Booksellers are wary as Amazon tries to have it all

By Thomas Grillo

Thursday, August 18, 2011 -Boston Herald

The Hub’s authors, publishers and booksellers say the writing is on the wall, and it signals a major shift in the book business, after online retail giant Amazon.com’s entrance into the $32 billion publishing industry.
“This is revolutionary,” said Springfield native James Trelease, author of the “The Read-Aloud Handbook.”
“Amazon is doing to the world of book publishing what iTunes did to major record labels,” Trelease said. “This is an alarm bell to the giant publishers, and if they fail to heed the warning, they will lose.”

Photo by Matt Stone

READING BETWEEN THE LINES: Dana Brigham, co-owner of Brookline Booksmith, isn’t sure if her store will carry books published by Amazon.com, which is entering the $32 billion publishing industry.  

Amazon has moved aggressively into publishing, offering romance, literature, mysteries and thrillers. The company recently hired Larry Kirshbaum, former CEO of the Time Warner Book Group, to head up the division. He signed best-selling author Timothy Ferriss’ new book “The 4-Hour Chef,” and Amazon said it will publish the book in print, digital and audio formats next year.

Dana Brigham, co-owner of Brookline Booksmith, an independent bookseller in Brookline, has doubts about carrying books bound by Amazon at her Coolidge Corner shop.   

“They are a huge competitor, and they don’t collect sales tax, giving them an unfair advantage,” she said. “We’ll have to think about it.”

The move comes on the heels of Borders’ bankruptcy and as independent bookstores continue to fold, including the Curious George store in Harvard Square.

Full piece at Boston Herald.