It’s a sad era for independent bookshops and yet a time for opportunities. Ironically, the end-of-days farewell party at Bluecoat Books in Chester with the marvellous address of 1 City Walls, bulged with people many buying more books than they could carry. However, it wasn’t the lack of business that has led to the closure of the last independent bookshop in Chester but the retirement of its owner. I tried to persuade the beautiful assistant to take it on but she couldn’t afford the lease and was looking forward to working in the shop’s parent shop in Liverpool – also called Bluecoat Books – here is their website.

What drew me to the Chester Bluecoat Books since their opening in 2003 was that they were good to me as a local author and always stocked my books – thriller Escaping Reality, science fiction Exit, Pursued by a Bee, ARIA books one and two, and Escape Velocity magazine. Sometimes I would take books in lieu of cash payment, which was fine.  I wonder if any of my books made it into the bookshop next door, which is a secondhand bookshop – and a good one too. City Walls Books, 2 City Walls, Chester CH1 2JG They have a website too here. However good they are, authors like me or even those unlike me, don’t receive any royalties or payments for our books sold there. Having said that, the unknown writers (hands up and waving again) can gain branding, awareness and a tad of recognition by browsing readers finding us on secondhand shelves.

Urmston Bookshop

So where can readers who like paper books find my tomes other than online? Sadly, Waterstones won’t stock many small indie books especially if they are not offered a huge discount. The next nearest bookshop to buy my books is where my daughter’s young family live – Urmston, in Trafford, Manchester. Urmston Books sell a range of gifts, cards and offer a tingling atmosphere of friendly service. Here is their website. Frances and Peter Hopkins there kindly have my science fiction books on their

My books on the shelves at Urmston Bookshop

shelves – see photo although by now those are back on the N shelf at floor level! I believe mine are the only science fiction books for grownups in the shop. I urge all Urmstonians and others nearby to journey to 72 Flixton Road M41 5AB and buy books there!

***UPDATE*** On 29th April 2014 Urmston Bookshop returned unsold books to me and do not wish to take more. Sadly their limited shelf space forces them to accept only fast-selling books. Even so good luck to them. ***

I will be travelling to Heswall on the Wirral soon to visit another great independent bookshop, Linghams.

All these small bookshops sell more than books, and I don’t mean gifts. They are brilliant at imparting knowledge and a love of books. Some develop a small café on the premises if there’s room, hold author readings, signings and events. Most of them also sell books online. Indeed I know that Bluecoat Books sell my books through their Amazon Associate links.

I am loving the ebook reader apps on my tablet but enjoy the tactile experience of a real paper book too. Don’t walk past those small, energetic bundles of fun that are independent bookshops, get in there and buy something.

Nelder News

My trilogy’s page at Wikia http://nelderaria.wikia.com/wiki/NelderAria_Wiki

Geoff’s UK Amazon author page http://www.amazon.co.uk/Geoff-Nelder/e/B002BMB2XY

And for US readers http://www.amazon.com/Geoff-Nelder/e/B002BMB2XY