Over the last few years there has been an enormous shift in the publishing industry. Publishers are less willing to try new authors because the risk just isn’t worth it. They are sticking to their acclaimed authors whose work they know will sell millions of copies.

In that way, I guess it looks similar to the music industry, which is also sticking to artists it knows will sell, due to declining sales. But the key difference is why their sales are in decline.

Books have been in libraries for years. In fact, I would go as far to say that libraries, and educational institutions, are the largest purchasers of books, and probably have always been. And, I think, most people, don’t try a book from the library and then buy it. Most people only read a book once.

I do think, however, the Internet is the key reason for a decline in sales for both. Less people are reading books these days, and less people are buying their music from record companies.

Allen Taylor