I read this in Goodreads:
"With the advent of digital reading and the popularity of social
media interaction with bestselling authors, an interesting
phenomenon is taking place. Reading consumers are developing not
only a loyal following of their favorite authors, but also
developing a measure of brand loyalty to certain publishers. For
their part, publishers have responded with shopping websites where
readers can purchase digital and print titles, as well as other
potential perks like being selected to read content before it is
officially released."Well, well, well. Silverfish Books started this trend 12 years ago and have been advocating the creation of strong brand-recognition ever since. There was a time when book imprints meant something. In the seventies, one never went wrong choosing a Faber and Faber for good contemporary (literary) fiction and a Penguin for the classics. Later, big houses came out with premier imprints like Vintage and Picador. Then there were the Serpent's Tails and Harvills for the even more eclectic. Then everything disintegrated and became a boring soup, making book discovery a real pain. Fifty Shades was published under Vintage. Need I say more!
The book industry (the Anglo-American version at least) became a fast-food outlet selling burgers and oily fries to the masses. That market will not go away; there will be enough children to keep it profitable. But adults, after showing some initial interest, will crave for something more in their lives. New restaurants will open for them to enjoy good meals, instead of a pizza takeaway everyday; an occasional haute cuisine, even.
The book industry will evolve likewise."... UK-based publisher Five Leaves Publications is opening an actual brick-and-mortar bookstore in response to the need for more independent book shops, as well as a way to further the discovery of its client list. This will be the first independent bookstore to open in the store’s area of Nottingham since 2000."
Three cheers to Five Leaves Publicatons. Hip hip hooray! x3
