The news of Decatur-based Wordsmiths Books' dance with disaster has many shaking their heads at the possibility of another independent bookstore closing. Many of the specs are familiar to all: undercapitalization; unlucky gamble with shift in locations; downturn in the economy; unfair competition with online sources...but there is one other reason that fascinates Ms. Obie Joe.
And a big name author who did not bring in the crowds.
There are bookstores reluctant to sponsor author events -- even when the only costs are fixed -- lights, space and chairs -- and it's been one of Mr. Obie Joe's challenges to work with bookstores to conquer this fear. In the case of Wordsmiths, the costs for that killer appearance must have been way out of the norm, and must have included advertising, printing costs, transportation, non-returnable books, and most interesting, an author's reading fee.
Anyone want to take a gander as to who that author was? Looking at Wordsmiths' recent calendar of past events, some of the suspects could be...Kathie Lee Joel? Carl Hiassen? Or...Barbara Walters? Who?
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