It seems that my recent pieces (here, here and here) on celebrity memoirs were rather more apposite than I could have perhaps anticipated. In a recent article in The Times, it’s being reported that
“[...] cash-strapped consumers are tiring of reading about celebrity lifestyles, and shops have slashed prices of such autobiographies for the crucial Christmas market.”
And about time, too. This is, as I see it, the most fickle of audiences and it was inevitable that — even without the current need for belt-tightening — their appetite for these candyfloss publications would eventually wane.
It would be interesting to see how other areas — such as genre fiction and literature, for example — are holding up. Anyone heard any sales figures?
I read that fiction sales are going well over the holidays, the article didn’t have any statistics though.
It sort of makes sense that they would. In a failiing economy where everyone is becoming more money concious, a $10 book makes a great gift, and it’s $50 cheaper than the latest video game.
Cheers,
Trevas Walker
Trevas: Yes, I suspected that might be the case. It does make sense, doesn’t it? Far cheaper and more longer lasting to buy a book than go to the cinema or for a meal, even.
Teresa:
Unless it’s Poppy Z. Bright, I don’t want to know… and even then, I don’t want to know
Kathleen: That really is comforting news. Getting published is already difficult for new authors, but if the industry is hit hard it can, naturally, only get worse. So far it seems to be faring pretty well. Long may it continue.
Gary, let’s hope fiction is still selling strong! I haven’t heard news of sales, except for the repeated sky-is-falling that print publishing is tanking — from books to newspapers. Ebook sales must be growing as every established press now seems to have an electronic arm and indies are popping up all the time. I understand one mainstream print publisher is starting to sell that booming niche once exclusive to amateur ebook presses: M/M erotica written by and marketed to straight women. I think I prefer pretentious celebrity bios to straight women’s idea of gay male sex. Neither is really honest.
I read an article in a local paper (here in Australia) on the weekend that said bookstores are doing a roaring trade because of the current economic conditions. I’m summarising it, but consumers are buying books and DVDs and takeaway pizza instead of spending all their hard earned (and increasingly worthless) cash on going out!