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The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Reader The convergence of several trends leaves the book-buying public out in the cold. by Colin Robinson, co-publisher of OR Books. “TO read a novel is a difficult and complex art,” Virginia Woolf wrote in a 1925 essay, “How to Read a Book.” Today, with our powers of concentration atrophied by the staccato communication of the Internet and attention easily diverted to addictive entertainment on our phones and tablets, book-length reading is harder still. It’s not just more difficult to find the time and focus that a book demands. Longstanding allies of the reader, professionals who have traditionally provided guidance for those picking up a book, are disappearing fast. The broad, inclusive conversation around interesting titles that such experts helped facilitate is likewise dissipating. Reading, always a solitary affair, is increasingly a lonely one. A range of related factors have brought this to a head. Start with the publishing companies: Overall book sales have been anemic in recent years, declining 6 percent in the first half of 2013 alone. But the profits of publishers have remained largely intact; in the same period only one of what were then still the “big six” trade houses reported a decline on its bottom line. This is partly because of the higher margins on e-books. But it has also been achieved by publishers cutting costs, especially for mid-list titles. Read the rest of this article at the NY Times.

See the first footage from Black & Write - A documentary on black authors and the publishing business. C. Mikki, Ifalade Ta'Shia Asanti, Bryan-Keyth Wilson, Kim Johnson, Sherrice Thomas, Pat Tucker, Nakia R. Laushaul, Renee Daniel Flagler, Kim Green, Dr. Jacqueline Green, Takeyah Young, Jamillah M. Warner, LaVonda Howard, Dr. Venise Berry, James Jackson, Faynetta Lavergne Burrle, Irma Bryant, Dr. Linda F. Beed, Kimberly A. Bibbs, Kim Johnson, Patricia Haley, Tia Ross, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9JmfGVEgco

http://aalbc.it/cherylwade Continuing my focus on highlighting the literary output of married couples today's couple for my "Authors Your Should Know" spotlight are Wade and Cheryl Hudson, founder of Just Us Books. If this type of material is of interest or important to you please consider sharing with friends and associates. From my perspective successes like these deserve more attention. Of course few platforms expend the resources to share stories about married couples because it generates very little interest -- unless the marriage has gone horribly wrong. The trend is getting worse -- lets try to reverse it.

Please share the latest AALBC.com eNewsletter with anyone you think would appreciate (or need) it. This is the direct link: http://aalbc.it/augbooks or you ay click the image below. I really can use your support. Thanks!

Check out AALBC.com's Latest eNewsletter -- full of information on Books and Film! http://aalbc.com/current.htm Let me know what you think I can always use more constructive criticism -- thanks

I had the pleasure of speaking in a couple of the short video biographies, on American novelists, created by Bio.com, which is part of the A+E Television Networks. I spoke briefly about James Baldwin and Langston Hughes. http://aalbc.it/aebios

Eight women partner in the Secret Society of Women Writers (ssOww) to write a controversial, comical and enlightening book abou weight and body image. Add hit-man for hire, child abuse, race relationships, gender (LGBT), questionable parenting, rejection based on being skinny and acceptance based on fat is just a taste of what is in store for the readers of the intricate look at the lives of women who share everything, owning their truth. We invite you to read a sample chapter of the the book at http://www.fatracistbook.com and we would love for you to help us with a question we have. We are trying to pick the best title and be authentic about the context verses just using words for the title. There are alot of people are "racist" against themselves when it comes to weight and body image. Judging themselves and no one else is. The writers are taking a deep look at their own stories to help other women and men who have had these issues of self-defeat. Please take our 1-2 minute easy survey to help us pick the best title. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/C5JGGKD . If you have any questions, feel free to email me.