David Maybury | Blog

The Bookseller published some of the sales figures from 2009 last week. UK young adult fiction sales in 2009 totalled a huge £50.2m, an increase of  89% on 2008 sales. (Bolstered by the success of Stephenie Meyer (52% overall YA sales) but the market still reached a huge £23.8m without her contribution.)

Children’s fiction sales for eight to 11 years fell by more than 13% compared to the year previous.

The increase in sales is partly attributed an increased readership of female readers in their late twenties – with the focus being primarily on pushing young adult/paranormal romance novels.

Retailers 
have definitely been more focused on teen fiction than younger readers. We have developed our offer for eight to 12 years but are aware we need more strong fiction here, especially for girls. – Puffin MD, Francesca Dow

This readership [children’s core market] has been a slightly neglected group which is not deliberate, but it’s been harder to find those authors – Random House Children’s Books, Annie Eaton

Only 4 sleeps until Christmas – and the bookstores are finally seeing a small light at the end of the tunnel… Mark Haddon’s Curious Incident reaches the top 10 best-selling books of 00’s (It’s a short list with just Dan Brown and JK Rowling up there)

Reactions to the Amazon e-book war have been mixed – one of my favourites so far has been Matt Stewart in the Huffington Post:

Imagine if airlines gave their biggest frequent flier customers the worst seats on the plane. If iPhone owners had to wait six months to download the latest tunes… …These are all idiotic ideas, certain to ruin relationships with each industry’s biggest advocates, devastate the bottom line, and get top-level executives axed. So why do these publishers think they’re exceptional?

(And speaking of Huggington Post – check out their top ten tweet tips for publishers. Common sense but all very clever)

Rene Russo has joined Anthony Hopkins, Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston in Thor.

So… there are two Richard and Judy book clubs in the UK now? Confused?

Meghan Daum talks about the loss of Kirkus – or the lack of a loss… apparently.

I still feel more “Yeah, so?” than “Oh no!” about the end of Kirkus. But for all my indifference, I will say this in defense of Kirkus (and professional review publications in general): At least the critics had some cred – Meghan Daum

Jeanne Mosure (Senior Vice President, Disney Publishing Worldwide) talk e-books in the lead up to Disney’s Digital Book releases.

Gadget Republic features ‘Bully Stop‘ – a new app for all phones to filter texts, MMS and calls to phones. (And on the topic of phones – some new statistics on teenagers phone usage, notably sexting)

The Costa Book Awards have announced their judging panel for this year and the Independent UK has some other event highlights.

Did you know that Jimmy Carter wrote 27 children’s books? UK Soldiers in Afghanistan are reading bedtime stories to the kids – 4000 miles away.

And in my favourite story this week – Phil Earle (S&S children’s sales director) has sold his first YA title to Puffin. Expect to see Being Billy on the shelves in 2011.

In the not-so-distant-past Ugne Rauckyte in UCC asked a few questions of the Irish book-selling world. The results are in and they make for some interesting reading. Below is a very brief synopsis of Ugne’s results – you can read the full PDF here.

As you’re reading – remember that:

• 60% of  respondants are aged 19 – 25 (the original target audience of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone)
• 60% are female
• 40% are students | 30% work full-time | 17% part-time

How much on average you spend on books in a month?
45% said €1 – €15 and another 31% said €16 – €30 (PDF results has a breakdown by genre)

In your opinion, do you think the books should be:
Given the choice 58% said slightly cheaper – 22% said prices are fine as they are.

If the recession continues do you think you will?
44% believe that they will buy as many books as they do now – 34% will be slightly fewer

Where do you usually buy your books?
52% buy from chainstores (Easons, Waterstones, Borders) Independent and online stores reached 10.8% each (9.7% buy from secondhand stores)

You would buy an electronic book reader if…
38% believe that they will buy an e-reader.

Suffice it to say that the full results are worth reading!

All of these numbers are all very fine  but what exactly am I getting at?

That the primary demographic from the survey would be considered web savvy, technologically aware, social media users – who buy books. (The post-Harry Potter 19-25 yr old generation are still reading.)

There is ample room for both independent and chain stores to pitch books to that readership. With a smart online campaign the rewards could be great…

For example:

Easons* recently launched a new campaign – including a facebook page and twitter account. The initial engagement looked promising – offering the Dublin Twookclub a discount for starters. The account hasn’t been too active since,  now it’s just used as a shouting place for events.

The upcoming event with Cecelia Ahern, for example, could be a great starting point – a quick search for ‘Ceceila Ahern’ reveals dozens of conversations about the author. Now why not get involved in those conversations – offer book recomendations, discounts and the chance to meet her in person?! Become the Ollivanders of online books (to keep the HP theme).

The market is changing – there is greater choice for anyone looking to buy a book. But it is also easier for companies to get in touch, recommend a title, offer a discount or just suggest a visit to the nearest bookstore… All without any fancy whizzbangery or expensive PR – just doing what you do. Selling books.

Chapters Bookstore and Raven Books are both dipping their toes in the water – why not join ‘em?

*Apologies to the lovely folks in Easons for picking on them!

One of the best parts about being away has been visiting bookshops. Getting to grips with how books are sold, and written, for a completely different market. But kids love good stories no matter where they are – and how cool is it to see Judi Curtin, Roisín Meaney, Eoin Colfer and Darren Shan in a tiny bookshop in Hong Kong??

Eoin Colfer has been the big traveller so far – every shop we’ve visited in China and Thailand has stocked at least one of his books, and many have his entire back catalogue, just in case. The real moment of pride was finding the O’Brien Press editions of Judi Curtin in Hong Kong. The guys in the shop thought I’d lost my mind when I jumped around holding Alice and Megan Forever – though they were kind enough to give me a crash course in the who’s who of Hong Kong kids lit. Fun!

We’re gallivanting in Thailand at the minute – island hopping and struggling through the torturous hours of blue skies, long sandy beaches and crazy Thai masseuse. As per usual – plenty of pics on Flickr.

The staff at Eason's take their costumes very, very seriously

The kids, their tastes are a-changing. Well not really, the Goosebump and Point Horror series were huge favourite a few years ago. But with the return of the vampire and Meyer’s Twilight series holding the top five slots in the Irish Book Charts for three weeks in January – publishers, writers and booksellers are looking for their darkside.

And today (it being Friday 13 and all) Eason’s are celebrating the macarbe – their the store on O’Connell Street, Dublin, has been overrun by a Skeleton Detective and a hoard of Vampirates, (Derek Landy and Justin Somper). Head on over – the staff may be in hiding, the books may be on fire and odd insignia might even be scrawled on the tiles but don’t be afraid… we all like a good scare once in a while. Right?

Update: Almost as if they knew about the darkside launch, Harper Collins announced their plans to publish new books by Darren Shan. A stand-alone fantasy quest novel, a four-book vampire series, plus seven manga titles based on Shan’s best-selling Saga of Darren Shan series.

Free this afternoon? Fancy hearing from some of the best known children’s writers around? Not sure why this post sounds like a cheesy radio ad? (Me neither…)  For some answers – head over to Marlay Park in Rathfarmham (Dublin) for the Books in the Park: A Family Fun Day from 1 to 5.

Niamh Sharkey, of Happy Hugglewug fame, will be there along with Judi Curtain (Alice and Megan might make an appearence too.) Andy Stanton, Aideen McBride and the needs-no-introduction creator of Skullduggery Pleasant, Derek Landy will all be there too telling tall tales and signing books.

Might see you there!

A couple (literally just two) of comic/illustration/art-work/visually-pleasant launches out and about in Dublin.

First is the joint launch of The Comic Cast (the new place for all things podcast and comicbook) and Gazebo (a new indy comic, this time from Philip Barrett and Liam Geraghty – who just happens to be one half of the The Comic Cast). All the who-be-whats-its of comics will be there, as well as some musicians (Mary Bellos and Schmackey and the Salads) and other people. The madness kicks off tonight at half seven downstairs in Thomas Reads on Dame Street.

And secondly Mr Alan Clarke, that kinda/sorta/maybe/really talented art guy, is opening an exhibition in the Winding Stair Bookshop next week – where, no doubt, all the who-be-whats-its of art, comics, books, publishing, newspapers and meeja will be clambering to get themselves a glass of sparkling rosé and a look/see/ogle at the walls. (The floodgates open at half six on July 17 and will be on display in the bookshop ever after)

>> Also worth a mention: the second best blog name in existence, Liz Maybury.

Following Darragh Doyle’s post about Pat Ingoldsby and the question:

How can the online community support our artists and poets more?

The most important way for the online community to help poets and artists is to buy their work.

Unfortunately, poetry books don’t sell and any drop in poetry sales is a big deal. Poets don’t write and produce books expecting a windfall from sales; but publishing is a numbers game. For publishers’ continued survival they have to turn some profit, no matter how small. And that profit relies on the continued support of readers.

Poetry Ireland is the national organisation, set-up to support poets and promote poetry across the country. As part of that remit it is working to promote the sale of poetry.

They are just about to launch an online bookstore – offering readers a chance to get some great books at low prices, direct from the publishers. The list of books offered is being finalised, and will include the recent winner of the Irish Times Poetry Now Award Secular Eden: Paris Notebooks 1994-2004 by Harry Clifton (Wake Forest University Press).

Visit poetryireland.ie for more. (Cross post from here)

The Winding Stair bookshop used to be the home for all things bohemian – with a bookshop that seemed to stretch right up into the clouds (at the top was a sticky-tabled literary restaurant that made the whole trip worthwhile). Now it’s back and packing a punch.

The creaky stairs and multiple floors are gone, replaced by a Michelin rated gastro-restaurant. But the ground floor has been kept on as an independent and eclectic bookstore. The most appealing feature about the store is the unexpected – you are never quite sure what you will find on the next shelf. (The children’s books shelves are stuffed with some good titles but there is limited space and as a result, limited stock.)

The Winding Stair has kept it’s old-worldy, bohemian atmosphere – something that is lost in the new Chapters store – and it is hard to resist the urge not to just spend hours idly sifting through the hundreds of books. The appeal of the store is bolstered by its staff – who are not only friendly but know more than just a thing or two about books and writers. (Just don’t drop in at half 7 in the evening and keep Regan waiting for his tea. You won’t like him when he’s hungry.)

The shop is closed on Mondays but is open Tuesday – Sunday from 12pm till 5.

Previous posts:

obsessive blogger | Chapters
obsessive blogger | Books Upstairs, College Green
obsessive blogger | Hodges Figgis, Dawson St.
obsessive blogger | Reads of Nassau Street
obsessive blogger | Bookshop Map

About obsessive blogger | Tuppenceworth.ie

Who didn’t know and love Chapters on Abbey Street? It was a powerhouse of knowledge and dust and more than the occasional spider. A children’s section at the very back of the shop that was removed from everything from the main store. A decent, archaic/chaotic secondhand basement. Cheap books and movies and music.

And on top of all this. It had an amazing building:

But the times, they are a-changin’. And Chapters has evolved alongside Dublin. It has taken up residence on Parnell Street and become an impressive book-seller while maintaining some of it’s previous charm. The building is new (and huge) and forms part of the regeneration project around Parnell/Moore/Jervis Street.

The prices are still kept considerably low in comparison to other stores and the massive floor space means that they are very likely to already have what you’re looking for. Much of the chaos is lost in the new shop – bright lighting and considerably more organised shelving makes the experience more shopper friendly. The children’s section is still at the back of the shop, more as a result of neglect than a thought-out feature though.

Chapters’ true saving grace is in it’s second floor. Nearly equaling the size of the ground floor, upstairs is dedicated to secondhand books and you can nearly always get what you’re looking for there at half the price.

Previous posts:
obsessive blogger | Books Upstairs, College Green
obsessive blogger | Hodges Figgis, Dawson St.
obsessive blogger | Reads of Nassau Street
obsessive blogger | Bookshop Map

About obsessive bloggers | Tuppenceworth.ie

Books Upstairs is celebrating it’s thirtieth year this year. Still housed on College Green in Dublin the shop has become synonymous with the humanities. Owned and run by Maurice Earls (of DRB fame) Books Upstairs holds a long running tradition of knowledgeable, loyal and long-serving (suffering?) staff.

The shop itself is a favourite to most of Dublin’s writers – poets, novelists and playwrights alike all grace the creaky boards regularly. Though not top of my list, Books Upstairs is often best for poetry and literary fiction – both Irish and international – and it remains true to it’s aim of selling good books at good prices.

If anything, I would like to see the shop invigorated with new, younger customers. Located directly opposite the front entrance to Trinity College I always expect it to be laden with undergraduates cradling copies of Milton – an expectation I have never witnessed…

Previous posts:
obsessive blogger | Hodges Figgis, Dawson St.
obsessive blogger | Reads of Nassau Street
obsessive blogger | Bookshop Map

About obsessive bloggers | Tuppenceworth.ie
Thanks Fergal for sending me a badge – one designed by himself, the other by Green Ink. Wearing both with pride.

Continuing the Obsessive Blogger book rant: Dawson Street has been the mecca for Dublin book buyers for as long as I can remember. It once housed Forbidden Planet, Eason-Hanna as well as Waterstones and Hodges Figgis (both owned by HMV).

Hodges Figgis, famously mentioned in Ulysses, is reportedly the largest bookstore in Ireland and stocks 60,000 titles (approx). Specialising in Irish related books, you can spend some comfortable hours between the bargain books basement and the three floors above. It is not always the most cost effective store but it is competitively priced for larger releases and bestsellers. The staff seem to stick to their own areas of interest and each have more than a working knowledge of what books are coming out, been discussed and what is on the shelf (and where).

My favourite service in Hodges Figgis is their dedication to finding a book if it’s not shelved – doesn’t sound like much, but it is surprising how few stores are really interested in getting a book for one customer. The shop is vast and it is easy to get overwhelmed on your first visit but if you have a few hours to spare Hodges Figgis is one place to watch time pass by.

Previous posts:
obsessive blogger | Reads of Nassau Street
obsessive blogger | Bookshop Map

There has been a small reshuffle in bookshops around Dublin lately. Chapters has moved from Abbey Street to their huge new premises on Parnell Street. Easons have finally, after plenty of rumours, closed their Eason-Hanna store on the corner of Dawson Street and just around the corner, Reads (bought by Easons in 2006) has opened a new, larger, dedicated bookstore.

Apart from the abysmal branding of the new Reads store – garishly red facade and chicken scrawl logo – the internal layout of the shop is horrible. With Waterstones and Hodges Figgis within a 2 minute walk, both with four stories of selling space, the new Reads needs to innovate if it is to go up against these two juggernauts. With most of my time spent in the children’s books section of any store I enjoyed the removed room that Easons-Hannas had reserved for young readers. In comparison, Reads has children’s books shelved alongside science fiction, fantasy and adult graphic novels.

Not everything about the new store is negative. Reads look to be trying maintain their edge on selling books at the best price that they can – with a large selection of bestselling and highly acclaimed books available at great prices. But at the cost of the aesthetic pleasure of feeling comfortable in the store, is it worth the saving?

Fergal over on Tuppenceworth is calling for obsessive blog posts – with the promise of a rival fluffy badge if the post is worthy. I have taken ‘obsessive blogger’ to be an open excuse to have a rant about bookstores…

So here’s my plan. I’m going to put together a map, listing all of the bookshops around Dublin initially, and posting a short review with pictures and generally anything that catches my eye.

First up on the block is the new Reads Bookstore on Nassau Street.

View Larger Map