Let’s be somewhat rude and talk about people who aren’t here, by which I mean, people who aren’t on the internet.
I know, can you imagine? There are people who aren’t online. I can’t fathom not having the internet. I find it peculiar and disorienting when I am not connected to faraway friends and people who like to talk about romances and cooking with white beans and removing whatever bug is eating my peppers and whatever immediate concerns I’m harboring.
But there are people who are not on the internet, romance readers, specifically. Romance, if you recall from the oft-quoted statistic, is a $1.6b annual industry in the US. And we on the internet who are so vocal and loud and gregarious and passionate about Passion’s Raven Flame, we do not amount to $1.6b of sales.
I asked a former bookseller about these offline romance readers. Who are they? Do they subscribe to Romantic Times or another magazine? Where do they get their reviews or find books to read in the genre? Are they in bookstores, asking the bookstore employees (they’re not asking any of the bookstore folks I know, as they don’t know much about romance at all)? Are they in libraries, asking savvy librarians?
Her response, in part:
…a surprising number of romance readers really aren’t connected to the internet, romance magazines, etc. I think some of them do rely on libraries or booksellers, but really—and this is hard to believe for those of us keyed into the romance community who read magazines, participate on romance boards, or interact with fans online—a lot of these readers are grabbing a few books off the shelves at the grocery store, Target, Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, etc. They often buy them without knowing much about the book or author, and are judging based on cover art and cover copy.
Seriously, this is the unsung majority of romance readers. There may be a handful of authors they buy based on name, but for the most part, they are buying what they can buy, when they can buy it. As for what percentage of romance readers this encompasses? I think it is well over 50%—somewhere in the neighborhood of 55 to 75%.
It is so easy to forget this group when you think about romance readers, but the reason we forget about them is that they AREN’T online or attending conferences, etc. They are simply buying and reading the books.
Well, thank you for that, oh, people who aren’t online reading this! Thank you for buying books so that more romance is published.
But I remain so curious as to where these people are finding books, and how, and where. I know many people don’t shop the way I do, or have as intelligent or savvy a network of fellow romance readers—or have people at all to talk to about romance novels. Yet such a large romance readership flies under the radar, so to speak, and buys so freaking much.
So who are these people who are not on the internet who buy romance? Do you know a reader like this? How does she shop? Where do they buy and what do they look for? Cover art? Author name? Is she older or younger than you?
Where does she go, and to whom is she listening for romance reading suggestions?
Ok, when I started, I read what was in my sister’s bookcase. Then I raided the library’s paperback book section…anything Silhouette Desire. Then I subscribed. Then I went to book stores and started reading backs of covers. I still do this, even though I’m on line and have a nook. Now I just add the book I’m interested to my wish list on my nook for future purchase.
Like some others, I’m still that reader. I didn’t bother with romance on the Web until I started writing. Even though I’m online a ton for writing purposes, I still pick books off the shelf or virtual shelf based on old habits, favorites, and covers. Ads online, forums, reviews—none of it “gets in.”
I do know someone like that! She refuses to get a computer of any sort yet grumbles when a book is ebook only. She won’t even get one just for that purpose.
She’s my age (mid-40’s), works at Wal-Mart, so, yes, picks some up there, but she’s been frequenting a UBS for years and discovered Ellora’s Cave etc. She flips through the store’s copy of Romantic Times and has us order what she wants. She chooses by author, genre and cover.
This is how I found this site, too. And my first visit to an author website was spurred by seeing it listed on the rear cover of a book I had just finished and totally loved (I think it was Julia Quinn…).
So, now I’m wondering how many people actually got online to discover more books to read because the books basically marketed the internet.
Wait, does that make sense?
Anyway, I now feel that I couldn’t live without author websites (especially because I’m a series slut—sometimes I will read a series that I didn’t particularly like just so I can find out what happens with the other characters).
It may not be popular now, but internet info for books will be increasingly important in the future.
I still troll the bookstore/Goodwill aisles, too.
I’m plugged into the Matrix, I mean the internet, virtually 24/7. Between email, Facebook, Twitter, and all of the blogs I read, the time I spend off-line is much rarer than the time I spend on-line. That being said, however, when it comes to buying books, I don’t check the internet for book reviews or recommendations. When I feel like buying a book, I go to the bookstore and check out the selection until I find a title and/or cover art that catches my attention. Then I read the blurb; if I like what it says, I’ll buy it. If I don’t, then I don’t. Other times, I’ll be looking for books from specific authors (like Julia Quinn, I love her stuff).
After literally spending decades trying to get my mother to read something other than a cookbook, I finally succeeded. I tried getting her to go to the library (or the internet) and pick some out for herself but she gets overwhelmed trying to decide what to get. (she doesn’t quite understand the “if you don’t like it, don’t read it” option) So basically we have a system where I log into her library account and put books on hold for her. Once a week she goes in, drops off what she’s read and picks up the new ones. She’s not too picky so we kind of alternate between genres. It actually kind of fun for me, she’ll read about anything so I flip between the trashy and the “literature”. Sometimes if I get a few too many serious books in a row I get the voice mail “I need some sex books!” lolol
Even though I am online, it surprised the heck out of me to find LOTS of ‘09 Harlequin Presents at Dollar General for a mere $1.25 each.