Indie versus Big Chain Booksellers

During my hike around Lake Michigan I visited independent bookstores along the lakeshore. I love indie bookstores. The people who own and manage and work in the indies are knowledgeable about literature and they love books.

And I love books.

I was a reader long before I was a writer or hiker, so I know the value of a good bookstore. And there IS a difference between a big chain or online bookseller and the independents.

I live in Battle Creek where the only bookstore is a Barnes & Noble.

Do I go there? Yes.
Do I buy books there? Rarely.

It's great for my little town to have ANY bookstore (B&N wasn't even here when I moved here), so I support it by buying coffee and games and greeting cards and music and movies and newspapers there.

And my book is on the shelf there, which I appreciate.

But I buy most of my books from independents either nearby or in communities around Lake Michigan.

On my website, you'll see a link to buy my books from Brilliant Books in Suttons Bay, Michigan. I have partnered with Brilliant Books because it's a great indie and I launched my book there.

That's another thing that the indies do:
they support emerging writers.

If you are a writer and you buy your books on Amazon or at the big chains, you are jeopardizing your own future as a writer because it is the indies that will work with you to build your career. Just as the smaller publishers will take a chance on publishing you before the big New York houses will.

Here is an excerpt from a blog post by Mara Lynn Luther, the owner of Chapter One Book Store, an independent bookstore in Montana.
It will give you a window into the life and frustrations
of the indie bookseller.

"Confessions of an Unapologetic Indie"

"I'm not an economic priest. My bookstore is not a confessional. I'm tired of handing out 'Hail Locals' to guilt-riddled shoppers. If you bought a Kindle as your sole reading device, you have cut out your local bookstore when there are options for e-readers that don't eliminate indies. It's your choice, but don't come whining to me that you really want to shop local, but you have to be 'smart about your money.' I agree, you should be smart about your money. You should know that local businesses hand out thousands of dollars worth of donations and items to schools, organizations, and clubs throughout your community every year. Maybe shopping local isn't a priority for you. Fine. Talk to Amazon about donating a silent auction item for your son's school trip to D.C. and ask for a discount on books purchased for your school district. I'm sure Wal-Mart would sell your dance recital tickets or put a bucket on the counter for summer camp applications. Maybe Costco will supply the food for a fund-raiser, but I doubt it."

Check out the entire post here.

Mara brings up a good point about e-readers. If you use a Kindle you can ONLY get books from Amazon.com. If you choose a Nook (or other e-reader), you can buy your e-books from many indies that sell e-books.

Tales from the BOOK TOUR...part 5

I have been going to a variety of venues on my book tour. Bookstores are the obvious first stop for an author with a new book, and I've been to many great indie bookstores so far (and have many more scheduled through the next few months).

A 1000-Mile Walk on the Beach has taken me to less traditional book tour stops.

I've been to senior centers, retirement communities, the Inland Seas Education Association, Kingman Museum, Cottage and Lakefront Living Show, several libraries, and a fundraiser for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Whew!

Coming up, the book will take me to REI Stores in several states to
lecture about my adventure and my favorite gear from my hike. I'll also share my secrets for keeping my feet happy for 1,000 miles.

(Okay, my feet were pretty UNhappy for the first 400 miles or so until I learned these tricks.)

Here's a bit of video from the tour this month. A big thanks to Sunset Retirement's Waterford Campus for hosting a reading/signing and for choosing me to be their featured speaker at a dinner that evening. Also in this clip, The Nature Connection Store of Kalamazoo had me sign books during the city's monthly Art Hop. Then I did a reading and signing at Saturn Booksellers in Gaylord, Michigan. I had a fantastic time!







Breaking news:

A 1000-Mile Walk on the Beach was just named a finalist in the
Science/Nature/Environment category of the
2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards!

Monday Night Live

I was featured on Monday Night Live, a cable access talk show in Kalamazoo hosted by the charming Keith Roe.

Mr. Roe is Kalamazoo's own James Lipton,
and Monday Night Live is his
Inside the Actor's Studio.

That's how I felt being on the show. Gloria Tiller was also there (as she is every second Monday of the month) with Keith. Gloria is the owner of Kazoo Books in (where else) Kalamazoo!

Click HERE to view the episode.

I had a lovely time on the show. A big thanks to Keith and Gloria for the energizing conversation about writing, the publishing process, and my adventure of walking all the way around Lake Michigan!

NPR Piece About the Great Lakes Fish Hatcheries

Invasive species are eroding the food web and both native fish and "planted" fish from hatcheries (like Chinook salmon) are struggling to find food in the Great Lakes.

Here's a short piece from NPR about the situation.

Jean Klock Park

Joseph Harris, the emergency manager appointed to take over Benton Harbor, may also help facilitate a land-grab of Benton Harbor's Jean Klock Park.

This park was deeded to the city in perpetuity in 1917 for the use of Benton Harbor residents.

IN PERPETUITY.

There is a plan already underway to develop the city's lakeshore and to grab this park to build luxury homes and part of the golf course that is already under construction nearby.

Here's what the Michigan Messenger reports:

The Emergency Financial Manager of the city of Benton Harbor has issued an order stripping all city boards and commissions of all their authority to take any action.

The order, signed Thursday, limits the actions available to such bodies to calling a meeting to order, approving the minutes of meetings and adjourning a meeting. The bodies are prohibited under the act from taking any other action without the express authority of the Emergency Financial Manager, Joseph Harris.

Actions such as Harris’ are explicitly allowed under a newly approved law which granted sweeping new powers to emergency financial managers. That legislation had drawn large protests, including attempts by some protesters to take over the state capitol building. The sit-in resulted in numerous arrests.

And reporting on the Rachel Maddow Show:

Daniel Burnham's plan for Chicago was to keep the lakeshore open and undeveloped so that the citizens and visitors to that great city could enjoy the lake.

I guess the new vision is to push poor people out of the way, take power from their elected officials, grab their parks, and build luxury home for the wealthy.

If lakeshore access is restricted to only those with means, then the lake becomes a possession instead of what it should be: a natural resource and treasure that all should be allowed to enjoy freely.

Fan Mail!

There is that moment in the life of a published writer when their book goes out into the world.

The writer wishes it well.

And then the waiting begins...and the questions:

Will the book find readers? Will readers find the book? What will readers think? Will they share it? Tell others about it?

I have been extremely thankful that some of my readers have taken the time to write e-mails or letters to me to tell me that they read and enjoyed -- and are now sharing -- my book.

Here are just a few excerpts from the fan mail I have received.

Have always thought I knew much about my Lake, but your book certainly opened my eyes and has given me some destinations for exploring! Thanks for sharing your vision, experiences, love to such a vital resource! Can't wait to send your book to my sister in New Jersey! We grew up near Sleeping Bear and I know she will enjoy your story too!

You have accomplished a feat that will inspire thousands of people. Pressing on through the trials and hardships says a lot about your strength of spirit.

I have finished your book and it was wonderful. You are one brave lady to go so much of the way alone and in such desolate areas and dangerous areas. There were so many times I felt like was there on the walk with you. Your descriptions painted the scenes so well.

Some were from fellow hikers:

So many people have called or written to me to tell me about your story -- I just want you to know that it warmed my heart every time someone mentioned it. There's not many like us out there. I know the high moments, I know the low moments . . . and I know the ability to just keep moving on.

You have rekindled our fire, and we will definitely get a couple more segments of our own trek completed this summer. Our ultimate goal is the lighthouse at the end of the Leelanau peninsula.

And some people were even inspired to take action:

I think you have given me the idea of what I might get involved in when I retire. The lake and its preservation would be a fitting endeavor to a lifelong love with the Great Lakes.
Thank you for writing this book and taking this journey.

Thank you all so much
for taking the time to write!

Tales from the BOOK TOUR...part 4

This has been a great month on my book tour.

Thank you to the Friends of Allen Park Library who hosted me last night at the Leo Paluch Retirement Center.



In this first photo, I'm with my Aunt Nancy's friend, Rita.



The second photo is with Malcolm Alestra and Marge.








The last photo is (left to right), my mom (Theresa Rugel) me, my Great Uncle Teddy, and Great Aunt Nancy.

As I expand my events to the east side of Michigan, I am meeting up with many people I know. You see, I spent the majority of my life living on the east side of the state in the greater metro Detroit area including a few years living in downtown Detroit while my husband studied at medical school and I got my Masters degree from Wayne State Univeristy.

The event in Allen Park was organized by my Great Aunt Nancy who volunteers for the Friends of Allen Park Libraries and I was honored to be introduced by her at the event.

I will do a book signing at a fundraiser for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on April 28th in Kalamazoo.

I have a packed schedule of events through the summer. Please check the sidebar here or Author Appearances page on my website: LakeTrek.com

I am thrilled to talk about Lake Michigan
with others who care about this Greatest of Lakes.

Say goodbye to the ice...

Spring is approaching and the ice is receding from the shores of Lake Michigan.






























Say goodbye to the snow-topped dock supports,

the shelf ice, the icicles,

and the boulders of ice clunking together in the surf.

Welcome Spring!

Tales from the BOOK TOUR...part 3

March was a big month for my book tour. I launched my book in northern Michigan by giving readings, book signings, and lectures. I was even hired as a speaker at the Cottage & Lakefront Living Show in Grand Rapids. And I partnered with Grocer's Daughter Chocolates (voted one of the TOP 5 CHOCOLATIERS in the NATION) and Black Star Farms (one of my favorite places to stay near the lake) for the show.

I gave a reading to a packed house at Kazoo Books in Kalamazoo last night. Thanks to everyone who came to the event!

I have a packed schedule of events through the summer. Please check the sidebar here or Author Appearances page on my website: LakeTrek.com

I am thrilled to talk about Lake Michigan
with others who care about this Greatest of Lakes.