Amazon is one of those habits that’s hard to kick. When I need eight-hour tealights with next-day delivery or a copy of some buzzy new book, it’s where I turn, knowing every two weeks I’ll complain about ‘all the bloody cardboard’ while hauling the recycling kerbside.
I want to be the kind of person who supports local bookstores, despite the fact that my nearest is an eight-mile contraflow drive past roadworks that show no sign of ever ending. When a shop posts that it needs to sell just eight more books to keep the lights on for another week, I click through, determined to pledge support by buying from anywhere but Amazon.
First thing I check is: do they stock my book? Because there’s no excuse not to list it on their site, even if limited shelf space precludes stocking a sale-or-return copy. It’s available through Gardners, and three weeks back, I signed and sold a dozen copies at a local bookstore.
Independent authors who are serious about competing with big-name writers turn to hard-working publicists. These genius insiders work their contacts, drumming up blog tours, reviews, listicles, feature-based interviews, along with spots on podcasts and radio shows. I sit back and watch the sales notch up – through Amazon. It’s all but impossible for smaller authors to get even one foot in the door of independent bookstores. I was lucky to get support from Birmingham’s Heath Bookshop and my local Waterstones, but for every yes, I hear a dozen different takes on no.
Despite weeks of glowing reviews, blanket social media coverage, and articles in both print and online magazines, the vast majority of my money comes from one or other Jeff Bezos-backed website. Amazon reaps the rewards.
Don’t get me wrong, all I care about is that my books reach readers. It’s incredibly frustrating though to be dismissed for lacking the support of a big-four team who might also offer discounts on a box of ghostwritten romcoms from a One Show regular. I want to break my Amazon habit and buy all my books from people who care about publishing.
Independent bookstores are vital cultural hubs that foster community and champion diverse voices. As an author, I deeply value the personal connections and the passion booksellers bring to their work. It’s a shame that the ecosystem we work so hard to support often sees the benefits diverted to online giants.
Platforms like Bookshop.org bridge the gap by supporting local bookstores while offering the convenience of online shopping. However, there’s no substitute for the direct support and presence in our cherished local bookshops. By working together, we can ensure that the vibrant culture of independent bookstores thrives and that authors, regardless of their publishing background, have a fair chance to reach their audience.
Am I being unreasonable?
Mo Fanning has contributed to 100 Stories for Haiti and written for the Observer travel section. His first novel The Armchair Bride was nominated for Arts Council Book of the Year, and his work was turned into a short play for BBC America. The follow-ups, Rebuilding Alexandra Small and Ghosted have established Mo Fanning as a leading voice in LGBTQ romantic comedy novels. His latest novel, Husbands: Love and Lies in La La Land (Spring Street Press), is available from all good book retailers now.
