Books and the buying thereof...

[catherineldf]

Okay, so most of us are pure geeks and readers and will happily spend the last of our food money on a good book. I know I have and still do. :-)
That said, I'm hearing about a lot of small indie publishers and stores that could really use the $$$ this year so I'm posting a sample list below.

In Other Words - Portland's feminist bookstore. Needs to raise $11,000 by the end of December to stay in business. http://www.inotherwords.org/NASApp/store/IndexJsp Click Support In Other Words or shop there if that's an option.

A Broad Vocabulary - Milwaukee's feminist bookstore. A Broader Vocabulary Coop is trying to raise the money to buy the store and keep it open - http://abroadervocabulary.blogspot.com/

Creatures 'n Crooks Bookshoppe - A SF/F and Mystery bookstore in VA - trying to raise the capital to stay open. http://www.cncbooks.com/index2.html

Norilana Books - Vera Nazarian's small press. I just got my copies from Powell's yesterday of "Lace and Blade," edited by Deborah Ross and "A Clockwork Phoenix," edited by Mike Allen. They are gorgeous looking books, the kind you just want to sink into. Order some lovely, interesting books and help Vera out for the long haul - http://www.norilana.com/

Yard Dog Press - Selina Rosen's small press. Publishes a unique range of sf/f, horror, mystery and the just plain uncategorizable. Not going under but could definitely do with the sound of tiny customer feet pitter-pattering their way. http://www.yarddogpress.com/

And there are plenty of others out there. Independent bookstores and presses take more risks and often put out more interesting books than the big houses. Without them the reading and writing landscape would be a poorer place. Show them some love while they're still around.

Comments

[ladyvivien.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this, Catherine. I'll put up a post on my bookblog, and I'm writing an article on it that I'm pitching to a couple of papers. Do you mind if I quote your last few lines in it? Crediting, obv ;)

[catherineldf.livejournal.com]

Sure! :-) Let me know how the article goes and when it gets accepted.

[mroctober.livejournal.com]

Lambda Rising also suffered a drop in in-store sales.

I'm offering anyone who buys a Lethe Press title online at LR or queerbooks.com a free copy of Vintage -- well, a copy that has some minor defects -- if they forward me the receipt. Spread the word.

[gavinatlas.livejournal.com]

Can I buy the book of yours that I was going to get for my friend Linda from any of these stores instead of Amazon? (and how are you doing?)

[mecooper.livejournal.com]

Not to sound superficial or anything - but Norilana has some absolutely gorgeous covers. :) The contents of the books are good as well - I've got both Lace and Blade and Clockwork Phoenix as well as a couple of other titles from them.

[catherineldf.livejournal.com]

Alas, no, not yet. It's still in preorder stage so only Amazon.com and TLAvideo have it on their websites. I do love the way your mind works though. :-)
I'm mostly okay - a bit anxious about the economic collapse and all - but okay other than that. You?

[catherineldf.livejournal.com]

Excellent! :-) I'm looking forward to them! Just got my signed Vonda McIntyre copy of "The Moon and the SUn" today. Good reading days coming up too. :-)

[gavinatlas.livejournal.com]

I'm okay. Frustrated with writing, but still doing it anyway.