Used Book Stores and Authors...What's the Bottom Line? #RB4U @melissa_keir

Used Book Stores and Authors...What's the Bottom Line?

Hello and welcome back to another month with me and your host blogger. I'm here each and every 9th day of the month, sharing about writing, books and life in general.

This week, I'm up North (in the thumb area of Michigan) enjoying some time with my husband in our silver bullet trailer. June in Port Austin is a quiet time. The weather alternates from chilly to warm but Lake Huron is too cold for swimming, so I'm relaxing with some of my favorite nature's sounds-waves.



But a girl can't survive on nature alone...so we have done a little exploring in town. The small neighboring town of Caseville has a used book store and I had to stop!

Have you ever been in a used book store before? They are a treat. Visually, it's like trying to fit a million books into a 3' by 5' section. Piles are everywhere. Hardcover books, paperbacks...children's books, biographies and cookbooks fill the shelves. There's a book for everyone!


Prices are good as well. You can get a used book for anywhere from $0.50 to $5.00 and up depending on hardcover or paperback. Among the aisles, you might find an original paperback of your favorite author or the last book in the series you need. Some stores even carry a few new books as well. 

One of the complaints authors (and publishers) have with used book stores is that the author doesn't make money from any sales of used books. If I buy a book at the local B&N, a portion of the sale goes back to the author. However, if I buy a book at the local used book store, that money only stays with the owner of the store. Is it fair?

Fair doesn't really have anything to do with it. Unless the book was stolen and sold illegally, the author has already received royalties on it. It's like buying a used car or clothes from Goodwill, those proceeds aren't going to go back to Ford or Abercrombie. 

But on the plus side, maybe someone who hasn't heard of you, will pick up your book off the shelf at a deal price and be floored by your story and want to buy more, thereby guaranteeing you more sales!

With more and more businesses turning to online markets, the used book stores are also becoming more internet savvy. Amazon has a marketplace where you can purchase used books. In addition, there are other online stores such as Ebay. The same principle applies. Royalties don't go back to the author, even if the book is out of print and selling for hundreds of more dollars than the original price. :( Just think of it as the author being a master painter like Picasso. After all, I do think I'm worth it! :)

When my kids were little, we would visit a local used book store. I bought 10 books at a time and would let them "buy" them back after a week. This allowed me to get their discounted price. The owners watched my children grow up from babies to toddlers to young adults. And for a voracious reader, it was an inexpensive way for me to "find" new authors. I devoured the books and in turn shared the experiences with my own children who are book hoarders in their own right. Do you have a story of a local bookstore? Do you like to find new authors and fun reads? Check out your local used bookstores!

If you would like to check out my latest releases, One Night Behind Bars or Broken Vows, you can visit my webpage (www.melissakeir.com) or Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Keir/e/B0078TCJX2/)

One Night Behind Bars....
A Bride, Jail and the Man of her Dreams…

Instead of marrying the man of her dreams, bride-to-be Jeannie Hall spends the night behind bars accused of domestic terrorism. Her groom loses no time marrying someone else. As if this isn’t enough, when she’s cleared of the charges and released, she becomes the target of a vengeful person, and the stakes keep getting higher. 

Deputy Hank Walker knows the beautiful woman is innocent, but he was forced to do his duty. Determined to find out who set her up, he starts digging deeper and vows to protect the woman who had stolen his heart.

Master matchmaker Draikoh San arranges for Jeannie and Hank to have a night to remember, but when a killer comes after them, will the two lovebirds end up wearing body bags or wedding rings?

Broken Vows.....

Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned…. 
Rick and Julie Tyler are happily married ranchers who raise and train horses. 

When money becomes tight, Rick becomes a firefighter in order to make ends meet, but he’s forced to move out of state if he wants more money and a chance to become a station chief. 

Distance causes problems for the happy couple and turns their world upside down. When Julie puts her foot down, will Rick decide to make the right choice, or will their vows break?




Thank you for stopping by and I hope to see you next month on July 9th! Enjoy the rest of your month!

xoxo
Melissa Keir