Reality Check for Book Lovers

Reality Check for Book Lovers

By Kathy Reschini Sweeney, the Tart who is not a published author and thus can tell you the hard truth

For those with no attention span: BUY BOOKS.

It sounds so simple and so obvious, but apparently it is not sinking in.  Let's infer that everyone reading this blog loves books.  Let's also infer that everyone reading this blog loves at least one of the authors listed up there.  Heaven knows there is a bounty to choose from, no matter what you like to read.

The purpose of today's blog is to clear up some confusion.  If you already know all of this stuff, maybe you could print it out, or link it, or share it on Facebook, or otherwise pass it along to another book lover who is not similarly educated.  

Thus - some great misconceptions about published authors, like our own Book Tarts, whose smiling faces greet you at the top of the blog and whose stories delight, entertain and move you.

1.  They publish books for a living.  Not for fun, and not just to see their names on a shelf.  Many of these women have other jobs - some have full-time jobs - so they don't end up on food stamps while they pursue their career as an author.  I love this analogy: If I painted houses for a living, would you ask me to paint your house for free?  Of course not.  So why would you view their books differently?  Most of these authors are too polite to say no if you ask for a freebie.  Me?  Not so much.  Please don't ask for free books for yourself.  It's rude and frankly, it's cheating.

2.  They don't make big up-front money; they don't make any money unless they sell books.  Unless you are an author with enough juice to merit an initial print run that guarantees a best-seller, don't expect a big advance.  Maybe it used to work that way, but no more.  Plus, no matter how small the advance is, the author has to pay her agent, her expenses and the IRS. The only way these authors make any money is by selling books and earning out on royalties.  These are not trust fund babies who write as an antidote to the crushing ennui of bon-bons and pool boys.  These women write books in the style and form the publishers demand so they can sell them.  (Side note: if you think the best-seller lists are based solely on merit, think again.  But that is a subject for another blog.)

3.  They work hard.  No shit.  I can confirm this because I did write a novel once.  It was fun.  Got an agent and everything.  Then I got into the re-writes and editing.  No fun.  In fact, I wasn't even through the second chapter before I had a headache.  Like I need another source of those.  Since I already have a day job, and I try to avoid pain, rather than exacerbating it, that was the end of that. Writers write because they have to. Published authors edit because it's their work, not their recreation time.  Some of the book tarts have re-written entire books during the editing process. Plus, if I told you how many published authors hate their books by the time they are done, you would gasp.  It's like being in labor with no discernible end in sight.

4.  They don't make any money from borrowed or shared books.  This is a tough one, but since I have the liberty of not giving a shit whether you buy my book, I am going to tell you the unvarnished truth.  When you buy one copy of a book and share it with a dozen friends, that does not help an author unless some of those friends actually buy the next book.  If you buy a book at a used book store, it does not help the author.  Authors are only paid on original sales. If you wait for a book to be donated to your local lending pool, it does not help the author.  Think of the music business.  Remember Napster and how it was shut down because it was criminal - as in theft?  Why would you think books are any different? This is where people can get huffy and point out that books are expensive.  Yeah.  Everyone gets that you can't buy every book.  But at least if you get it from a library, you encourage the library to buy more books by the author.  Libraries actually buy books.

5.  A special note on author events and book signings.  I am just going to say it, so brace yourself.  If an author and a book store go to the expense of traveling and setting up an event - at their own expense - because publishers don't pay for tours any more - it is great if you go.  But you at least have to buy a paperback.  I mean it.  

In addition, if you do go to an event, keep in mind that the author is there to sell books.  She may be kind enough to indulge you while you ask questions about how to get published, or to even critique your book pitch, but have some common courtesy and don't do it while there are others waiting to meet her and to BUY HER BOOKS.  Every person that gets tired of waiting in line while you chatter is money out of the author's pocket.  Seriously.

And I've seen this a hundred times - if you have the stones to ask a professional to critique your work-in-progress, or share her hard-earned wisdom, and you don't even buy her book, there is a special place in hell for you.  Get a clue and some class.  

I have to throw in a pet peeve here.  I think it is really gauche to have an author sign a book just so you can sell it at a premium online.  That hurts both the author and the book store.There may not be anything illegal about it, but come on, these are good women.  Don't be greedy. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:

Buy Books.  I mean it.  If you like books, you have to buy some.  The industry is in a damn mess right now, through no fault of most authors.  They only way to be sure we'll continue to have good books is to make sure people buy them.

No one has an unlimited budget (Oprah, if you are reading this week, no offense, girlfriend) so ask for books as gifts.  As Mary Alice says, a candle never changed anyone's life.  Many men and women are tough to buy for - do your family and friends a favor and make a wish list of books. Birthdays, anniversaries, Mothers' Day, Groundhog Day (hey, if you live near Punxsy, this is big) and - oh look at the calendar - the holidays are just around the corner!  Do you really want another sweater or a pair of slippers with squeaky clown noses?  

Buy books as gifts. Duh.  Just about everyone loves to read a good book.  If you're not sure what book to buy, get a gift certificate from your local book store.  Want to get something for a teacher, or hair stylist or delivery person or cleaning crew?  Paper back books cost less than half the gimcrack you've probably purchased in the past.  Also - just because you think some tchotchke is cute doesn't mean everyone else does.  But that is also a blog for another day unless you are someone who likes to buy trolls.  Those things are just plain creepy.  Ditto for grown men and ponies with pastel, comb-able manes.  Right, another blog.  Moving on.

Buy books as donations.  Want to support your local library AND your favorite author?  Buy a hardcover book and donate it to your library.  I would tell you it's tax deductible, but then I'd have to put a disclaimer to check with your own tax professional.  Who would probably love a book, by the way.

Use your words.  Talk about it.  Encourage your friends to support author events and your favorite authors.  Lend a favorite book to a friend in return for the promise that they will buy the next one.  Support your local bookstores.  And if you don't have one, you are always welcome at my favorite: Mystery Lovers Bookshop where the recommendations are priceless and the shipping is free!  

I'd ask the other Book Tarts to elaborate, but I don't want anyone to be offended.  So don't worry if they don't comment today.

As for the rest of the TLC community - what else can we do to help?

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Cornelia Read]

Dude. Amen.

[Reine]

Hi Kathy,

Good words, there. I buy as many books as I can afford in whatever format I am able to handle, and I love to give books as gifts. My friends who don't give me a book list don't get a gift.

There is absolutely nothing like a book in this world. I will take a good book over a film any day, but it is exceedingly difficult for me to read books due to quadriplegia. I've been known to read hard copies for 10-15 minutes at a time until the CD version comes out. Because of that I own hard copies and recorded versions of many books, especially the Book Tarts' -- because it's much too difficult to wait until they come out on CD. On bad days I can read e-books flat on my back, so some of your books I have in three or more formats.

I love to win books, and I have discovered new-to-me authors that way. I am sure it's expensive to send them out. But I hope that my talking them up and giving them as gifts to friends helps sell more.

I love bookstores, too. Except for the larger ones, they are usually difficult for me to negotiate, and some, like my very favorite since forever, I cannot even get my wheelchair in the front door, never mind up the stairs. I order some by mail and get out-of-prints wherever I can. Busted Flush Press has been a great resource for the formerly unavailable.

Book Tarts, you are brilliant, and I love you. You have no way of knowing what you have added to my life, and there really is no way to express it with any justice at all, so hugs and kisses will have to do.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

[JodiL]

Here, Here! Kathy! Got a hardback book for my 32nd anniversary! Signed by the author which my husband bought when he stopped in to pick up the books I had ordered. How sweet is that?

[gaylin in Vancouver]

I love to buy books. I don't have the budget for them right now so I let my airmiles points build up enough to get book store gift cards and then I buy books! It makes me happy to support authors while I am getting books on points (free!).

[Josh]

We could donate our used books to prisons, which I think some of the Tarts do. It isn't as if that will affect any revenue stream, and it may do better than just having them picking up dust.

We could talk up our writer friends, which I do. I've "sold" some books that way. Just yesterday, I pitched Bubbles books to a co-worker who was wearing a leopard-print top (and probably some other leopard-print items that she didn't enumerate).

We could patronize locally-owned (independent) bookstores. Use Amazon to do your research, but buy locally.

[William]

I'll confess, I've gone iPad digital. I'll also confess I've bought a few books via Kindle or Nook, mostly research stuff (makes better sense to carry 1 iPad instead of 12 hardcovers), but there are times I want a Book Book and ONLY a Book. Tart novels are givens, automatically purchased at either MBTB here in Houston or M-L-B in Pittsburgh; the deciding factor is when/if Said Tart is coming to Houston, how soon do I want a signed copy, etc. On a couple of occasions, the book is purchased on release date, and another copy is bought at signing.

I've seen some authors refuse to do 'signature only' anymore to avoid the re-sale nonsense on eBay or AbeBooks. Another carries a small rubber stamp and a pad of that blue ink that will not copy, which he overlays on his signature. Conversely, I've seen people literally lug in BOXES of backstock to get the author to sign. Books purchased for pennies on the dollar, get them signed, then sell for ridiculous prices. One bookstore down here started a furor when it was announced they were considering charging a fee to attend an autographing. The price included the newest release by that author, and the store would allow ONE other book not purchased at the event to be signed, but that was it.

You wouldn't believe the furor and the screeching and the hollering and the nonsense that flew. But, guess what? The event over-sold, and everyone followed the rules. How about that????

[Judith Bandsma]

Except in a county close to here, Josh, where prisoners are ONLY allowed the Bible to read...no matter what their religion. No books, no magazines, no newspapers, no cereal boxes, no toilet paper roll wrappers. Court fight going on now about it, wasting taxpayers money.

And this is in a DETENTION CENTER where people are held who can't afford bail pending trial and those who have been convicted of misdemeanors with sentences less than a year.

[Laura (in PA)]

This is awesome. I'll share it on Facebook. I buy lots of books, but I know not everyone can. Your suggestions are great. Here I am, a book addict, and people say they don't know what to give me as gifts, they don't want to buy me books because I have so many and they wouldn't know what to get, and they don't want to give a gift card because "they're lame".

Heelllooo!!! I dance with glee when I get a gift card for a bookstore. Book addicts LOVE books and bookstores. You are not copping out on gift giving - you are making me happy.

And people who constantly campaign for free stuff? Make me nuts. Get some class, people!

Thanks, Kathy, for saying what needs to be said. We can always count on you.

By the way, gift cards for my other addiction - Starbucks - work too, in case you're making a list. :)

[Ramona]

@Judith and Josh, in Delaware (where Josh and I live) prisoners are allowed books to read, but there is no in-house library. The books must bought new by someone on the outside; ordered, packaged and delivered through Amazon.com and (maybe) B&N only; and must be paperbacks under 1,000 pages, so it can't be used as a weapon. Prisoners are allowed only 5 new books a month. Send your used books to a VA hospital instead.

Kathy, you're an excellent advocate for authors and bookstores.

[Kerry]

When hubby and I ran away from home, we set up a budget that is tighter than normal. I routinely exceed my line item for book purchases. I use gaylin in vancouver's trick, also - I pay for everything with my credit card, and exchange my points for book gift cards. B&N gift cards are my go-to gift of choice for just about everyone (we don't have a local indie, unfortunately). And I have a nice FB network of reader-friends, and we exchange book recommendations regularly.

While we're on the topic, could I bring up the admittedly painful matter of college textbooks? The folks who write them are in the same boat as other authors. Most would readily acknowledge the practicalities of paying for college and not get upset when we buy used for ourselves and our kids. But at least when the new edition comes out (usually every 3 years in my field) and the instructor requires that one, could we maybe not scream too loudly? Oh - and please don't yell at the librarians; most college libraries don't carry textbooks . . .

[Harley]

I love both the prison idea and the V.A. hospital idea. Thanks, Ramona and Josh.

And I love you so much, Kathy. I'm guessing you're preaching to the choir here, but you preach so well.

And how come nobody ever gives me squeaky clown nose slippers?

[Barbara O'Neal]

Bravo! Thanks for that, Kathy!

William, it is perfectly acceptable to BUY digital books. We get royalties on those, too. Pirated digital books are another matter, of course.

[Kathy Reschini Sweeney]

My pleasure. Thanks for the good suggestions and thanks to everyone who shared this via e-mail and Facebook.

Some things should be obvious, but in this case, there is a lot of confusion.

Now the lawyer in me is going to see if there is a way to address this Unconstitutional prison reading bullshit. I just love it when people try to invoke one part of the Bill of Rights at the expense of others. Do they think we're going to forget the rest of the amendments are there? Grrrrr.

[Chris]

Yes, buy books! And support your local library so it can continue to buy books too! Does your local library have an adopt-an-author program? Adopt a Tart!

[Josh]

Kathy, I think that the Bible restriction from Judith's post is clearly and obviously unconstitutional. OTOH, I think that Delaware's restrictions may pass muster, since they are content-neutral and seem (even to me(!)) to be reasonably related to penal interests, which probably is a higher standard than they have to meet. Five books seems unduly restrictive to this crowd, and used books should be allowed if they come through trusted commercial sources, but prisons are permitted LOTS of latitude.

[Marcia in OK]

Thanks for the reassurance that borrowing from my library is OK for authors. I know it isn't as great as if I bought my own copy, but I like not breaking the rules. I read quickly, and I consume more books than my budget allows me to buy - even in paperback.

I have started buying a few e-books. I hope that helps.

We have very few independents in Tulsa now. I don't really like that my best options are B&N or Amazon.

[Cathy]

"Remember Napster and how it was shut down because it was criminal - as in theft? Why would you think books are any different?"

Because the U.S. Copyright law explicitly says so. It's called the First Sale Doctrine.

Sharing printed books with friends (or strangers) is not legally equivalent to sharing digital music, and it's certainly not a criminal activity. If you want to keep the moral high ground in this argument, it's best to stick to honesty.

[judy merrill larsen]

Amen, Kathy! I love this . . . and my tottering TBR piles attest to this. And as an author, I bow down to your wisdom.

Buy books, buy them at indies when you can, and talk up books you love!

[Karen in Ohio]

Well said, Ms. K. And now I understand what was going on last year at a Romance Writers event in Columbus, during the author signing. I was sitting with Bente Gallagher at her table, chatting with my longtime online friend who I'd just met for the first time. Next to her table was an author with a line out the door, but the woman at the table at the time had a WAGON load of books for the poor dear to sign.

An "Aha!" moment, courtesy of KRS.

It's complicated enough for authors themselves to understand these days, as fast as things are changing. Putting it all out there for readers is a great service to all concerned.

I usually pass on duplicate copies, often to my mother, who then buys the rest of the author's oeuvre, if she likes them. And she generally does.

Harley, we know you'd wear them if someone did give clown slippers to you! Hope the hint is taken.

[Kathy Reschini Sweeney]

Cathy - I did not intend to write a legal treatise. The comparison was for purposes of analogy.

In any case, much as I would love to engage in a legal debate regarding your conclusions of fact and law, I doubt anyone else would find that interesting or informative.

The point of the post is to remind people how authors need to make a living and to point out things that seem to cause confusion in the community of book lovers.

[Alan P.]

Gift cards are wonderful. The Princesses love them and they love buying their own books. They also have a growing collection of signed books.

Several authors have been kind enough to offer me free books, which I gladly accept.

I understand that authors get a percentage of the sale as opposed to a fixed price per copy. I hope this carries over to e-books. Especially since Amazon has jacked most Kindle books to the price of a paperback.

Hard, you bet. A friend was working on a Civil War novel for the last ten years of his working career. He has now been retired for ten years. No word on the novel.

Independent shops are great. If you can't find it by yourself in Amazon, bet junior at the counter at BN won't either. But, that little shop, that specializes in... they know what you mean and will help you find it.

[Karen in Ohio]

Yes, sharing PRINTED books is legal; sharing electronic copies that were pirated, is not.

The comparison is apt: Napster took advantage of the Internet's anonymity and the fact that the digital music was just bits and bytes. Purloined electronic books are exactly the same, and therefore, also illegal to share.

Moral high ground restored.

[Karen in Ohio]

May I also say that sometimes authors and booksellers are their own worst enemies? I noticed a ridiculous aspect of Bouchercon, namely, that many of the books talked about in seminars by their authors were NOT available in the book room. I would have bought several books there to be signed by the authors, if they had been available. Clearly, some of the booksellers there just brought whatever stock they had, without any regard to which authors were speaking at the conference. As a reader, it was very frustrating.

Note: I did not notice this same thing at the Bouchercon in Indianapolis, so maybe it was just these particular booksellers that dropped the ball?

[Ramona]

@Josh, to clarify, prisoners are allowed to receive 5 new books a month, but they can read as many as they can borrow. They swap among themselves, but there is no prison library to borrow from. Since the prisoner's family has to pay for the books and shipping, it's a rare prisoner who actually gets 5 new books a month. And now some states are trying to charge families to even visit incarcerated relatives...but that's another topic.

[Josh]

But, Ramona, what if the families avail themselves of the Mystery Lovers Bookshop's free shipping? That would save even more.

Next time someone from out there comes here, they should bring some calling cards for us to post on the bulletin boards at the local prisons.

(This whole post has been sort-of tongue in cheek.)

[Nancy Martin]

Wait---I wrote a perfectly sensible comment earlier about my pool boy, and now it's not here. Mr. Typepad is obviously jealous.

Every now and then I send a box of books to a military unit. My Sisters in Crime chapter organized a big book drive earlier this year.

[Kaye Barley]

Great post! I buy books in every format available. And for every book sent to me by an author or publisher I ALWAYS buy at least one copy of that book to give to a girlfriend as a birthday or Christmas gift because I love the whole idea of paying it forward

[Carol R]

Argghh. My post got eaten by the machine. Here's a much shorter version.

Great post, Kathy. I've bought and read every author here and many of the guests. I'm hooked on several series so I can be counted on for future sales of earlier books and future books. And I love to give books as gifts.

But there are no independent bookstores within hundreds of miles of here. When there is an opportunity to browse in an independent I gladly pay cover price for the pleasure of the experience. But those are rare occasions so I use Amazon. I had no idea that authors get less for an Amazon sale. This needs to be fixed!!!

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

Yay Kathy! Thank you! smooches~

Sigh..in MA, prisoners can only get books via the publisher...or AMazon. SO someone can't slip contraband inside.

When I do book giveaways, I buy the books. I feel great doing it!

And we love libraries! It's a perfect way to get readers hooked--and remember, libraries buy the books.

[Mario]

Absolute agreement with essay over here, with one little niggly point: check first with the library for which you buy a book to make sure they *want* the book. As for bringing a pre-bought book to a signing -- I do feel that, if you bought the book at that bookstore and have the sales slip to prove it, it should be allowed. (I once encountered a store where it wasn't. I wasn't happy about that.)

I am a biblioholic. My book budget is beyond belief. I'm glad I'm appreciated! [laughter]--Mario

[Elaine Viets]

Thank you, TLC readers. Your posts have given me encouragement. I'm doing rewrites for my May book.
Our local library does not put donated books on the shelves, but the Friends of the Library sell them.
Carol R, Mystery Lovers Bookstore ships books and they have an online catalogue, so you can support an independent store.
For those of you with e-readers, many indies, including MLB, have them.

[Alan P.]

I have not checked, but the USO might want book donations. I have sent a few books to Iraq and Afghanistan. One good thing about Amazon, there is no extra charge for shipping to an APO address. It does make it easier to ship to a war zone. I do know that books get handed around bases.

[Karen in Ohio]

Regarding books for Iraq and Afghanistan: Would you like me to check about this? My youngest daughter is marrying a reservist in the National Guard next month. Travis will be going on active duty in February, and will be deployed to Afghanistan in June. (One of the reasons they pushed their wedding date up by two years.) Holly has sent all kinds of things to her active duty classmates from the Citadel, and she's my go-to girl for info on this.

[Mystery Writers Unite]

I LOVE this posting and I couldn't have said it better myself!

A really good friend of mine just recently self-published her own book and there are many expenses that go with that. I invited her to my home for a house warming party and was surprised that people thought she had probably made a ton of cash already in advances and the like. Her book can be purchased online for a mere $2.99 -- almost the same price as a cup of coffee but will last longer and is more fun. Surely, almost everyone who enjoys reading can afford e-book prices.

I hope everyone that reads this posting will go out and buy a book! Myself, I'm going to buy my partner a Rolling Stones collection this week when he is out of town as a surprise.

Thanks for keeping it "real".

Becky

[Storyteller Mary]

I love books as gifts, and have bought so many for myself that people think I live in a library. When I can bring myself to part with a book, my library gladly accepts them. One aide is in charge of going through donations, to see which ones are needed for the collection. The rest go to the annual book sale, or out on the sale shelf in our library. I think they have all the bases covered.
I was just sharing with my dentist's assistant yesterday, as I held onto my "security book" in the chair, Lucy's story. Lucy came to one of Elaine's signings when she should have been going to the hospital. When her sister finally persuaded her to leave (with Elaine agreeing, "Go to the hospital, Lucy. I can't afford to lose a reader") I put a book in her hands, to be paid for when I paid for my own later (and the B&N people were just fine with that). Lucy reported that for several days, she was too groggy to actually read, so she held onto the book as if it were a teddy bear, a reminder that people love her. She will be telling scary stories at a couple of libraries this October . . . Books are good medicine!

[lil Gluckstern]

I totally agree with this post. I do have to admit I was worrying about the amount of money an author gets for e-books. I cannot afford 26$ hardbacks (nor do I have room for them), but I love my kindle, and just love finding an author that I love and having them in my bag-literally. A note about free books...I've won some, and always end up buying more of that author, or demanding that the library stock them. I'm also one of those who post Amazon reviews for them. I don't feel constrained to do this. I feel it's important to keep things in balance, if you get what I mean. Love your books. And I love seeing the usual posters on the blog. It's like a community.

[Storyteller Mary]

Several people mentioned gift cards for bookstores. I have to admit that, while I don't usually care for most gift cards, I've loved the bookstore cards from Jillian Jaclyn and from Francis Howell North High School and made sure I used them for memorable (and keepable) books.
I can't think of a better teacher gift . . . .

[Mo]

I love the books you guys put out. I buy a book or two a week for my kindle. However I am tired of people telling me an ebook is not a "real" book. I am spending my money every week buying books and helping to support my favorite authors. A third of my books are from online book stores other than Amazon. I am also tired of hearing about the no tax issue. I live in NH and we do not have a sales (or income) tax anyway. I always give books for presents, bedtime stories for baby showers and little ones birthdays and Christmas, gift cards to as they get older and enjoy picking out their own books. Books are joy plain and simple.

[Sandy Mester]

Bravo Kathy! Love your comments!

I am a bookaholic and can't get enough of them. In fact, after my bookcases in the family room were to capacity, I had a brilliant idea when we did some remodeling and I had my husband turn our (too small) dining room into a library/sitting room. (The dining room was moved to the former formal living room that we did not use.) Problem solved, a new place for my books and a larger dining area!

I have joined every book club out there and yes, I got the "free" books but I also buy plenty regular priced ones as well. I also buy from the local used bookstore (hey, he has to make a living too, right?) and I buy every month from Barnes & Nobles, even if it's in the sale section. I just purchased "The Help" (at full price no less) and will be pouring into it during our vacation....can't wait! I comb yard sales a few times a year looking for old books...I love history and poetry. So I have quite a variety, I never know what mood I will be in so I like having choices. My great niece just turned 3 and of course, she got books from me. Curious George is her favorite, she LOVES books...must be in the genes!

It breaks my heart to hear that books are being replaced by the ipad, notebook, kindle, nook and whatever else is out there. I do not intend to ever buy one of these devises as I have to have a real, hardcover, turn the pages BOOK! To me, there is nothing else like it...pure joy in reading a book.

One of my first choices of gift cards is one from Barnes and Nobles. Most people love it just because they don't want to spend their money on books but at least it gets them in the store and hopefully they will spend beyond the gift card amount.

One of the things I love about my beautiful daughter-in-law is that she loves books too. I know that (someday) my future grandchildren will love books as well.

The important message here is to BUY BOOKS! No matter where you get them, I think it's important to continue to buy books. I read somewhere that publishing companies are going to cease to exist. I think that would be such a travesty. I'm not sure who said this but man's greatest, single-most achievement is the printed word. Amen!

Thanks Kathy for the reality check...now I have to go buy a book!

[gaylin in Vancouver]

I also like to get bookstore gift cards as presents. I really really dislike people buying books for me. I can't think of one book I have received as a gift that I actually liked. My sister & mom like agony books (think Oprah endorsed) and I really don't like getting books from them, if they recommend a book for me to read it is guaranteed I will stay away from it.

Now I think I will go online and see how many points I have, I feel the need to buy books!

[Deb]

Some libraries are more enthusiastic than others about accepting donations of used books. As far as I know, mine rarely looks for them, although there are "used book tables" at the entrances. A few years ago I had a couple hundred books that I wanted to donate to any library that would take them, and my physical therapist told me about a patient who organizes book sales for a library in a nearby town. I spent weeks loading up the books in my car, and about once a week my physical therapist came out to my car and carried them inside. It was a great feeling to be able to share books with a library that was happy to get them.

My library WILL accept suggestions about books to purchase and has often purchased books on my recommendation.

I can't imagine a life without books! My parents read to my siblings and me and encouraged us to read on our own and to each other when we learned to read. When I was in second grade, I was sick quite often and missed a lot of school. My dad spent his lunch breaks going to a local bookstore to look for books that I would enjoy while recuperating. It was like Christmas morning came once a week! My parents also signed us up for book programs such as the Scholastic Book Club. My favorite gifts are still (and always!)books or gift cards for bookstores.

One of my sisters and I like to spend a few vacation days per year with each other. We make time to spend one day per vacation in a bookstore; we browse, stop for lunch, browse again, and then make our final selections. My niece comes with us now.I think it's great that my niece keeps asking "is this the day that we're going to the bookstore?"

My friends hate to go to bookstores with me because I just "disappear" into the aisles and need to be dragged away!

[Kathy Reschini Sweeney]

Yay for TLC! So great to hear from fellow book lovers.

Karen - yes please. If you can get the information, I'll do a blog about it around Veterans' Day.

[Karen in Ohio]

The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County has been having enthusiastically attended used book sales for more than 30 years now. Patrons donate books which, along with extra books they no longer need, the library sells at events downtown and at branches, then they use the proceeds to buy more books.

Four years ago I donated more than 1,000 books for the sale, which is managed and staffed by volunteers. And then I proceeded to buy way more books than that.

Sandy Mester, please don't hate on the electronic devices. They have a place, and are helping authors to keep afloat. Backlisted titles which publishers are no longer interested in keeping in print are enjoying a revival via electronic formatted versions. Can't find Elaine Viets' original series in paperback? Good news, now you can get them all in electronic format. Would love to start reading some of Margaret Maron's older titles? Yep, those are now available, too.

In addition, e-readers offer visual aids to those of us who would prefer to read large print, but can't find large print versions. It's easy to enlarge the print of any title, not just the ones the publishers deem appropriate for large-print versions.

In my case, because I'm getting a bit of arthritis in my hands, holding a large book, or holding a paperback open is getting more and more difficult for me. The e-reader is perfect, because it stays open without effort. I don't even have to hold it, but can prop it up to read it.

They're still books, and our author friends can still profit from our purchase of them.

[Harley]

Kathy, nearly every time you post or comment, I find something I want to memorize. Today's is: “Much as I would love to engage in a legal debate regarding your conclusions of fact and law, I doubt anyone else would find that interesting or informative.” That is just such an intelligent and pleasant response, I want to use it over and over in life. I think it will go over especially well with my children.

[marie]

I am a book lover. I have books written by just about everyone on the Tart group.
I have even bought both the print and the digital copies of Harley's books so that I could affect the size of the text for my old eyes.
I recently bought Barbara O'Neal's print book. I have all of Elaine, Nancy Martin's and so many other books.
I support all of writers and have become a voracious reader in the last ten years.
I donate books to the library.
Reading is entertainment and a luxury. But I love it.
I also like some of the new inde-pubs such as Will Graham's Spider'a Dance and others. All in all a day without reading is like a day without sunshine for me.

[Rocky Mountain Woman]

I do all of those things! I also agree about supporting your local book store (mine is named Dolly's). They need all the help they can get and are run by book lovers just like us...

Great post!!!

[Judith Bandsma]

Here's an article that should make everybody feel good.

http://tinyurl.com/3ke98c5

[Reine]

When I see that the library does not have a book I want or like, I always suggest it for purchase. They have a form on their Internet page specifically for that purpose. I suspect most libraries have this.

I've also just started an activist project to get the Library of Congress (LOC) and the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)
to buy and record books that are not THE most popular books with only THE best reviews recorded for the purpose of distribution to its patrons (including moi). Although these books are free to us, and may be recorded free (with really big restrictions, of course) by Talking books -- we talk them up to our friends and families; we buy copies for others as gifts; we get often get libraries' attention in the process; we write online reviews.

I always review books that I read and like, and I post only positive reviews at online sites. Note to Tarts: I usually use a pseudonym for safety. And I love your books, as I love you.

By the way, why do so many TABs (temporarily-able-bodied) think that printed books are superior to the digital and recorded formats?

_______________________________
Walking is highly overrated.
Reading a book is not.

[Kaye Barley]

oh darn - forgot to mention this!

LOVE the new pictures with all you gorgeous women in your bright lipstick!!!!!

and, if I might be so bold - there's one more thing I do to help get the books and authors I love "out there." It's a little spot called Meanderings and Muses.

[peach]

Late to the discussion: We buy as many books as we can afford. Always the TLC authors are on the purchase list along with other favorites, but I read so many authors I have to check out books from the library.

My library, (an Ohio library, even though I live in Pa. and Ohio libraries are the best in the nation)allows me to reserve books months in advance of publication. Once I put that reserve card in they put the book on their purchase list.

Even though I purchase my favorite author's books I always make sure to put in a reserve card at the library for the book. I also use inter-library loan to get back copies of books no longer in print. I've found that my library keeps track and when a new work by that author is published they purchase that book.

I love my library and TLC.

[Dru]

Great post and I shared it on my FB page.

I love books. I can't keep up with the many books that come out each month, but that won't stop me from buying them to add to my growing collection.

[Diana in STL]

I have books in every format, audio, Nook,& tons of real honest to goodness books. For my favorite authors (tarts especially) I have the same title in more than one format.

I've always given books for gifts to my nieces(as they grew up I gave gift cards) . Every baby shower I attend the child to be gets a book in addition to any other gift. My nieces (who are grown and have children of their own) tell me they always looked forward to my presents because they knew they would get to choose a new book. I carry on that tradition with their children and my 11 year old neighbor.

One of the librarians at the the U. of MO St. Louis started a library at the local veterans hospital. I donated several boxes of books to it last summer.

Like Karen, I was also disappointed that several of the panelists books were not available. I can understand that they couldn't have books by all the authors in attendance but I was surprised that I could not find books by at least 4 of the featured panelists. I did buy several but would have bought more.

[Melodie Campbell]

Thank you for this splendid post. I shall direct my writing class to this site, so they can hear it from someone other than their beleaguered teacher. You would not believe the number of students who sign up for Crafting the Novel, who do not regularly read fiction!!

[Mary Kennedy]

Wonderful post! I'd like to encourage everyone to send books to soldiers. Over the course of a summer, I sent 200 pounds of kahlua brownies and dozens of paperbacks to a garrison stationed in Iraq. I wrote a piece for the Huff Post about my experience--here are three sites you can visit to donate books. please contact www.operationpaperback.org, www.booksforheroes2010.com or www.booksforsoldiers.com.