Interview with a Bookseller: Chris Hardy
Victoria
Grossack
Conversation with Chris Hardy, a bookseller in Pryor, Oklahoma.
Victoria: Who are you and how long have you been
selling books?
Chris: My name is Chris Hardy. The bookstore has been in business for 27
years and I’ve been here about 15 years.
Victoria: What is the name of your store and where
is it?
Chris: The Book Exchange & The Bible Bookstore, located at 3 North Adair
in Pryor, Oklahoma.
WWW.PRYORBOOKEXCHANGE.COM
Victoria: Does your store have a particular focus?
If so, what is it?
Chris: New and used books; Bibles; Music; Church supplies – you name it,
we’ll get it.
Victoria: What's the biggest change you've seen in
bookselling in the last year?
Chris: Competition from another bookstore has made the last year and a
half fun. People are really looking for a bargain and used books are quite
popular.
Victoria: What's the biggest change you expect in
selling books in the next year?
Chris: More online selling – for us, anyway.
Victoria: How should a would-be writer approach a
bookseller, say, for example, for a reading or signing, or simply for
advice?
Chris: Just present the product and go from there. The bookseller knows
what will sell and the writer also has plenty of contacts. So writers, if
you want to impress the bookseller, have people come to your booksigning and
buy books!!!
Victoria: What is your opinion of the POD books?
Chris: They do really well for local authors, at least here.
Victoria: What is the greatest frustration that you
have with mainstream publishers?
Chris: Lack of personal contact with booksellers.
Victoria: What advice would you give to aspiring
writers?
Chris: Keep it up; you keep bookstores in business!
Victoria: Thanks, Chris, for your sharing your
time, your expertise and your enthusiasm!
****
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