I haven’t commented yet on the news that a great independent bookstore and also one of our biggest competitors has just filed for Chapter 11. Wordsworth has been in Harvard square for almost 30 years. They are our biggest competition particularly with regards to author events. It makes me sad though that they are in such financial difficulty. I hate to see any independent close. If they leave, it will just be us and the COOP! The COOP is run by Barnes & Noble, for those not familiar with Harvard square, so this is not a good thing. Retail sales have been down all over for the last month, and I know Wordsworth has been in trouble for a while. It has not been determined if they will close or not. They could still find financial backing and remain open. This is why I don’t use Amazon links on my blog (the continuing closing of good bookstores). I can’t in good conscience link books to them while I work here. I hate to give them the business. I’d rather anyone who is interested in a book I mention to buy it locally. I realize that isn’t going to happen always. (And I am not saying that you should never buy anything from Amazon. It’s more complicated than that of course.) Everyone support your local independent!
Bookdwarf
Come fall into a book hole!
Bookdwarf 
Oh . . *small sigh of relief* so there’s still some tiny possibility Wordsworth won’t go under. I just came here from Tingle Alley and it read like a done deal. And for what it’s worth– I am so glad you don’t link to Amazon.
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Sorry to see another indy go down.
You don’t need to link to Amazon when you list books, you can link to Powell’s or Booksense for those of your readers who’d like to follow your recommendations but don’t have any indy stores in their areas.
I’d have to drive 45 minutes to get to the only real indy store in the metro Detroit area (with the four Borders and three B&N’s). When I’m in that area I always stop in, but when not, I’ll go the other two routes and know I’m supporting independent stores.
Enjoy,
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I occasionally link to Powell’s when I can’t find a link on a publisher’s site. I know some people rely on Amazon for books when there is no book store in the area. I went to college in upstate New York and the only book store closed my freshman year (beyond the crappy text book one). There was a Waldenbooks in the mall and that was it. So we used to drive a half hour to go to Borders in Albany. I didn’t know any independents there.
As for Wordsworth, I will post as soon as I hear anything more. I know they want to stay open, particularly the kids’ store Curious George.
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