How Do You Buy Books?
Discussion
dandarez said:
Interesting. I'll give my two-pennorth of perspective (as a publisher for the last 33 years - a small and independent one that is).
Penguin - people are still nostalgic about the name with it's famous logo and British connection (it's not British anymore!) and Sir Allen Lane, whose secretary came up with the name while 'Teddy' Young sketched some penguins at London zoo. became an imprint of Random House (the latter who once 'nicked' one of my authors whose book had been in print for 5 years, published by me). I didn't blame my author, well, Random House at that point was just about the largest publisher in the world. Under the umbrella of the giant Pearson. But with all big guns things change with time. Penguin today is not the Penguin of old (the one steeped in British publishing tradition since it was founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and his two brothers).
Near to the end of last year that you could get, the 18th Dec, Pearson sold its last stake in Penguin Random House, the book publishing joint venture it formed six years earlier with, wait for it, ...Bertelsmann! The German media group.
Pearson had owned 47% of Penguin Random House when the joint venture had been set up in 2013.
It had already sold a 22% stake in the business to Bertelsmann for $1bn in 2017. In Dec last year it sold its remaining 25% stake to Bertelsmann for £530m.
That sale now meant not ONE of the so-called 'Big Five' of English-language book publishing remained in British ownership.
If you hear another once proud British publishing name, for example, Macmillan, nine out of ten if stopped in the street think it's still British - it's not, it's been owned for the last 20 years by German group Holtzbrinck.
You rarely read that. It will just say Macmillan is a 'global trade publishing house' - how convenient!
As an aside like the power companies, next time you watch an advert on the tv for EDF plying for your business it will probably say something along the lines of the most trusted UK energy supplier and suckers fall for it... it's French ffs! Electricitie de France E D F. Don't they just love their 3 letters? Just like British book printers. Some of the 'Big Names' are still there, I've used them over the years, but NONE again remain in British ownership. One I have just used to print and bind my latest book, and in the middle of this pandemic, uses 3 letters too and is French owned!
edit to add
If you are published by a 'big boy' currently it is must be extremely difficult. I keep reading book publishing is falling apart, not just here in Britain, but globally because of the pandemic, and bookshops shutting up shop (a good friend has just told me she's had enough, not surprising with no new stock, but importantly no customers as the shop is shut. Sell online, I said like me at the moment, but no, that involves the post which she doesn't like doing, she lived for the personal touch, day in day out, book signings and so on. So, it's just one example, but a bookshop... gone!
I've been as busy as heck during the last 6 months up to March (and I'm retired, past retired!!). I can do it simply because I'm the boss, I'm beholden to nobody, it can be extremely difficult as a one-man band when you do everything from design to proofreading and have nobody to delegate stuff to. But I loathed working for other people (nah, that's not right... I loathed being 'told' what to do by others - no more clued up than I was/am).
In essence, my advice would have been for her to have found a small(er) publisher who specialised in that field. Of course, it is great to have a 'name' publisher - actually her book is published by 'Arrow' which is an imprint of Penguin, but as your mum has found out that splash bit about 'for fans of Catherine Cookson' is not helpful, luckily not on her next novel. But that's the 'design' team. The 'dolly bird' picture against 'old Mills' doesn't do it for me. But it follows their formats.
A smaller 'specialist' publisher would never have done that. It reminds me of a recent Stirling Moss book published by a publishing house not representative of motor sport publishing at all. The cover design was praised by one car magazine and it did look the business. But it had a major clanger which stood out like a sore thumb to enthusiasts, the car pictured was not Moss's, but Fangio's with Fangio at the wheel! Unbelievable.
Interesting read re penguin books , thank you. Penguin - people are still nostalgic about the name with it's famous logo and British connection (it's not British anymore!) and Sir Allen Lane, whose secretary came up with the name while 'Teddy' Young sketched some penguins at London zoo. became an imprint of Random House (the latter who once 'nicked' one of my authors whose book had been in print for 5 years, published by me). I didn't blame my author, well, Random House at that point was just about the largest publisher in the world. Under the umbrella of the giant Pearson. But with all big guns things change with time. Penguin today is not the Penguin of old (the one steeped in British publishing tradition since it was founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and his two brothers).
Near to the end of last year that you could get, the 18th Dec, Pearson sold its last stake in Penguin Random House, the book publishing joint venture it formed six years earlier with, wait for it, ...Bertelsmann! The German media group.
Pearson had owned 47% of Penguin Random House when the joint venture had been set up in 2013.
It had already sold a 22% stake in the business to Bertelsmann for $1bn in 2017. In Dec last year it sold its remaining 25% stake to Bertelsmann for £530m.
That sale now meant not ONE of the so-called 'Big Five' of English-language book publishing remained in British ownership.
If you hear another once proud British publishing name, for example, Macmillan, nine out of ten if stopped in the street think it's still British - it's not, it's been owned for the last 20 years by German group Holtzbrinck.
You rarely read that. It will just say Macmillan is a 'global trade publishing house' - how convenient!
As an aside like the power companies, next time you watch an advert on the tv for EDF plying for your business it will probably say something along the lines of the most trusted UK energy supplier and suckers fall for it... it's French ffs! Electricitie de France E D F. Don't they just love their 3 letters? Just like British book printers. Some of the 'Big Names' are still there, I've used them over the years, but NONE again remain in British ownership. One I have just used to print and bind my latest book, and in the middle of this pandemic, uses 3 letters too and is French owned!
edit to add
If you are published by a 'big boy' currently it is must be extremely difficult. I keep reading book publishing is falling apart, not just here in Britain, but globally because of the pandemic, and bookshops shutting up shop (a good friend has just told me she's had enough, not surprising with no new stock, but importantly no customers as the shop is shut. Sell online, I said like me at the moment, but no, that involves the post which she doesn't like doing, she lived for the personal touch, day in day out, book signings and so on. So, it's just one example, but a bookshop... gone!
I've been as busy as heck during the last 6 months up to March (and I'm retired, past retired!!). I can do it simply because I'm the boss, I'm beholden to nobody, it can be extremely difficult as a one-man band when you do everything from design to proofreading and have nobody to delegate stuff to. But I loathed working for other people (nah, that's not right... I loathed being 'told' what to do by others - no more clued up than I was/am).
In essence, my advice would have been for her to have found a small(er) publisher who specialised in that field. Of course, it is great to have a 'name' publisher - actually her book is published by 'Arrow' which is an imprint of Penguin, but as your mum has found out that splash bit about 'for fans of Catherine Cookson' is not helpful, luckily not on her next novel. But that's the 'design' team. The 'dolly bird' picture against 'old Mills' doesn't do it for me. But it follows their formats.
A smaller 'specialist' publisher would never have done that. It reminds me of a recent Stirling Moss book published by a publishing house not representative of motor sport publishing at all. The cover design was praised by one car magazine and it did look the business. But it had a major clanger which stood out like a sore thumb to enthusiasts, the car pictured was not Moss's, but Fangio's with Fangio at the wheel! Unbelievable.
Edited by dandarez on Sunday 17th May 14:50
I get all mine now on kindle , had shelves of real books , mostly amazon and secondhand charity shop purchases.
Best secondhand seller I have used is Barter Books whilst on holiday in Alnwick.
I tend to keep books (I love ‘em) so my first preference is to buy new unless it’s something specific and out of print - then I’ll buy from a specialist or online. I try and avoid Amazon because of the deleterous effect it’s had on the bookshop trade.
I buy from bookshops because I buy books when I get into the mood and will buy in relative bulk. There will be titles I’m specifically looking for but I love browsing, seeing recommendations and generally following my nose. Daunts and Hatchards are probably my favourites but I’m not immune to Waterstones. My local one has a great team who’ve been there forever who genuinely love what they do - I also like the monster in Piccadilly because you can’t fail to find something. Other than that, I will always look in indies and decent secondhand shops as a matter of principle.
Books are a wonderful joy in life that offer a depth yet to be matched by other ‘platforms’. Bookshops offer a quality of experience that should be cherished and supported.
I buy from bookshops because I buy books when I get into the mood and will buy in relative bulk. There will be titles I’m specifically looking for but I love browsing, seeing recommendations and generally following my nose. Daunts and Hatchards are probably my favourites but I’m not immune to Waterstones. My local one has a great team who’ve been there forever who genuinely love what they do - I also like the monster in Piccadilly because you can’t fail to find something. Other than that, I will always look in indies and decent secondhand shops as a matter of principle.
Books are a wonderful joy in life that offer a depth yet to be matched by other ‘platforms’. Bookshops offer a quality of experience that should be cherished and supported.
ettore said:
I tend to keep books (I love ‘em) so my first preference is to buy new unless it’s something specific and out of print
Books are a wonderful joy in life that offer a depth yet to be matched by other ‘platforms’. Bookshops offer a quality of experience that should be cherished and supported.
I agree with your sentiments, I never get rid of books, I have built several shelves for them in our second lounge and we now call it the library. Very pretentious I know but I love seeing them sitting there, even if I have read them.Books are a wonderful joy in life that offer a depth yet to be matched by other ‘platforms’. Bookshops offer a quality of experience that should be cherished and supported.
I tend to buy used books rather than new. I hate reading a pristine new book and putting creases in the spine, I would rather somebody else do that for me
droopsnoot said:
I've been keeping an eye on all the FB local announcements of people putting piles of books at the end of the drive for free, but haven't seen anything worth going to get. I'm getting a bit down the pile, though.
A few people round my way did that during lockdown as they were spending their time at home having a tidy. I think people just swapped junk rather than actually tidying up properly. It's amazing what gets advertised on the community Facebook page and snapped up immediately. Up to about three years ago I used to buy scores of books from charity shops and also a couple of good secondhand places. But I’m afraid once I’d switched over to Kindle I have only bought about three Paperbacks, each direct from the Author as they were quite specialised.
I do think there is something etching sad about the loss Of the trad book shops, but I never visit town centres now anyway, so Kindle really works for me.
Interesting to see the OP’s Mother got a trad publishing contract, they are not easy to get for a new Author, well done.
My Wife is currently waiting for the rejection emails having sent her latest novel out to a number of houses. We’ve had an offer already but it’s obviously a Vanity house, wanting money out of her.
I expect we will be formatting it for KDP like that last four.
I do think there is something etching sad about the loss Of the trad book shops, but I never visit town centres now anyway, so Kindle really works for me.
Interesting to see the OP’s Mother got a trad publishing contract, they are not easy to get for a new Author, well done.
My Wife is currently waiting for the rejection emails having sent her latest novel out to a number of houses. We’ve had an offer already but it’s obviously a Vanity house, wanting money out of her.
I expect we will be formatting it for KDP like that last four.
For me, it's split 50/50
When I'm out, I like to look in charity shops for books. I'm a BIG Science Fiction and Fantasy fan, so Oxfam is normally the best choice, because they have a dedicated Sci fi section.
But on Ebay, I normally buy from World Of Books. I'm still amazed that they can post so much stuff for free all the time. But the only downside with them is that they have a habit of sending you the wrong edition of a book then what was advertised.
When I'm out, I like to look in charity shops for books. I'm a BIG Science Fiction and Fantasy fan, so Oxfam is normally the best choice, because they have a dedicated Sci fi section.
But on Ebay, I normally buy from World Of Books. I'm still amazed that they can post so much stuff for free all the time. But the only downside with them is that they have a habit of sending you the wrong edition of a book then what was advertised.
whitesocks said:
For me, it's split 50/50
When I'm out, I like to look in charity shops for books. I'm a BIG Science Fiction and Fantasy fan, so Oxfam is normally the best choice, because they have a dedicated Sci fi section.
But on Ebay, I normally buy from World Of Books. I'm still amazed that they can post so much stuff for free all the time. But the only downside with them is that they have a habit of sending you the wrong edition of a book then what was advertised.
I find the SF&F selection in most 2nd hand and charity shops to be pretty dire, I might find the odd jem, but it's not consistent. Even the nearest Oxfam bookshop only has a couple of shelves at the most.When I'm out, I like to look in charity shops for books. I'm a BIG Science Fiction and Fantasy fan, so Oxfam is normally the best choice, because they have a dedicated Sci fi section.
But on Ebay, I normally buy from World Of Books. I'm still amazed that they can post so much stuff for free all the time. But the only downside with them is that they have a habit of sending you the wrong edition of a book then what was advertised.
I don't know where you're located, but if you're ever around Coventry or Nuneaton, try and set aside some time to check out Astley Book Farm in Bedworth; they have quite a large SF&F area, and it's very rare that I don't leave there with something interesting.
Amazon for Kindle
Calibre for out of copyright books to transfer to Kindle from my PC
Charity shops/ 2nd hand bookstores. There is one near me in Perth that acts as a sort of library - they buy books with 'store credit' including books that you bought from them.
And of course, local library.
Calibre for out of copyright books to transfer to Kindle from my PC
Charity shops/ 2nd hand bookstores. There is one near me in Perth that acts as a sort of library - they buy books with 'store credit' including books that you bought from them.
And of course, local library.
Evoluzione said:
Ebay. Used books are such a bargain.
Sure they are- but so are many new ones . I've written three books , each published by 'proper ' publishers and the financial return for most writers is pitiful , given the amount of time a book takes to write (and research , and edit , and proof read , and edit again, and publicise ...) . That isn't a complaint, I write because I love doing so , but I think many people would be surprised just how much time a book takes to write ,and how liittle most writers make . My last book costs about 12 quid - and yet some will quibble at paying even that for 160.000 words. Same as three or four posh coffees , drunk in minutes and forgotten soon afterwards .
Re the plagiarism charge earlier in the thread , it is actually very hard to copy another writer's style . My own early efforts, back in the 80s , to emulate Hemingway read like really , really bad parodies of the great man. I soon learned that while you can admire, and be influenced by great writers you must create your own voice -and it's far easier when you have done so .
Trying etc get away from Amazon and discovered Pen and Sword for a particular bent.
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
They also have sales as many places do, and ebooks that will run on Kindle. (I use the kindle app).
Though just bought one from Amazon so it is not totally abandoned.
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
They also have sales as many places do, and ebooks that will run on Kindle. (I use the kindle app).
Though just bought one from Amazon so it is not totally abandoned.
Zirconia said:
Trying etc get away from Amazon and discovered Pen and Sword for a particular bent.
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
They also have sales as many places do, and ebooks that will run on Kindle. (I use the kindle app).
Though just bought one from Amazon so it is not totally abandoned.
I’ve read a number of Pen and Sword books on Kindle.https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
They also have sales as many places do, and ebooks that will run on Kindle. (I use the kindle app).
Though just bought one from Amazon so it is not totally abandoned.
Some of the best books I’ve read recently.
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