When I lived near Broome, one of the supermarkets in town had a not-too-shabby newagent connected to it, which did a fairly good line in novels (particularly romance, which was my not-so-secret vice at the time). I loved the idea of picking up the latest Joanna Lindsay or Amanda Quick with my monthly shop. Nowadays, books aren't an impulse buy any more, which I find very disappointing.
When I had my second-hand book store, I think the most I charged was $15 for an as-new recent hardback. The paperbacks were $7 for as-new, down to 50 cents for the crappy ones. It didn't do that well, unfortunately, Sussex Inlet wasn't ready for a second-hand bookstore. But one day, I'll have one again. It's my dream to own a book store. Well, one of many :)
Sussex Inlet NSW? I have relatives there... imay even have visited your bookstore - or possibly not. I got the book that inspired the Cybermen, and One Of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing there tho.
(The Disney movie didn't include the nipple print scene)
It wasn't just paper costs; if it was, 600-page books would be significantly more expensive than 300-page ones (assuming you could find an adult book that short), and they're not. I've heard various theories explaining the sudden rise, including
( ... )
with you about edititing. my dad has thie theory that Order Of The Phoenix was so damn big because Rowling said "I'm a celebrity now, I"m gonna write it my way", and really, it did go on a bit much. i agree with you, i'd rather read short and good than wade through 300 pages of crap. well said.
Part of the problem is that editors who edit occupy a lower niche in the publishing hierarchy than they did, and they're understandably scared to suggest changes to the work of a hugely successful author. Who do you think's going to be fired if a Stephen King or J. K. Rowling book fails to sell? (Hint: who was fired after the O. J. book was cancelled?)
Also, editing takes time. Do you think Harry Potter or Robert Jordan fans (and their publishers) want the next book to be good, or do they want it now?
(I'm not a fan of either series, btw, and I'd much rather read short and good. But if sales figures are anything to go by, we're in the minority.)
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When I had my second-hand book store, I think the most I charged was $15 for an as-new recent hardback. The paperbacks were $7 for as-new, down to 50 cents for the crappy ones. It didn't do that well, unfortunately, Sussex Inlet wasn't ready for a second-hand bookstore. But one day, I'll have one again. It's my dream to own a book store. Well, one of many :)
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(The Disney movie didn't include the nipple print scene)
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But it is frustrating.
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Eric Flint has commented about it on several occasions (no link handy sorry), and apparently so has Tom Delaney at TOR.
Something to do with concentration of the market into the major chains...
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my dad has thie theory that Order Of The Phoenix was so damn big because Rowling said "I'm a celebrity now, I"m gonna write it my way", and really, it did go on a bit much.
i agree with you, i'd rather read short and good than wade through 300 pages of crap. well said.
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Also, editing takes time. Do you think Harry Potter or Robert Jordan fans (and their publishers) want the next book to be good, or do they want it now?
(I'm not a fan of either series, btw, and I'd much rather read short and good. But if sales figures are anything to go by, we're in the minority.)
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