This was a complete news flash today! I heard from one of my fellow author friends today. They shared a copy of a letter from their publisher with me. As I read the letter, which was kind of tough as it was a text, so I had to enlarge it and scroll back and forth and up and down! But the gist of the letter was to notify the author to expect delays is the physical publishing of their book. Why is that, you ask? Well, apparently we as consumers are not the only ones having difficulty finding what we need in stores and online.
Publishers are experiencing difficulties in the supply chain as well, not being able to procure the paper needed to publish actual books! Seriously! Plain as day in the letter. Now some may be better off than others, depending on where in the country they are located. Paper mills were shut down during the pandemic and are now struggling to catch up! Just think in one of those containers sitting on one of those freighters sitting off the cost of California could contain the paper needed to print your next book!
But supply is not the only hardship facing publishers, printers, distributors, etc. Labor shortages have hit hard as well. Even if they have the paper to print the books, many do not have the necessary workforce to produce them! Or, to distribute and ship them! Or, to receive them in the stores and bookshops to put them on the shelf!
So, depending on where you are going to get your reading materials, don't be surprised if the latest and greatest book you are dying to read is not on the shelf, or if ordering it online, if it takes a little longer to get to you. As with everything the last year and a half has brought us, a lesson in patience and understanding is definitely one of those things!
Might I mention, the above book is one that I personally made--handsewn and hand-glued--from reclaimed paper, discarded cardboard and a leftover fabric scrap! It is just something I learned to do to keep the craft of bookmaking alive. These are blank books available for sale! Just email me for additional styles, sizes and pricing!
Yes, I truly do love books! In all ways!
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