What is happening at Barnes and Noble? Yesterday, one of Minnesota's favorite authors, William Kent Krueger, blogged on his author Facebook page that he is being prohibited from doing book signings at Barnes and Noble because of the dispute between his publisher, Simon and Schuster, and the book selling giant. Krueger wrote:
"I just learned that I can’t visit any Barnes and Noble store with the release of my upcoming novel "Tamarack County," the thirteenth in the Cork O’Connor series. There’s a spat going on between my publisher, Simon and Schuster, and the bookstore chain. No Simon and Schuster author may visit any Barnes and Noble until further notice."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tcsistersincrime/10150525668702168/#!/williamkentkrueger/posts/609827255703246
News of this problem made it into the PublishersMarketplace post today. The PM story had a response by Simon and Schuster laying the blame at the feet of Barnes and Noble, stating:
"Throughout this period of difficult negotiations our position has been to make available any and all our books B&N has ordered, and we are more than willing to set up author events. If a Simon & Schuster book is not available at B&N, or an author event cannot be scheduled, that is by their decision alone as part of their negotiating strategy, which we view as counter-productive. We have done nothing to diminish our presence of our books and authors at B&N."
The PM story had no response from Barnes and Noble, so I do not know for certain if they are wearing the black hat in this matter, but ultimately they have the final say as to who can enter their stores for a book signing. The final comment on this story can be found in the post of Mr. Kent Krueger, which reads:
[T]his business is difficult enough as it is, and I bust my rear end to sell books. Then this kind of chicanery gets thrown into the mix. I have a friend who used to wear a T-shirt at writers’ conferences: Publishing Business—Isn’t that an oxymoron? Damn straight.
Advertisement
| |
