Some of you may have noticed the new logo posted on my sidebar. For over 10 years now, I have been a huge fan of Quail Ridge Books here in Raleigh, NC. I continued to be a customer even when I moved out of state for two years. I recently went to a WONDERFUL book-signing there by Elizabeth Edwards.
At that time, I made it my mission to promote the use of independent bookstores. In the case of Quail Ridge Books, like so many other independent bookstores, their very existence is threatened by the presence of Amazon and big-box bookstores. But what I have found is that the selection, quality and customer service of a good independent bookstore cannot compete with Amazon or the big stores with escalators and coffee shops. Independents seek out book LOVERS rather than book SELLERS as employees. They go way above and beyond to help you find what you are looking for and to get you what you need...even if you walk in saying something non-sensical like, "OK, it was the book with the blue cover and I think it had a tree on it and I think the author's last name starts with a T."
After my post about supporting local, independent bookstores, I was invited by BookSense to become an affiliate. I had already started linking my cover art to Quail Ridge Books rather than Amazon (which seems to have some kind of deal with Type Pad because if you post a book using the ISBN # it automatically posts the link to Amazon).
Now, if you click on the logo on my blog, it will take you to a page where you enter your zip code and it will take you to a list of local independents from which you can order. In my experience, their prices and shipping policies are comparable to Amazon. The communication about your order often takes place with a real person. If you click on the logo on my blog and end up ordering something, I will get some kind of nominal compensation. I'm not really sure how much...so far all I've figured out is how to put the logo up with my affiliate ID in it.
I am pretty sure that I am not going to become wealthy with the proceeds, but I will be doing my part to promote local, independent bookstores...and I am committing to donating 25% of the proceeds to Books for Kids.
"Books for Kids (a non-profit organization) is devoted to making books available to kids at no cost and to promote the love of reading in the children of North Carolina. Of course, that takes money on the front end from people who share our mission. This organization seeks to raise funds to provide books for children working through a variety of qualified groups. The Salvation Army, YMCA, numerous churches, shelters, orphanages as well as various state agencies are examples of organizations Books for Kids might work with."
The Board Members of Books for Kids include: Elizabeth Edwards, Nancy Olson (owner of Quail Ridge Books), along with noted Southern authors Margaret Maron and Kaye Gibbons and a host of other local philanthropists.
So, I am not going to be all demure and "shop where you like"...I am shamelessly begging you to go through my blog and click on my Book Sense link whenever you are on-line shopping for books. It will be good for everyone! When I have more time, I am going to learn to link my cover art directly to a description of the book so you don't have to enter your zip code every time. But give me time on that. I'm a little busy. So bear with me while I get this thing up and running and figure out all the ins and outs. In the meantime...there is still plenty of time to shop for the holidays...click here if you are going to buy books!
Happy book shopping!
Di
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