Comment:1632722008-10-18T13:42:48.931ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Well, personally I took to the Internet like a duck to water. I love e-mail -- a wonderful invention for someone who doesn't like writing letters -- and I love the sense of being in touch with a largr community of like-minded people. Occasionally, I'm astonished. This past week I got an e-mail fan letter from someone in Singapore. This charming person invited me, promising tours of Singapore and delicious food. Such things would never happen without the Internet.<br />
On the other hand, electronic…
Well, personally I took to the Internet like a duck to water. I love e-mail -- a wonderful invention for someone who doesn't like writing letters -- and I love the sense of being in touch with a largr community of like-minded people. Occasionally, I'm astonished. This past week I got an e-mail fan letter from someone in Singapore. This charming person invited me, promising tours of Singapore and delicious food. Such things would never happen without the Internet.<br />
On the other hand, electronic publishing has been a great let-down. Whatever I have out there in electronic form just doesn't sell well -- even on Amazon Shorts, my story (which has been available for almost 2 years now and still holds top spot most of the time among historical mysteries) doesn't sell enough copies in a year to fill my gas tank once.<br />
But you're absolutely right about the crucial link between reading and educational attainments. I saw the problems faced by entering college students in writing classes because they did not know enough words to write a short essay. That is vocabulary knowledge. Having some ideas to put into words is a whole new problem and is also related to lack of reading experience. Don't fear people will always…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-10-17:537324:Comment:1632182008-10-17T21:12:41.996ZTorchhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JaniceToppen
Don't fear people will always read! The poor reader may go to the library to get some free material but when the economy picks up...and it will (ebb and flow) books sales will go up. Like most people here I am a book junkie. I am watching my 401K shrink but just the other day I went to Borders and purchased a book for myself, my husband and 4 books for my boys.<br />
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I was told once by my grandmother that lived through the "Great Depression" ....that money comes and goes but no one can ever take…
Don't fear people will always read! The poor reader may go to the library to get some free material but when the economy picks up...and it will (ebb and flow) books sales will go up. Like most people here I am a book junkie. I am watching my 401K shrink but just the other day I went to Borders and purchased a book for myself, my husband and 4 books for my boys.<br />
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I was told once by my grandmother that lived through the "Great Depression" ....that money comes and goes but no one can ever take your education. I'm sure she got this quote from someone but she made a great impact in my life. Books are a strong part of education. That is what I am trying to instill in my boys. Reading is very important and so is writing. The two seem to go hand in hand!<br />
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I also remember not too long ago there was a lot of debate over the fact that the internet would kill the published book. And here you (writers-I don't qualify...yet) all are! Keep writing beacuse someone will be out there reading! People tend to visit librarie…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-10-13:537324:Comment:1626712008-10-13T22:34:13.618ZPatrick Balesterhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/PatrickBalester
People tend to visit libraries when times are tough. So, you may pick up a few fans that way. Then when times get better, library patrons turn into book buyers!
People tend to visit libraries when times are tough. So, you may pick up a few fans that way. Then when times get better, library patrons turn into book buyers! How can two different species…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-10-13:537324:Comment:1625982008-10-13T19:07:22.192ZJohn Dishonhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/whiteskwirl
How can two different species be one and the same?<br />
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The problem here is you are comparing a moderate viewpoint with an extreme viewpoint. On one hand you have people who are mainly readers but also like movies, but then you compare that to people who only like movies. That's not a good comparison. It would make more sense to compare READER/movie people with MOVIE/reader people, the latter being people who prefer movies but also read books.<br />
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Your movie only crowd should be compared with a reader…
How can two different species be one and the same?<br />
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The problem here is you are comparing a moderate viewpoint with an extreme viewpoint. On one hand you have people who are mainly readers but also like movies, but then you compare that to people who only like movies. That's not a good comparison. It would make more sense to compare READER/movie people with MOVIE/reader people, the latter being people who prefer movies but also read books.<br />
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Your movie only crowd should be compared with a reader only crowd.<br />
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I don't understand why older generations always seem to think young people are brain-dead simpletons who can only be entertained by flashy colors. I've seen/heard/engaged in more thoughtful conversations in my dorm room then I've ever seen on here, to put it bluntly. Yes, of course. And for that…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-10-12:537324:Comment:1624222008-10-12T17:46:59.166ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Yes, of course. And for that matter, I think you've all been right. Things are looking up already -- for me, and I hope for all the other writers here, too. Sometimes readers just take a moment to consider other aspects of their lives.<br />
And taking journeys of the mind is a wonderful way to save travel dollars.
Yes, of course. And for that matter, I think you've all been right. Things are looking up already -- for me, and I hope for all the other writers here, too. Sometimes readers just take a moment to consider other aspects of their lives.<br />
And taking journeys of the mind is a wonderful way to save travel dollars.