Because of my age (almost 68), I lament the loss of the human interaction in brick and mortar stores, and I go to Barnes & Noble often, because I can "browse" and research and ask questions, and there are actually a few [older] clerks int there who can point me in the right direction. Having said that, I have to admit I appreciate the …
Because of my age (almost 68), I lament the loss of the human interaction in brick and mortar stores, and I go to Barnes & Noble often, because I can "browse" and research and ask questions, and there are actually a few [older] clerks int there who can point me in the right direction. Having said that, I have to admit I appreciate the quickness and ease of online shopping, if it is for things I do not need help with or discussions for. So here's my thought for the day...I have asked myself more than once if the increased use and non-human interaction of the internet has exacerbated some of the anger and inability to deal with each other. Maybe I'm actually bemoaning the loss of familiarity with the past, but I don't think so. I do miss many things, but I embrace as much as I find tolerable about the present (you know, the only thing that is constant is change)...take this for example. I can read a brilliant piece (thanks, TC) and I can respond to it almost instantly. That's a good thing, in some ways. And it keeps a pile of letters from being shoved in an already-overfull mailbox for TC. Though I suspect you wouldn't mind that, would you sir? Neither would I. And here's why. Someone takes the time to sit down and write to another person, seal it (with their own spit usually), stamp it and In my case, add a wax seal to the back, take it to the pitiful organization we still call the post office, and mail it. That is interaction that cannot be replaced by an emoji. No matter how instant the emoji is. And I know this rambled, but I have to get away from my personal laptop and go to my work laptop now, and I just want to say thanks for another great piece. Happy Monday!
One thing I hate is that the stores that have survived are all The Worst Ones. Instead of Borders surviving, it was Barnes & Noble. They finance their operation on the financial backs of the writers whose books they carry - they order too many, then send them back as "returns for credit" to finance the next books they order - and that "return for credit" is charged against the author's royalties! They were supposedly doing a 'cooperative release" on one of my books. I went to the local outlet and let them know who I was and what the book was, and offered to do a signing, and they said "sure - give us the email of all your friends and we'll invite them here for your signing." Personally I wish B&N would disappear.
I had no idea...so I have to agree with you. Damn it...now my view of B&N has been seriously compromised...but thank you for that. We have a bookstore downtown here that carries mostly used books but does carry some new ones. and always carries the ones that a local county school board is "banning". I am in there often because it is closer and more "friendly". Do you have other suggestions?
Local non-chains. But as an author I personally prefer Amazon because whatever else you want to say about them, they're honest. They sell everything they order and they make their payments to the publisher on time (many independents don't because they're under-capitalized "labors of love") which means I get my twice a year royalty checks at their proper amount. Yes, writers do have to worry about keeping the roof over the writing office and the lights on and getting proper nutrition, which ain't free. :-)
Because of my age (almost 68), I lament the loss of the human interaction in brick and mortar stores, and I go to Barnes & Noble often, because I can "browse" and research and ask questions, and there are actually a few [older] clerks int there who can point me in the right direction. Having said that, I have to admit I appreciate the quickness and ease of online shopping, if it is for things I do not need help with or discussions for. So here's my thought for the day...I have asked myself more than once if the increased use and non-human interaction of the internet has exacerbated some of the anger and inability to deal with each other. Maybe I'm actually bemoaning the loss of familiarity with the past, but I don't think so. I do miss many things, but I embrace as much as I find tolerable about the present (you know, the only thing that is constant is change)...take this for example. I can read a brilliant piece (thanks, TC) and I can respond to it almost instantly. That's a good thing, in some ways. And it keeps a pile of letters from being shoved in an already-overfull mailbox for TC. Though I suspect you wouldn't mind that, would you sir? Neither would I. And here's why. Someone takes the time to sit down and write to another person, seal it (with their own spit usually), stamp it and In my case, add a wax seal to the back, take it to the pitiful organization we still call the post office, and mail it. That is interaction that cannot be replaced by an emoji. No matter how instant the emoji is. And I know this rambled, but I have to get away from my personal laptop and go to my work laptop now, and I just want to say thanks for another great piece. Happy Monday!
Thank you - yeah, you're right.
One thing I hate is that the stores that have survived are all The Worst Ones. Instead of Borders surviving, it was Barnes & Noble. They finance their operation on the financial backs of the writers whose books they carry - they order too many, then send them back as "returns for credit" to finance the next books they order - and that "return for credit" is charged against the author's royalties! They were supposedly doing a 'cooperative release" on one of my books. I went to the local outlet and let them know who I was and what the book was, and offered to do a signing, and they said "sure - give us the email of all your friends and we'll invite them here for your signing." Personally I wish B&N would disappear.
I had no idea...so I have to agree with you. Damn it...now my view of B&N has been seriously compromised...but thank you for that. We have a bookstore downtown here that carries mostly used books but does carry some new ones. and always carries the ones that a local county school board is "banning". I am in there often because it is closer and more "friendly". Do you have other suggestions?
Local non-chains. But as an author I personally prefer Amazon because whatever else you want to say about them, they're honest. They sell everything they order and they make their payments to the publisher on time (many independents don't because they're under-capitalized "labors of love") which means I get my twice a year royalty checks at their proper amount. Yes, writers do have to worry about keeping the roof over the writing office and the lights on and getting proper nutrition, which ain't free. :-)