{"id":282,"date":"2018-08-04T11:22:59","date_gmt":"2018-08-04T11:22:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.booksbytesajones.com\/?p=282"},"modified":"2018-09-05T20:44:48","modified_gmt":"2018-09-05T20:44:48","slug":"do-you-enjoy-bookstores","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.booksbytesajones.com\/?p=282","title":{"rendered":"Do You Enjoy Bookstores?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you enjoy bookstores?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Ironically, in 1931 \u2013 during the year the characters in Reflection of Memories<\/u><\/a> were born \u2013 only 4,000 stores<\/a> in America sold books \u2013 most of those were gift shops or specialty stores that sold only a few of the best known novels.\u00a0\u00a0 In fact, brick-and-mortar bookstores at that time numbered less than 500 \u2013 the majority of them were in major cities, not small towns.<\/p>\n

During the mid-to-late 1900s \u2013 as our nation became increasingly more mobile with better roads, affordable cars and the introduction of shopping malls, bookstores flourished<\/strong> and multiplied by the tens of thousands across our country.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0With the birth of Amazon on July 5, 1994 and the steadily rising movement to purchase online instead of traveling to a store, consumers gravitated to this more convenient way of shopping.\u00a0 In addition \u2013 as we entered the 21st<\/sup> Century \u2013 a new and unique way of reading was introduced by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos:\u00a0 the e-reader\/Kindle<\/a>. \u00a0\u00a0In 2007, this innovative electronic gadget had not yet taken an aggressive chunk out of the market, but gradually the small hand-held device chipped away at the profits yielded by bookstores.\u00a0 As a result of this double punch, brick-and-mortar bookstores found it increasingly more difficult to compete, and they steadily went out of business.<\/p>\n

Crown Books<\/a> was the first large chain to close its doors (2001)\u00a0 As shopping on Amazon and e-books\u2019 popularity grew, more chains collapsed — Borders (2010), B Dalton Books (2010) and Waldenbooks (2011) went under — leaving Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million the last \u201cchains\u201d standing.\u00a0 \u00a0By 2011, the number of bookstores<\/a> dropped to a little over 29,000; it is predicted to fall to 22,600 by the end of 2018.<\/p>\n

Mixed in with all of this information, there is a ray of good news.\u00a0 According to the American Booksellers Association<\/a>, the number of independent bookstores in the United States has increased 35% — from 1,651 in 2009 to 2,227 in 2015.<\/a> \u00a0\u00a0 Many believe this unpredictable comeback is due to the independent booksellers who focus on community \u2013 making a connection with their local customers, creating a more personalized experience, spotlighting local authors, hosting events, lectures, book signings and catering to the young readers including children\u2019s story times.<\/p>\n

The most important aspect I hope you ingest from this article is . . . if you enjoy bookstores . . . and you wish to have a store in your area . . . \u00a0you need to shop locally \u00a0. . .<\/strong> support the business <\/strong>especially the stores that offer you convenience, comfort, a warm smile and a hometown ambiance.<\/p>\n

This brings me to another subject I wish to focus upon in this article. \u00a0There are no bookstores in my hometown of Mooresville, North Carolina<\/strong>; as a result, I am constantly searching for a bookstore haven where I can savor the atmosphere and browse the aisles.\u00a0 \u00a0The closest store in my area is a couple of exits south on I77 in Davidson:\u00a0 Main Street Books<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 This is a lovely place to shop for your next favorite novel.\u00a0 Lucky for me \u2013 if I am willing to drive a little further \u2013 there are three amazing Barnes & Nobles<\/a> in the Charlotte area, \"\" To my delight, they carry copies of my novel and have hosted several book signings.<\/p>\n

If you live in the Greensboro area, I highly recommend Scuppernong Books<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 Their calendar is packed with entertaining events.\u00a0 \u00a0I wish I lived closer.\u00a0 Another favorite is Hooray for Books!<\/a> in Alexandria, Virginia (where I grew up and spent most of my life.)\u00a0 This wonderful privately-owned store originally catered to only young readers; however, it has broadened its customer base and is now stocking novels and hosting events for all ages.\u00a0 \"\"In fact, I was a\u00a0 guest author<\/strong> in this store last spring on Independent Bookstore Day.\u00a0 <\/strong>To my delight, it was a successful, fun-filled day.\u00a0 Fans lined up for signed copies of Reflection of Memories <\/strong><\/em>and Cobwebs of Time.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/em>In fact, a dog even dropped by for a visit.<\/p>\n

Lastly, I want to spotlight Bookmarks <\/strong><\/a>in Winston Salem, NC.\u00a0\"\" Not only is this store innovative and packed with events, Bookmarks hosts the Festival of Books and Authors<\/strong> — the largest festival of its kind in North Carolina<\/strong>.\u00a0 https:\/\/www.bookmarksnc.org\/\u00a0 This year (which is the 14th annual event) there will be 60+ authors present — all genres will be represented at this family-friendly festival.\u00a0 Good news!\u00a0 I am one of the lucky authors.\u00a0 If you like historical fiction, please do drop by my booth — #32 on Spruce Street.<\/p>\n

I promise you, if you like books and a festive atmosphere, you do not want to miss this event:\u00a0 September 6 – 9th, plus Saturday September 8th the FREE day. \"\"<\/p>\n

Even if you do not live in Winston Salem, it’s worth the trip.\u00a0 For more info:\u00a0 https:\/\/www.bookmarksnc.org\/2018-festival-books-authors<\/p>\n

Do you have a favorite indie bookstore?<\/strong>\u00a0 If so, please share the name, location and what you enjoy about the bookstore.<\/p>\n

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