It's a welcome return to Southcart Books this week for what is not only another gathering of science fiction, fantasy and steampunk authors who will be reading from their various works, but is also an opportunity to congratulate Southcart Books on the first anniversary of their opening.
Life isn't easy for the independent bookshop. There's stiff competition from online retailers; e-books have removed some demand for physical books; and even supermarkets have got in on the act. If you can have your bestseller delivered along with your milk and your tomatoes, whyever would you go to a bookshop?
Actually, that's one reason. Supermarkets tend to stock bestsellers. Online retailers stock a lot more, but it's far less easy to go in and browse. The physical, independent bookshop, such as Southcart, can choose what it puts on its shelves. Southcart is willing to stock works by lesser known authors, and prepared to back them with events such as that coming on Saturday. Southcart can choose to stock a splendid vintage and esoteric section, and indeed, they have chosen so! Plus, how many online retailers have ever offered you a cup of tea and a piece of cake as you browse? None, that's how many?
So happy birthday to Southcart Books. We hope that you have many more.
(Caaaaaaake).
Saturday's event runs from 11:00am til 4:30pm; I'll be reading from my 'Automata Wars' series around 14:10, straight after lunch. And that's where the killer robots of the blog title comes in... we hope to see you there.
Life isn't easy for the independent bookshop. There's stiff competition from online retailers; e-books have removed some demand for physical books; and even supermarkets have got in on the act. If you can have your bestseller delivered along with your milk and your tomatoes, whyever would you go to a bookshop?
Actually, that's one reason. Supermarkets tend to stock bestsellers. Online retailers stock a lot more, but it's far less easy to go in and browse. The physical, independent bookshop, such as Southcart, can choose what it puts on its shelves. Southcart is willing to stock works by lesser known authors, and prepared to back them with events such as that coming on Saturday. Southcart can choose to stock a splendid vintage and esoteric section, and indeed, they have chosen so! Plus, how many online retailers have ever offered you a cup of tea and a piece of cake as you browse? None, that's how many?
So happy birthday to Southcart Books. We hope that you have many more.
(Caaaaaaake).
Saturday's event runs from 11:00am til 4:30pm; I'll be reading from my 'Automata Wars' series around 14:10, straight after lunch. And that's where the killer robots of the blog title comes in... we hope to see you there.
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