BOOKSHOP SALES – SOME POSITIVE NEWS

Authors generally, but especially those living in Australia, and particularly those residing in Western Australia, would have been heartened to read a recent page 3 introductory article in the Sunday Times newspaper.

The article titled “Readers rejoice as bookshops spring up in volumes” goes on to explain that the coronavirus pandemic has “propelled book sales to heights not enjoyed for years.”

The full story continues in the Sunday Times Magazine and several bookshop proprietors were quoted, all enthusiastic about the resurgence of interest in books and the noticeable increase in customers coming into stores.

Of late, three new bookshops have opened in the CBD of Perth, adding to the many others already established there. Carolina Holland, curation director of Perth’s newest bookshop, Edicole, located in Postal Hall in the State Buildings hopes, “the sanctuary people found in books during COVID restrictions is echoed when they step into the shop. It’s a place to shake off the city and browse among luxury coffee-table books, enduring older titles and a smart selection of the latest literary fiction.”

While a large percentage of book sales do occur online, there can be no doubt, that there is still no substitute for being able to physically pick up and flick through a book, to decide if it is the one for you.

At present, “The Race Car Toby Built” is still only available through online stores, but hopefully, one day, it will be available to purchase directly from bricks and mortar stores.

The article goes on to report that, “Due to coronavirus, international authors have been unable to travel to Australia to do book tours. However, local authors have been the beneficiaries. People still want face to face interaction, and this has allowed Australian and WA authors to find a stronger market.”

Written by journalist Alison Wakeham, the article points to a bright future for bricks and mortar bookshops and is positive about the continuing level of interest in books, as people rediscover the joy of a good read.

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