Bookstore Racks: Tributes of Love or Money??

I’ve been an avid reader since the days of Ramona Quimby, the Baby Sitter’s Club and Nancy Drew.


So I thought I knew a few things about books. Which authors to love, how to find the latest titles, where to get the best deals and so forth.


After becoming an author however, and getting a tiny sneak peek into the industry behind the “Employee Only” doors, I’m always stunned by the amount of info I didn’t know.

For example, did you know, that books placed on center table displays in bookstores aren’t there because your book store pre-read them and loved them? Being stuck in that aisle spot is not your local bookstore clerk’s way of personally recommending them to you.


Most of the time, books land on those display tables, the end racks, or the promotional box-displays because…guess what?…their publisher PAID for premium eye space. Same goes for eye-level shelving or books turned to face you–so that their entire cover is shown rather than just the binding.


Similarly, in the online bookstores, Amazon or the other power-houses offering “Search Inside” or “Buy this book with this other related one” types of options are also not Amazon bending over backward to make sure you get the titles they deem enjoyable. Those sort of connections also come at a price point.


Every day is another lesson in what I do not know about books. But, not to worry, I’m still reading them by the dozen…I just try to be a conscious shopper and venture away from the commercial recommendations here and there.