Blogging from A to Z April Challenge

I love a challenge. My thorough adoration of NaNoWriMo in November proves that. So when I heard of the challenge to write 26 blogs in April, I had to sign up. Yes, I know I'm not particularly good at keeping up with my blog, but that just made the challenge all the more attractive to me. 

Do I need a good kick in the pants? Yep. Do I work well under pressure? Absolutely. Do I need another project to work on? Well, maybe not so much, but I'm going to do it anyway. Am I stubborn? Oh yeah. Check, check, and check. 

So wish me luck. Feel free to taunt me if I fail. Which I won't, because... did you read the part about me being stubborn? Just making sure.

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge

Another Bookstore Bites the Dust

The last time I shopped at our local Borders

Over the weekend I went to our local used bookstore. After 20 years in the same location, they’re being forced to close. How depressing!

Many have remarked on how the publishing industry is changing. Some changes are wonderful and some… not so much. For me, the biggest change is how people are buying their books. Personally, I’m a huge fan of the Kindle, but I will never give up having paper books. Before the closing of Borders, I frequented at least one of five local bookstores about once a week on average. With the closing of the used bookstore, there’s now only one of those five left.

We’ve all discussed the whys of Borders' closing and ultimately how much it sucks for us book lovers. I’ve read several recent articles about how Amazon is shaking up the industry along with much speculation about what is coming next. At this point in the blog, I should offer some insight, but I find I have none to give. My only conclusion? I’m sad.

A Borders employee had this posted on their door. Yikes!

Sure, I like cashing in on book sales as much as the next person. Closing sales are huge! (My last Borders purchase was 8 books for $30. My used bookstore purchase was 11 books for $33.) But I would much rather forgo the sales and keep a couple more bookstores nearby.

I’m curious about how bookstores are doing in other areas. Compared to a year ago, how many remain open near you?