An article recently published in The Guardian was questioning in its title if there are too many books being published. My initial thought: there are definitely NOT too many books. It’s just too little time dedicated to reading. But the article does not delve on this idea too much, as it slowly develops into an analysis between independent and traditional publishing and how authors who may not make it on the shelves in bookstores may make decent revenue by selling their books electronically or via services such as Kindle Unlimited. What bothered me a little was reading bestselling author Bill Bryson’s opinion, who says that “most of the time it’s just some anonymous person’s life, and it is of no interest”.

Part 1: Too Many Books , Too Little Time

One thing that we can all admit is that we cannot find in a bookstore all the books we see on social media. I apply to at least 15 ARCs (advance review copies) per month, but there may be at least 10 times more being released. And I think this is amazing!

First of all, people unleash their creativity. They let their story flow and some create worlds that readers would like to spend their entire lives in. This is astonishing! And it’s not just the creativity, it’s the fact that writers are brave enough to be vulnerable. Some write sensitive stories, others may have a crazy idea about…  aliens and vampires or superpowers and whatnot. And others simply have a dream they pursue, even if they may not excel at it. At least they tried. This is equally as amazing as the other type of success.

Second of all, we, the READERS, are always entertained. Our lives are so much richer after finishing a book and having experienced it. Not to mention the thrill of starting a new one. Some time ago we may have had space constrains, but ebooks have eliminated that obstacle. I am Team Paper, but a book is a book and I enjoy it regardless of the form it comes in. I love to read and I am so happy to have options around. Today, my biggest problem is time. I don’t have enough time to read all the books (I blame my job, sleep and the fact that I must socialize from time to time to keep my living human status) and I don’t have time to write about so many of them. But these are nice things to deal with.

With these facts in mind, I don’t see an issue with having too many books. Every story has something valuable in it, for the person who wrote it and maybe even for the person who reads it. More books equals more value, more richness.

Part 2: Social Media and Indie Authors

I’m an Instagram girlie (beginner, still) and most of the bookish accounts I follow are indie authors and PR companies supporting indie authors. In my journey as a reader and aspiring influencer I’ve discovered so many treasures in indie publishing, not to mention the beauty of a community formed around an indie author.

Authors nowadays have plenty of resources to get their story out there. Social media has had a major influence, 100% agree. Access to readers and content creators willing to promote a book or an author is much easier and faster. It feels like traditional publishing, while it can offer a machine and possibly a place in a bookstore, may very well be more costly and even rigid at times. There are some small traditional publishing companies that have started putting the author first, which is great. Mentality is changing. I do believe the writer has the power, and nobody else.

Different types of social media have allowed the authors to get the word out about their work and brought them closer to readers. We have now street teams, influencers who do promotion for free, because they are passionate about that book or believe in the author. Publishers Weekly mentioned in an article back in January that “59 million print books sales in 2024 could be tied to BookTok –related influencers or content, according to Circana Bookscan”.

So does it really matter if a book has room on a shelf in a bookstore? It’s an amazing idea, but as long as your book reaches its audience, it matters less how this came to be. Additionally, there are so many small bookstores that would love to have authors pay them a visit.

Part 3: the Healing Process of Writing

 Yes, writing a book is a healing process. There are people who write their stories for themselves first and foremost. I don’t read as many memoirs as I should, but last year I had the privilege of interviewing Hanna S. Martin. Her story is incredible and I wholeheartedly recommend her book “The Scarlet Badge”. Unfortunately, because of my lack of confidence in in my skills as a moderator, I did not publish that interview. I was not brave enough to do this little thing, while she put her story out there for all to read. My point is: someone when through a healing process when writing that book. To them, this feels important. This is an achievement. For some, it’s not just the money from the book sells.

I will end my thoughts on The Guardian article by reminding us all that a book is both for the writer and the reader. Books are treasures and they make this world richer. Yes, some books may not be that great, but whoever put out a bad book had more courage than I had when it comes to a silly video podcast. So congratulations! Social media is a force now in the bookish industry. Accessible to all, it allows authors to promote their work easier and faster. As it is mentioned in the article that started this, traditional publishing will have to step up and a lot of the publishers are doing so.

Let me know in the comments if you have a preference: independent or traditional published authors? Also, which social media platform has influenced you lately when it comes to book buying?

Until next time, happy reading!