Yes, to all of this. As someone who writes book reviews on her own site (for fun, for reading, for thoughtfulness), I also urge the Times to look for indies like myself. I've been doing it for 15 years for zero dollars. And yes, there are those of us who take awesome book photos, they just don't use them in ads for some reason! This was an editorial for the upcoming Savannah Book Festival at Flannery O'Connor's home. I'm partial b/c I was on the house board at the time, but I love how creative and bookish it is. https://www.savannahnow.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/2022/02/16/2022-savannah-book-festival-flannery-oconnor-childhood-home/6783587001/
As for an app, I highly recommend The StoryGraph. Totally indie, Black-woman owned and she does all the coding herself. Paid upgrades available but the free version is still very awesome.
Beautifully done Amy! This is a huge service to everyone in the book world-- authors, publishers, publicists, bookstores, online book types as well as newspapers and media. I hope the NYTimes receives this and picks up some of the terrific ideas here... and I hope all of us book lovers expand how we think about sharing our books and the books we're reading. Thank you!
Also get the NY Times to lower the cost of a print subscription in the mail of the weekly Book Review . I would love to peruse it for the whole month but it’s way too pricey!! And my town doesn’t have a place to buy the paper copy of the Sunday NYTimes - sad but true.
I've had a Sunday NYTimes subscription for years. I live in Florida these days, used to live in CT. Unfortunately NYT has recently raised prices for home delivery, BIG TIME. Yikes. We may have to go digital, on line. I can buy the Sunday times at a local market, but without access to the online weekly paper. Delivery is becoming extremely pricey, but I do love having a honking big ole fat print newspaper appear in my driveway each Sunday that I can peruse with my coffee and croissant throughout the week, along with Book, Style, Sports, Entertainment sections. Subscribing to the Sunday print paper gives me full access to the weekly digital editions as well. Ah, what to do, what to do. I'm faced with a dilemma.
For sure! The "what's on your nightstand" questions feel kind of high pressure, like the author has to impress, but some kind of way to capture what authors are reading recreationally and loving--I would be so into that!
Also, I agree that the New York Times has a remarkable opportunity. I also think this is an incredible opportunity for an independent book review publication with some hustle. I’m thinking about the folks who have resurrected Gourmet as a new independent pub. Or many independent book review publications focused on specific verticals similar to your idea about diversifying best seller lists.
For 32 years I have been leading book groups in the city. One of my favorite places to find books for my readers has been The Washington Post. What will I do without Ron Charles? Of course The Times might pick up the slack and hire some of the WP's excellent reviewers.
Hopefully Ron will keep doing what he does best right here on Substack. But you are the kind of person the Times (or someone) needs to design book coverage for!
Heads up NYT: So many great ideas here, get going! I know multiple people, including myself, who belong to multiple book groups. Reading is alive and well. Give reading books some support.
Yes, to all of this. As someone who writes book reviews on her own site (for fun, for reading, for thoughtfulness), I also urge the Times to look for indies like myself. I've been doing it for 15 years for zero dollars. And yes, there are those of us who take awesome book photos, they just don't use them in ads for some reason! This was an editorial for the upcoming Savannah Book Festival at Flannery O'Connor's home. I'm partial b/c I was on the house board at the time, but I love how creative and bookish it is. https://www.savannahnow.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/2022/02/16/2022-savannah-book-festival-flannery-oconnor-childhood-home/6783587001/
OMG THESE ARE SO GOOD! I have to share some immediately. This is exactly what I was talking about.
BRILLIANT!
As for an app, I highly recommend The StoryGraph. Totally indie, Black-woman owned and she does all the coding herself. Paid upgrades available but the free version is still very awesome.
These are brilliant! Someone with influence take note!!! (not me, unfortunately)
Thanks!
I love all of these ideas, but particularly a NYT book app.
Right? If they could crack the code and build a book app as good as their cooking app, I’d be in there every day.
This may be your top post in my humble opinion. Brilliant. I love Ron Charles too.
Wow thanks!
Beautifully done Amy! This is a huge service to everyone in the book world-- authors, publishers, publicists, bookstores, online book types as well as newspapers and media. I hope the NYTimes receives this and picks up some of the terrific ideas here... and I hope all of us book lovers expand how we think about sharing our books and the books we're reading. Thank you!
Brava! All very good ideas.
Also get the NY Times to lower the cost of a print subscription in the mail of the weekly Book Review . I would love to peruse it for the whole month but it’s way too pricey!! And my town doesn’t have a place to buy the paper copy of the Sunday NYTimes - sad but true.
I've had a Sunday NYTimes subscription for years. I live in Florida these days, used to live in CT. Unfortunately NYT has recently raised prices for home delivery, BIG TIME. Yikes. We may have to go digital, on line. I can buy the Sunday times at a local market, but without access to the online weekly paper. Delivery is becoming extremely pricey, but I do love having a honking big ole fat print newspaper appear in my driveway each Sunday that I can peruse with my coffee and croissant throughout the week, along with Book, Style, Sports, Entertainment sections. Subscribing to the Sunday print paper gives me full access to the weekly digital editions as well. Ah, what to do, what to do. I'm faced with a dilemma.
that was great! did you send or get it to them somehow?
I love all of these suggestions. I would love more "what authors are reading" roundups especially!
For sure! The "what's on your nightstand" questions feel kind of high pressure, like the author has to impress, but some kind of way to capture what authors are reading recreationally and loving--I would be so into that!
❤️💖♥️❤️
Genius! Maybe Amy Stewart ought to be chief editor of the New York Times - seriously!
Oh no, I just like telling other people what to do while I stay home in my pajamas!
HURRAHHHH!!!! Holy shit Amy when you get into idea generation mode, it is a real thing of beauty.
Also, I agree that the New York Times has a remarkable opportunity. I also think this is an incredible opportunity for an independent book review publication with some hustle. I’m thinking about the folks who have resurrected Gourmet as a new independent pub. Or many independent book review publications focused on specific verticals similar to your idea about diversifying best seller lists.
Wow hey thanks! And yes to many more outlets with much more hustle!
For 32 years I have been leading book groups in the city. One of my favorite places to find books for my readers has been The Washington Post. What will I do without Ron Charles? Of course The Times might pick up the slack and hire some of the WP's excellent reviewers.
Hopefully Ron will keep doing what he does best right here on Substack. But you are the kind of person the Times (or someone) needs to design book coverage for!
Wow, Amy. So many great ideas. I hope we see some of them come to fruition.
Thanks Julie!
Heads up NYT: So many great ideas here, get going! I know multiple people, including myself, who belong to multiple book groups. Reading is alive and well. Give reading books some support.
Yes indeed!
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.