No More Books?


You've probably heard that Borders is closing a ton of stores. One was near Dallas where I had my first book signing at Valentine's some years ago. It's sad to see the stores go. The bad economy hasn't helped. They say it has to do with not keeping up with the ebook market.

I still can't read in ebook format. I look at a computer screen all the time while I'm trying to write, and for me, I love reading a paper bound book.

Here are the stores that are closing.

http://s.wsj. net/public/ resources/ documents/ st_borders0216_ 20110216. html

And here are some of the publishers that are owed money. I'm sure my own publishers are also. Which means we don't get paid either. And the staff for all the book stores will be let go too.

Penguin $41.1 million
Hachette Book Group $36.9 million
Simon & Schuster $33.75 million
Random House $33.5 million
HarperCollins $25.8 million
Macmillan $11.4 million
Wiley $11.2 million
Perseus $7.8 million
F+W Media $4.6 million
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt $4.4 million
Workman $4 million
McGraw-Hill $3.1 million
Pearson Education $2.8 million
NBN $2 million
Norton $2 million
Zondervan $1.9 million
Hay House $1.7 million
Elsevier Science $1.6 million
Publications Intl. $1.1 million

It affects people in so many ways that we can't even see. What will become of libraries?

*sigh*

I want paper books. I like the feel of them, the look of them, and even though I know that Nook looks more like a book, it isn't. I want to turn a page and slip in a book mark when I'm done reading for the time being.

What about you? Are you giving up on paper books to join the ebook revolution?

I do think it's fantastic, though. The idea you can take hundreds of stories with you on an ereader. What a savings that would be when taking trips. And if I didn't write and read on a computer so much, I'd probably love it too....

Hope you have a great Friday!!! I will! It's FRIDAY!!! And it's been another one of those weeks!

Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com
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Published on February 18, 2011 05:47
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message 1: by Sue (new)

Sue Perfetto Terry, I agree with you. There is nothing like a book. I don't think Borders is closing just because of the ebooks. I have to believe it is more than the push of the ebooks. I am an ebook reader for 2 reasons. Price is one of them. I read at least 1 book every 2 days and it can get expensive. I started going to the library when I moved here, but it isn't very big and I have a hard time finding books. So, I moved onto the ebook. The app is on my phone and I don't have to worry about "forgetting" my book again! lol I would love to buy the books, I miss it, but than I have to carry them every place I move to... :) I'm sorry to here Borders is closing and I hope they do continue to make in the industry. When our store closes we won't have any book stores around for 90 miles. So, it is going to hurt everyone including the employees. :(


message 2: by Terry (new)

Terry Spear Oh, I so agree with you, Sue, on the cost of ebooks. They're so much more affordable. And I truly do wish I could have an ereader that would carry thousands of titles, no shipping cost, etc. :) But it really is just that I spend so much of my free time on a computer that reading a paper book, or listening to an audio to rest my eyes, appeals more. We had Waldenbooks for a time, and I really loved it when I would go to the mall, but they closed. We haven't had Borders near here, so my only experience was the Valentine's signing I had at the Lewistown one. And the management and employees were so incredibly nice.

That's so neat about it being on your phone!!! My problem is I constantly forget to charge up my cell phone, so I'd have a time with it if I could read a book that way. Just in the middle of a good cliff hanger and argh...no power! LOL!


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