Good News is Good For Us!

Well, it turns out that viewers, readers, and consumers may be forcing a much-needed change in “news” production. It would seem that not only do we need a break from the bombardment of hard and sad news, but we also desire a reason to be hopeful. Now, that’s a marketing conclusion I can certainly get behind – as a reader AND a writer!!

You may have noticed many major news outlets closing out their program with a short clip that makes you smile, makes your heart feel better. Why? Advertisers are the canary in the coalmine on this – they discovered viewers are more likely to react to an ad that proceeds and follows a positive news piece. Voila!! Enjoy the article!

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Another thing that readers are supporting is developing alternatives to Amazon for book purchases. Those of us who have been supported by independent book stores need to get behind them and this new – and successful – launch of BOOKSHOP.ORG, a place where readers can buy their books online and support the indie book stores who are members!

Brick and mortar shopping may be a good ways off for many with the pandemic upon us. To think it will be all cleared up and a thing of the past any time soon is not realistic. Enter the online bookshop, an eCommerce site that allows us to buy our books with a small discount and the sales benefit the brick and mortar stores!

Amazon is a logistics company. They ship food, OTC medications, diapers for young and older, furniture, and a gazillion other things. Book shipments went to the bottom of the list with this pandemic. And that left room for the dynamic BOOKSHOP.ORG to make its debut.

Jerry, owner of the Cloak and Dagger Book Shop in Princeton NJ is one of the brick and mortar shops that carry my books. He reached out to me about this and asked me to research it and if I could, help get the word out. Anyone that knows me at all knows I’m an advocate for keeping our small book stores alive and well! And, like anything else in life, that takes a cooperative effort. They sell our books – let’s make sure we help when we can to support THEIR stores! Both online and the brick and mortar.

BSO has earned over a million dollars for the stores in sales over the past 5 weeks. No, Amazon hasn’t a worry in the world, but it sure is nice to know that we’ve still got options in terms of book delivery. Authors can even sign up to be affiliates and help the shops and themselves.

“Independent bookstores are the lifeline of the intellect. They have to remain strong, especially in difficult times like these.” –Stephen King

“Indie bookstores are the bedrock of our business. My bookseller pals have supported me from my first little novel WHEN YOU WERE MINE all the way through my first New York Times Bestseller, IN FIVE YEARS. Now, more than ever, I want to make sure the stores we love will be around to welcome us home once this is all over.” –Rebecca Serle

See you Wednesday!

Nancy Q.