The Next Generation is Buying Books
By Jerry D. Simmons | March 21st, 2007 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
There was a recent article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer titled “Teens buying books at fastest rate in decades,” written by P-I Reporter Cecelia Goodnow. The article states that “It’s a time of strong writing and strong sales as readers in the 12-18 age group rock the marketplace.” Booklist magazine critic Michael Cart, a leading authority on young adult literature, says that “Kids are buying books in quantities we’ve never seen before, and publishers are courting young adults in ways we haven’t seen.”
“The credit goes to Harry Potter, a bulging teen population, and a surge of global talent as the preteen Muggles of yesteryear carry an imagined reading habit into later adolescence,” says reporter Goodnow. She goes on to say that “Older teens in particular are enjoying a surge of sophisticated fare as young adult literature becomes a global phenomenon. Fantasy and graphic novels are especially hot, and adventure, romance, humor and gritty coming-of-age tales remain perennial favorites.”
This speaks volumes to the potential impact on the publishing industry over the next ten years. The trend among adult readers over the past decade has shown a decline in the number of books purchased. A young adult surge would indicate the future of publishing and bookselling has a pulse. It also speaks to the potential of a global community of writers with a platform to expand their own market for Independently Published books. Traditional book retailing must change to go with the times, sales of books via the world wide web is the future and as long as the major publishers continue to sit on the sidelines and rely on Amazon the better opportunity for Independent Writers.
This blog is unedited, please disregard mistakes in spelling and grammar.
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