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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Books Nancy Pearl Launching Publishing Line with Amazon.com

Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 11:00 AM

I told you about the rumors last week, and Amazon.com just confirmed the deal with a press release: Nancy Pearl is bringing her Book Lust brand to Amazon.com's publishing wing with Book Lust Rediscoveries...

...a line of Pearl’s favorite, presently out-of-print books to share with readers hungry for her expert recommendations. Book Lust Rediscoveries will publish approximately six books a year and will be made available for sale in print editions via Amazon.com and as audiobooks via Amazon.com and Audible.com, at bookstores, wholesalers and libraries nationwide and as eBooks in the Kindle Store (www.amazon.com/kindlestore). Pearl’s literary agent, Victoria Sanders of Victoria Sanders & Associates LLC, represented her in this deal. To learn more about Book Lust Rediscoveries, visit www.amazon.com/BookLustRediscoveries.

This can only help extend Pearl's Book Lust brand to a broader audience, but the local story is a little more complicated. As I wrote back on Friday, Pearl built her fame on a career at Seattle Public Library and through partnerships with local bookstores. Many of the local librarians and independent booksellers who supported her can't stand Amazon.com, which means that things could get a little awkward around here real soon.

Comments (15) RSS

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Indeed, I'm disappointed that Nancy Pearl, who is such a champion of underrepresented books/authors, is not also choosing to be a pro-active champion of independent bookstores in the face of everpresent commercial threats from behemoth Amazon. I think it's a great idea to revive out-of-print faves, but wouldn't it be possible to try such a venture with an indie publisher?

Posted by saucyb on January 11, 2012 at 11:18 AM

A new edition of the Librarian Action Figure is going to have a little Kindle Fire that she can use to scan the prices of things at brick and mortar stores.

Posted by Zebes

on January 11, 2012 at 11:25 AM

Bookstores refuse to buy books published by Amazon. Is it bringing a book back in print if the only place you can buy it is Amazon?

Posted by Kolodny Brothers on January 11, 2012 at 11:45 AM

Nancy Pearl used independent bookstores from the beginning of her time in Seattle. I remember her waddling into the store where I worked, eyes bulging with eager curiosity, taking hours of Roy Overstreet's time as she immersed herself in the knowledge that is contained in a good bookstore. And independent bookstores supported her rather derivative (staff recs anyone?) helpful hints for readers with which she filled several volumes published by a small local press. I suppose that in joining forces with Amazon, she's found her own level at last--unfortunate but not surprising. I hope she enjoys purchasing prime display space at B&Ns across the country--

Posted by JanetBrown

on January 11, 2012 at 11:47 AM

Independent bookstores refuse to buy books published by Amazon. Is it bringing a book back in print if the only place you can buy it is Amazon?

Posted by Kolodny Brothers on January 11, 2012 at 11:51 AM

While it's obvious that Amazon isn't an "indie bookseller", is it really fair to consider them a major publisher?

Posted by Josh Bis

on January 11, 2012 at 11:53 AM

Note: Nancy Pearl will be at UW Bookstore Friday evening (to interview or have a conversation with Jo Walton). So if you need to ask her a question in person, there's your chance.

Posted by stinkbug on January 11, 2012 at 12:03 PM

I'm conflicted on the Amazon element of this. But I do like this part: "Nancy Pearl has committed to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sales of books in the Book Lust Rediscoveries to the Nancy Pearl Endowment for Public Librarianship at the University of Washington’s Information School."

Posted by Meg on January 11, 2012 at 12:36 PM

@ 4 - "waddling"?

Posted by merry on January 11, 2012 at 12:40 PM

Well, the main point we should all pay attention to is that Indie bookstore CAN'T sell these books, or any Amazon books-- not because we're being vindictive, but because Amazon undercuts us on their own website.
They will offer these books at standard publishing discounts (say, 44% retailer discount) and then sell the book on their site at that discount (or close to it), while the retailer has to sell it at list price to reap any sort of profit. Look up any AmazonCrossing title and see it's discounted price... What's the point of a bookstore carrying a title if there's steep discounting? It's to be Amazon's showroom. Before it's always been ambigious, but now it would be overt.

It's a rigged game and nobody's paying attention to this aspect at all.

Posted by Vlad on January 11, 2012 at 12:41 PM

This is the American Dream, equivalent to selling the Stranger to Murdoch.

Posted by bedipped on January 11, 2012 at 12:47 PM

I am shocked and dismayed that Paul wrote a story that includes the word "Amazon.com" with absolutely zero demonization, vitriol, or moral indignation. Sure, there's the always-popular "some say" attribution of dislike, but even that's weak tea.

Paul, are you feeling OK? Did you accidentally cut the "of course, copies will be printed on the flesh of aborted gay babies harvested by Amazon & Santorum's secret project to sterilize non-Christians" sentence? Where is the anger and outrage?

Posted by also on January 11, 2012 at 1:21 PM

@12 - FTW!

Posted by sisyphusgal on January 11, 2012 at 1:29 PM