Barnes & Noble is a major player in the book industry, but they recently adopted a new policy that is likely to harm authors. This is because they have banned the sale of books by authors from black and Latino communities. And they are also making it difficult for writers to sell their books through their online store. In other words, this policy is anti-competitive and Barnes & Noble new policy harms authors.
Kelly Yang’s Front Desk by Scholastic
A new policy by Barnes and Noble may be good for the cash register, but it’s bad news for authors. The new policy, which will phased in over a period of several months, will be to reject middle grade novels that don’t have a track record of strong sales. As well, a good number of children’s books will ban. It’s all part of an effort to make the company more competitive with Amazon and other brick and mortar bookstores.
However, the company has not officially confirmed the change. Nonetheless, the good folks at the book chain have begun sending out rejection notices to prospective writers. While we’re waiting for an official statement, we can’t help but wonder why such a blatantly discriminatory move made in the first place. This isn’t the only time we’ve seen a book retailer snub an aspiring author. Luckily, there are other ways to get your name out there.
One of the best ways to do so is to read books written by authors of color. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to find a book store with a large enough selection. In many cases, you travel to a different state to get your fix. Fortunately, there are sites such as BookMob which allow you to read books by the pound. Another option is to visit a book store close to your home. If you’re going to shop at a big box retailer, it’s worth your while to shop around and see which one has the best selection for your needs.
It’s also not a bad idea to check out some of the best books from local publishers. Some local libraries have a library card program, which will let you borrow books on a pay-as-you-go basis. Similarly, you can buy books online and have them delivered to your door, should your local bookstore not have what you’re looking for. And if you really want to show your support for authors of color, you can do the next best thing and volunteer to read a few books with them. You’ll be supporting a worthy cause and making friends along the way. Just be sure to use a credit card with a high enough minimum purchase limit. Until then, you’re best-off sticking to your local indie book stores.
B&N’s 2020 Black Lives Matter policy
While the folks at B&N will no doubt have the final say, the best we can do is to offer our congratulations and a smattering of their finest in the spirit of the open door. Among their most notable customers is our favorite customer, the e-book shopper. Nevertheless, there are no hard feelings here, but a little tinkering might go a long way in the long term. This has been the genesis of an ongoing dialogue amongst their top brass. We’ve been able to learn their best and worst of breed, and how to improve upon them for the better.
Having been a fan of the company for years, the best part is knowing that we’re not alone. Hopefully, the discussions here will serve as a springboard to a better tomorrow. Best of all, the company has a proven track record of customer service, not to mention the sexiest employees you’ll ever meet. In short, a great place to shop for books and more. With that said, we’re a little jaded after all these years.
Barnes & Noble’s anti-competitive policy
A decision by Barnes & Noble to stop selling some hardcover debuts is a huge setback for authors. For starters, it’s limiting the exposure of young authors of color. It’s also a step that will hurt any author from a lower-income background.
This policy will also negatively affect children’s books. Young readers often find their books by browsing the bookstores with their parents. Consequently, the decision will reduce the number of books in print for people of all ages.
While B&N’s decision to limit hardcovers for some middle-grade debuts will help some authors, it’s a bad deal for many others. Most authors must hit certain sales thresholds to get a paperback version. They’ll only be able to get one or two copies of the hardcover edition before B&N stops selling the book. In turn, these authors will be unable to gain the readership they need for their books.
Meanwhile, B&N has been telling publishers that they need to better market their titles. To do this, they’ve been giving them special discounts on their services. They’ve also been offering inventory control and display services to favored purchasers.
The changes are part of an effort by the publisher’s corporate to shift to a new business model. However, it’s unclear whether the company will put such efforts into practice. Although some bestselling authors are speaking out on social media and Twitter, a spokesperson for HarperCollins, the book publisher, has not responded to inquiries.
B&N is one of the biggest monopolies in the book world. With a market share of 69%, the retailer has the power to influence what people read and where they buy it. However, they have to pay employees’ salaries. Laying off employees will hurt their ability to sell books. And the stores have to pay for electricity and rent, which are both necessary for running the store.
It’s also important to remember that Barnes & Noble does not directly own or operate these bookstores. They’re sold by third parties. Their online operations ship books from warehouses, and they charge a shipping fee. So, they’re playing a very different game than Amazon, which is also a major retailer.
Even as Barnes & Noble is struggling to keep its stores open, it’s trying to attract new customers with in-store events. It’s been working with publishers to develop exclusive book offerings. But the company’s policy will only promote big name titles, and not books written by underrepresented authors.
Authors are expressing frustration over the policy. On Twitter, they’ve created a thread that’s become a popular discussion. One of the authors, Kelly Yang, is a New York Times bestselling author. She is skeptical of the changes and says she doesn’t see them as a positive change for authors.
Recommended reading: Homer and His Epic Poems
