How is the virus changing preferred book formats?

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I’ve had the time to delve into my TBR since the world slowed down. Just started Eric Asher’s Vesik series. Been wanting to read these for a while, but with 14 books available and four more scheduled for release through July, it was a bit daunting. Days Gone Bad, the first book has been so much fun so far, so I’m glad I made the leap. Thinking this could be one of my new fave series. If you want to pick them up, look for the box sets so you can save a little $.

The interesting part is that I bought this first one as an audiobook. For me, audiobooks are entertainment for my commute, an alternative to the radio during the drive. So why am I buying an audiobook when my state’s stay-at-home order has me locked down?

It all boils down to basic mom math. When two teenage boys spend exponentially greater time in a space than they did before, that space is exponentially times messier, exponentially increasing cleaning time and decreasing reading time.

For me, an audiobook is the perfect solution; allowing me to keep up with housework while enjoying a good story hands free. This audiobook purchase was a core behavioral change. Though I listened to audiobooks regularly, for me, it was a big shift to start listening in places other than the car. And since I spend more time outside of the car than in, it would also make sense that I could potentially increase the volume of audiobooks I listen to in a year. And that epiphany led me to wonder … are preferred formats changing for other readers too?

eBooks are reportedly seeing holiday like sales. Audible is giving away free audiobooks for kids. And authors are trying to decide how to launch their new book without the traditional tour. The new normal is flipping publishing on its head.

WBUR Boston reports that libraries in their area have poured more money than ever before into ebooks after closing their doors because of the virus. In one day, Watertown Free Public Library spent $10,000 in ebooks and audiobooks. Another library recorded a 65% increase in requests for ebooks, according to the article.

According to Statista.com, worldwide people are reading/listening to books 17% more in a study that looked at media consumption since the virus. That number is 11% more looking at just the US and 7% more in the UK. By the way, the top category in the study was news, closely followed by streaming TV, which should not surprise anyone.

And while ebooks and audiobooks are getting a boost, independent bookstores who have no distribution in place for these formats are struggling. Many have laid off employees and closed their doors, unsure if they will reopen. In “The World of books braces for a newly ominous future“, the New York Times takes a look at the indie sellers as well as struggling Barnes and Noble.

So is this the final breath for print? Not so fast. According to the article, “How the coronavirus will change book publishing, now and forever” published by the LA Times in March, the virus has led to a growing demand for print books from online retailers. Yes, print. The article cites that the American Booksellers Association’s members sites saw a 250% increase in traffic, while newcomer Bookshop.org reported a 400% increase in sales.

Insiders are also curious to see how behemoth releases this year like Suzanne Collins’s The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Stephenie Meyers’s Midnight Sun will affect book sales with their much anticipated followings. Their raving fans will likely want that print edition in their hands and on their shelves.

Based on the numbers, all book sales are on the increase as everyone searches for entertainment in the safety of their home. Print has shifted from in-store sales to online, but still seems to be decreasing slightly; while sales of ebooks and audiobooks soar. For now, there are few reports differentiating ebooks and audiobooks. It will be interesting to see how this changes as time passes.

Photo credit: Perfecto Capucine on Unsplash

How is the virus changing book sales?

If you had told me months ago that I wouldn’t be working on any banquets or major events in May, I would have laughed in your face.

Seriously.

It would have looked something like this.

I had a scholarship banquet and corporate annual meeting on my plate (those I do every year), a product launch, PLUS my son is graduating high school. I was on the fast train to a super stressful May. But now…

Continue reading “How is the virus changing book sales?”

Indie Life: The Perfect Book Convention

As you’ve probably discovered on my Instagram, my little sis joined me at a recent book convention. She’s a school administrator and has attended more than her share of conventions from the education side. In my day job as a banker, I have attended and helped coordinate quite a few as well, although those tend to be more technology focused.

225255_2065005309492_8122806_nIt didn’t take long before we started talking about the cool twists of the book con as well as the old standbys that were second nature at cons we’ve attended, but simply didn’t exist in the bookish equivalent. From there, it wasn’t a far leap before we started marrying the two and in no time we were planning our own con…the perfect book convention. Continue reading “Indie Life: The Perfect Book Convention”

Indie Life: Passion in Fandom

IndieLife7Every second Wednesday of the month, indie writers band together to post a little inspiration for the journey.

As I think of my indie life recently, one word comes immediately to mind…passion.

Not as in the *blush* New Adult genre that is so quickly gaining popularity, and not as in passion for the writing process per-say. The passion that I think of is that wonderfully, goofy feeling you get when you know, just know, you’ve stumbled across a story that is going to be your next obsession.

  • You imagine every setting in detail, as if you were the architect.
  • You guess and theorize on what’s next.
  • You roam the internet for any extra Team Whoever badge, sneak peeks, and tidbits.
  • You pick out what celebrities would play the characters in a movie.

I have a friend that actually shed tears when she first stepped into Hogsmeade at Universal Studios Florida. Real tears, and for what? A story. A great story.

This week, I’ve been completely obsessed with watching pics and news from the shooting of the new Morganville Web Series, based on the Morganville Vampire books by Rachel Caine. I am so excited for this show, all because I absolutely loved the stories first. Well, that and have you seen Jordan Farris, Chase Jeffrey, and Ben Easter? Whoa, mama!  (witness my obsession with MV first-hand at www.twitter.com/mogdocnews)

And therefore, my dear writer friends, as your inspiration this month in your Indie Life journey, I ask you to make a new goal. Write a story, not for monetary gain, critical acceptance, or notoriety; write a story for your fans for they are the real passion behind this craft. I challenge YOU to write the story that will create an all-out, teary-eyed, jumpin’ on the couch, squeal with delight, geek out for your readers.

Already written it? Tell me and my readers about it in the comments on this post. (Shameless plug opportunity, you know you want to…)

 

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Thinking of yourself as an artist

IndieLife7Every second Wednesday of the month, indie writers band together to post a little inspiration for the journey.

Recently in my small hometown a group of local artists have put together an “artisan market”. It’s run very much like the farmers markets that you’ll see all over Ohio. The market is held every Saturday where artists come in and set up their beloved works for sale. I love their effort. God bless’em for making a positive impact on our community.

And I wanted Continue reading “Thinking of yourself as an artist”

Indie Life: Celebrating a Milestone

IndieLife7Every second Wednesday of the month, indie writers band together to post a little inspiration for the journey.

This month, I write to celebrate a milestone. On January 11th, 2014, my first novel, Of Sun & Moonrocketed to #1 on the Amazon U.S. Top Free eBook list in two categories: Teen & YA Supernatural Mystery and Teen & YA Romantic Mystery. It also grabbed  Continue reading “Indie Life: Celebrating a Milestone”