Ruth Jordan of Crimespree Magazine did an interview on Joe Konrath’s blog last week that’s worth passing on (I’m excerpting here but I think I’ve got the point):

‘Do you remember the rush when you stumbled across that perfect book? Do you recall a cover calling to you, the flap copy adding to the harmony, and possibly a blurb that sealed the deal? When you read that book it was yours. The book belonged to you and was yours to talk about, share, put into other folks hands. It was the discovery that made it special.

‘For most fiction readers that feeling I just described along with print reviews is the way they find these treasures, for now. The casual reader likes to walk into a store and find the book that’s going to get them through that chilly weekend or long plane ride.

‘Summer is coming and with it the beach & vacations. An outlet is gone for those who are part time readers to get their fix. The closing of Borders presents any number of problems to everyone with any conscious awareness of the Publishing Industry. Last year the box store accounted for 13% of all book sales.

‘There’s an opportunity here. Last year Indy stores accounted for only 2% of Sales. Let’s change that this year. Let’s Make it 8%.

‘That co-worker who asks you what to read? The friend who asks you what you think they might like? Surely all of us can find two people to walk into an independent bookstore of our choice who’ve never been to one before.

‘That’s it. That’s my plan. If all of us do this we can help the Indy dealers who lay the footprint for the best sellers of tomorrow. These smaller stores may not have as many end caps or focal points as a Borders but they are full of reading goodness and staff who knows how to put the right book into the customer’s hand.

‘There will be hard choices for writers, publishers, distributors and the consumer in the months ahead. But for the now, let’s gift our family, friends and acquaintances with a choice they never knew they had. The Indy Book Store.’

Amen. Pass the Word.