Read 'Til You Drop

Last night, I attended my law firm's holiday part - a grand fete at the Ritz Carlton. (Yep, that was me, in the beaded palazzo pants, with the beaded cami, and the gauzy overblouse, all in black.) Most of the evening was spent gossiping with coworkers - I won't bore you with the details. The one thing I will share is this lesson, sadly learned by the date of one of my co-workers: Don't attend your significant other's company holiday party, get drunk, pretend to be a partner at a major law firm in town, and then fondle the behind of another party guest. Especially when that guest is the wife of a former Olympic-contender wrestler. Really.

Elsewhere in my little world, I've been reading a number of the comments and debate brought about by Holly Lisle's comments about how chain bookstores are horrific for writers and should be avoided, boycotted, and destroyed at all costs. (Here are Holly's comments: http://hollylisle.com/writingdiary2/index.php/2006/12/01/selling-to-the-net-or

Other people have commented here:  http://difrancis.livejournal.com/51301.html and here:  http://sgreer.livejournal.com/350353.html and likely in many, many places I haven't browsed through this afternoon.

And here are my comments in reply, which I originally posted over on Bookseller Chick's blog ( http://booksellerchick.blogspot.com/ ):

Alas, all indies are not alike, and any analysis of the industry that assumes all indies are the same isn't a complete analysis.

The indies I know best (the Olssons chain in Washington DC) are not supportive of speculative fiction, particularly the paranormals I'm currently writing. Most indies I've patronized skew very, very heavily toward "literature", with a handful dedicated to specific genres (e.g. mystery or SF.)

I am hundreds of times more likely to find my books in chain stores than in indies. I'd be biting the hands that feed me if I spoke out against all chains in favor of all indies. At the same time, I support any indy that supports genre (especially my genres) - I'll try to arrange readings/signings at them, I'll send them promotional materials (if they can use them), I'll include them on my chocolate gift list for book launches, I'll mention them and their staff on my blog....

I'd love to live in a book world where there were omnipresent genre-friendly indies. I'd love to live in a world where there were omniscient chain store employees. Living in *this* world, though, I balance the best I can - support the stores that support me, and educate, educate, educate...

So.  What do you folks think? 

Mindy, who is sparing you the mundaniana of a Sunday spent catching up on laundry, closet-cleaning, cooking, bringing books to the Library booksale, etc.