Big-Box-Bookstores and the Future of Literature

I visited a Chapters I haven't been to in quite some time. (I won't specify which one as I believe I've been unofficially blacklisted, but I'll get to that later.)

I was surprised. Disappointed actually.

From a year ago it's local author section had been reduced from a full rack of shelves in prime real estate facing the adjoining Starbucks, to a single row on an obscure shelf tucked away off the main corridor, the majority of its space taken up by numerous copies of a single mediocre author's books.

Wandering about the store, the fact did not miss my attention that, between the toys and Lego section and vast choice of children's clothing and knickknacks, it was easily in excess of 40% of the floor space. (Talk about the value of a bookstore's real estate.) Hardly a bookstore anymore. More of a.... I'm not sure what.

It felt like the end of an era. My books haven't graced the shelves of this particular store in over 2 years. Where I had done book signings here usually twice a year, I haven't been able to secure a date for the past 2 years, regardless of easily 6 to 9 months notice.

And this is the part I find interesting: I believe it might be over the issue of a particular opinion I hold. I have diplomatically voiced this opinion a few years ago on radio:

It is my belief that larger Big-Box-Bookstores need to better support local authors - need to support literature at its grassroots level.

To the retail chain that only promos and exclusively carries big names (at the expense of its local talent) have essential adopted a pirate's philosophy: "Take all you can. Give nothing back!"

I believe the larger bookstores have a responsibility to promote and help out up-and-coming writers; that they have an obligation to invest at a grassroots level. ALL successfully authors have, at some point in their early careers, been “small and local.” An industry that picks and promotes only the big names exclusively for large profits will ultimately undermine and collapse the entire industry itself.

I had a brief email exchange from the manager of this particular location. My lack of ability to secure a book signing event date, or even renew a consignment contract at this location, seems to coincidentally correspond with this very same time.

In my documentation necessary for my nomination for the 2020-21 Parliamentary Poet Laureate, I cite this in my letter of intent should I actually be chosen for this position. I believe the retail literary landscape of Canada is on need of change.

Let's not paint with a broad brush. My experiences with numerous other locations across the city have been nothing but supportive, receptive and encouraging. Scheduling book signing dates and consignment contracts have been easy.

So, what are we seeing? Are we seeing the collapse of literature? Are we seeing the end of self-publishing and the indie-author? Are we seeing the small-mindedness of a single store manager? Or are we seeing the big-box-bookstores' loss of focus. Are we seeing the rise of the indie-author - and more importantly - a migration of the Canadian literary landscape?

I believe Canada's literary landscape is changing, and we must rise to meet these changes.

If you are a writer, an aspiring author, a reader, a publisher, or retail bookstore, these are questions that should be important to you.

Where do you stand? What are you willing to do? What can we do?