A recent analysis showed Alaska is, for the moment, the only state in the union where the economy is expanding. Hopefully that means Alaskan books will also continue to sell, especially if our state’s recent notoriety results in an uptick in tourist travel.
It’s no secret that the bigger picture for publishing is not so rosy. Publisher’s Weekly reports on a recent address by Carolyn Reidy in which the CEO of Simon & Schuster calls for industry reform in these difficult times, citing declining backlist sales, demands by retailers, and the overall economic nosedive among the hurdles publishers face.
From authors to retailers, we’d all be happy to see positive industry reforms along with indications that books really are recession proof. While brand names continue to do well, authors may do better writing than selling that breakout book. No one’s taking risks these days.