With major chains shrinking or closing their doors altogether, the independent bookstore is becoming the last outpost for authors and readers.
Independent stores offer personalized service and often more than just books. They are usually more open to book signings, too.
Many belong to Indie Bound, an organization if independent bookstores across America. Their newsletter features recommendations from the stores, which can garner more interest and sales.
So, don’t forget your local independent bookstore!
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46 comments:
Many of our book stores have closed, seems on line buying is the thing now.
Yvonne.
I wonder what the future holds for independent bookstores.
I do worry about our indie stores here!
I always try to buy from the smaller independent bookshops, but there are fewer and fewer of them around these days.
My small town has a great indie bookshop - with the tiniest, cutest little cafe attached. Two people having coffee is a crowd! The owner is a lovely lady who supports self-published and local writers. And she is very knowledgeable about new releases.
love the photo
It's really sad to see how the e-book revolution is bringing brick and mortar bookstores to an end.
I'm hoping that indie book stores can make it.
I love our IB's! In Chicago, Women and Children First is amazing! Just stopping by for the A-Z Challenge. Please check us out and sign up to follow if you like what you see. Juliet atCity Muse Country Muse
The internet has wiped out many businesses. Bookstores is one of them. I still like to visit B & N and walk around for hours, or some local smaller ones. Love the smell of books and I can't get that from the computer.
I love my local bookstore. It is quant and charming and the owner knows me by name and always has a fresh cup of coffee for me and completely wonderful advice on what I should read next.
I'm not even sure if we have indie bookstores in my city. We certainly don't have any close by. I tend to support the major chain, but that's partly because my husband invests in it. I try not to support the competition.
We don't have an indie store in my town. However the book store we do have is quite active and has regular book signings by local authors.
It doesn't look great for them with even big chains like Waterstones being squeezed out. I wouldn't know where to find my nearest one. They are great places to browse and get lost in, and are probably more sympathetic to unknown authors too.
Sadly, most of the Indie bookstores in my area have closed. However, one of the remaining ones is hosting the launch party for Flights of Fiction (all local authors). We're all trying to help each other.
Hi Diane .. I wonder where we're going with bookstores .. I can't say I shop for books at the supermarket .. though some book shops are around still - not the independent creative bookshops ... but I've recently been buying from the museums I visit ... and then from here in blogland ..
It's that thing called "Change" .. sometimes it's a pain ... most times I'm very happy to embrace it!
Cheers Hilary
I use the local Indie store as much as I can, but I miss living where there were several.
i always buy from indie bookstores whenever i can :)
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Wow, love that photo!
It's weird isn't it. The opposite of "You've Got Mail"...
Tina @ Life is Good
Co-host, April 2013 A-Z Challenge Blog
@TinaLifeisGood, #atozchallenge
Whenever I travel and visit a new town, I seek out the independent bookstore. My absolute favorite is the amazing Boulder Bookstore in Boulder, Colorado. It is three floors of new and used bliss of every genre imaginable. I could spend hours there.
I cherish my indie bookstore. When Borders came in that little store managed to hang on, but others didn't. We now have only one bookstore in town and Borders--the mega-culprit--is kaput!
Sadly, I haven't really bought much from a bookstore. I prefer to buy all my books online.
I like the small, independent places too, but keep seeing more 'half priced' type places springing up. I wonder if consignment is the new wave of book buying?
I think mine is fighting to stay open. The night I did the Art Walk I was in the only book store in town.
Indie bound is great and I love the charm of these places :D
Yes, consignment is big in our community, too. The Recycled Reader business in huge in my neck of the woods and where I lived prior-three of those kinda stores.
Thank you L.Diane~
I think we still have one in our city...
I really like your theme. Your posts are so helpful to writers. I hope all these tips are in your book (which I got, but still haven't read. Ugh!).
Annalisa, it sounds like that one will make it.
Stina, we lost ours when BAM moved in.
LD, that is wonderful.
Julie, my favorite here is at the beach, Quartermoon Books and Gifts.
Clarissa, since we only have a BAM, that's how we buy our books.
Mark, we do have one of those 30 minutes away.
Sherry, in one form or another, they are!
I love independent bookstores. Hopefully, they won't go the way of the dinosaur.
Visiting you from A to Z.
Sunni
http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/
I love neigjborhood book stores! They really are hidden jewels these days .... Let 's hope we ways have them.
I know of one independent bookstore in the area. Should visit there more often . . .
Hurray for the indie bookstores.
I grew up in a small town. When I was young there was a tiny bookstore we would frequent. From the outside, it looked like several small houses stuck together. From this inside it was a compact, tight maze of corridors, lined with shelves that were filled with books, floor to ceiling. In one of the quieter corners were the Fantasy novels and the Choose your own Adventure books... I just realized how those have sculpted my interests to this very day.
Luckily, my area still has 3 or 4 indie bookstores which are well patronized. They work very hard at booking author signings, music trios, travelogues etc. to appeal to the largest audience possible. And nothing will ever replace that special smell of paper, ink and coffee that hits you when you walk into a bookstore. I love it!
All our independent stores around here deal mostly in used books but they are very good about hosting authors. I often visit the one that has lots of old, old books. I've purchased a few to add some character to my book shelves.
I'll have to look for that one, but I think all bookstores here are part of big chains...except those that are very very VERY small that sell old books.
Very cool picture!
Bookstores just come and go in our town. Not one seems to be able to stay open. Such a shame.
Great photo.
Heather
In our country, you really can't get many books in stores what you will get online. So our bookstores are more of stationary shops now.
Nas
Sadly, I'm a slave to Amazon. I haven't been in a bookstore in years. It's too easy to go shopping at 2 am in my bunny slippers.
Indie stores are fabulous too!
#atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com
Diane,
One of my favorite independent booksstores has started a pay-for program for independent authors. Vroman's in Pasadena has been around for 118 years so it's a good start--but it's not perfect. I still believe authors should all be considered on the quality of their books, not the press they were printed on. That way excellence in self-publishing is encouraged, too.
BTW, I have a group bulletin board on Pinterest where people can pin images and info on their favorite indie bookstores--wherever they may be. I hope it ends up being a great resource. Go to http://pinterest.com/chowardjohnson
Sending hugs.
Carolyn
My town, Seattle, still has some great indie bookstores: Elliott Bay Book Company and the Seattle Mystery Bookstore. I get a newsletter from the mystery store and they've had to tell people that unless you actually buy a book from them (in store, online or e-book), they'd have to take folks off their mailing list. Apparently, some people look at the books in the store and then leave to order them for their e-reader. I make a point of shopping at both--nothing beats the ambiance.
Jagoda from http://www.conflicttango.com
I think that there will always be room for the Indie, at present times are hard, trying to get the dosh together for the store rent, the cost of taxes,rates, electricity, heating etc., is enough to make any store think twice about staying open. I like e-books, and will get some on line, but I also visit the local bookstores when I get the chance. I personally think that the closing of indie stores has more to do with the recession and big corporate stores than the e-book and buying on line.
I think there is room for an independent books store with coffee and treats. A place for woman to have book club and signings. Right now coffee houses with their conference rooms are taking all that business.
I hadn't heard about Indie Bound! Good to know.
Jai
Glad we still have the independents and hope they all survive.
I'd be lost without bookstores.
I couldn't believe how shocking it felt to see "Everything Must Go" signs in my local bookstore before it closed.
Barbara
Kitchen and Kinfolk
The Daille-y News
I don't have too many choices for Indy stores in my area, its sad really.
I have 5 B&N within a 1/2 hour though.
I cannot complain about them they have been very supportive of me and my book:)
Great photo!
doreenmcgettigan.com
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