THE Store

By now, just about everyone who loves books knows that Borders Bookstore has filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. So many people have posted some really insightful comments on what that means for publishers, authors, and the future of traditional books. No need to add my own thoughts there.

What do want to discuss how people feel about brick-and-mortar bookstore closings.

Like so many others did this week, I received the email that announced the closing of my local Borders. As soon as possible, I hurried to take advantage of the deep discounts that always go along with a closure. I walked out of the store with not only a huge bag of books, but also an incomparable sense of loss.

As I walked out, I realized that, no matter how many trips I made into that store to get some amazing deals, my trips were limited. The very thought felt surreal. Since that store opened almost two decades ago, it has played a crucial role in my life. It was the place where I bought my first Neil Gaiman novel (Neverwhere); the place I pre-ordered my Harry Potter books; the place my parents and I spend every December 26th, sipping warm drinks and hunting for a new fireplace read; the place where I went on more than one date. Hell, I even had more than one first kiss in that parking lot!

Because, for people like me, brick-and-mortar bookstores have their own element of romance. The romance of new stories, the romance of discovery. And as we lose those stores, we will surely lose some of that romance.

So please share some of your own thoughts: stories of bookstores you've loved, or maybe even reasons why the emerging world of electronic "bookstores" will still maintain the romance of the book.

Better to Give Than Receive: Hereafter Signed ARC Giveaway #1!!!!

When HarperCollins sent me some extra ARC's of Hereafter, I did two things. First, I dragged them inside, spread some of them out on my coffee table, and commenced to petting them like Gollum from Lord of the Rings. After a few hours of creepily muttering "My preciouses," I did the second thing: came up with the very first Hereafter Signed ARC Giveaway!

So, without further adieu, the rules.

This contest will run through March 7, 2011. Each participant will get one entry for each of the following:

1. Follow my blog
2. Follow me on Twitter (@thudsonwrites) to keep with with Hereafter news
3. Add Hereafter on Goodreads.com
4. Like PitchDark on Facebook, to keep up with all the amazing things Harper is doing, in celebration of Hereafter and other YA paranormal titles being released this summer.

Already doing all four? Email me at tara@tarahudson.com to let me know which ones you have done/are doing, along with your name and address so I'll know where to send the ARC's. (Subject title: ARC Giveaway, so I don't think you're a deposed Nigerian prince trying to get ahold of my bank account.)

For every Hereafter-related comment you make on the blog, Goodreads, or PitchDark, you get another entry; same thing for every @mention you make.

Here's the best part: I'm giving away THREE of my precious ARC's. I'll choose the winners randomly, using the very elaborate technique of putting names on slips of paper and drawing them out of a straw cowboy hat. After all, you want me to save my resources for postage right? :)

So starting now, I can't wait to see some entries!

In Which I Continue to Moonlight

Check out my second post on the Class of 2K11's blog, where I discuss promotional tools I wish I'd known about, the day I got my publishing contract.

In Which I Moonlight

Check out my guest post on the Class of 2K11's blog, where I discuss writing for YA while keeping your potential MG readers in mind.

And while you're there, check out some of the other amazing 2011 Young Adult debuts. (Besides the incredibleness that is HEREAFTER, of course!)