This is used with permission (see the end of the quote). Pass the word on!!!
"I've been talking to booksellers lately who report that times are hard. And local booksellers aren't known for vast reserves of capital, so a serious dip in sales can be devastating. Booksellers don't lose enough money, however, to receive congressional attention. A government bailout isn't in the cards.
"We don't want bookstores to die. Authors need them, and so do neighborhoods. So let's mount a book-buying splurge. Get your friends together, go to your local bookstore and have a book-buying party. Buy the rest of your Christmas presents, but that's just for starters. Clear out the mysteries, wrap up the histories, beam up the science fiction! Round up the westerns, go crazy for self-help, say yes to the university press books! Get a load of those coffee-table books, fatten up on slim volumes of verse, and take a chance on romance!
"There will be birthdays in the next twelve months; books keep well; they're easy to wrap: buy those books now. Buy replacements for any books looking raggedy on your shelves. Stockpile children's books as gifts for friends who look like they may eventually give birth. Hold off on the flat-screen TV and the GPS (they'll be cheaper after Christmas) and buy many, many books. Then tell the grateful booksellers, who by this time will be hanging onto your legs begging you to stay and live with their cat in the stockroom: "Got to move on, folks. Got some books to write now. You see...we're the Authors Guild."
"Enjoy the holidays."
Roy Blount Jr.
President
Authors Guild
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Blount then sent this "P.S." to the above:
"The Guild's staff informs me that many of you are writing to ask whether you can forward and post my holiday message encouraging orgiastic book-buying. Yes! Forward! Yes! Post! Sound the clarion call to every corner of the Internet: Hang in there, bookstores! We're coming! And we're coming to buy!..."
4 comments:
Oh yeah. I'm heading to the bookstore this weekend!!! Whoo-Hoo...let the buy-a-thon begin!
now if l had the cash to go out and buy every book l wanted, liked or that would make a great gift-honey you know l would... but on my budget, its not going to happen, all l can do is pray for the book stores! sorry... Percy
Love the article and couldn't agree more. Last month when my husband told me Borders has been struggling I rushed out to help keep them in business. Give a book change a life. ??? I want to post this article on my blog page but don't know how. I tried copying it but it wouldn't let me. Michelle can you email to let me know how to do that.
spowell01(at)bellsouth(dot)net
Shellie
PS- Has anyone ever given or recieved a basket of books. I was thinking how I would a love to receive a basket of books for Christmas. But alas, I have know true booklovers in my family except my 4th graders. Why isn't non-readers just don't understand.
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