The future of middle grade books (and Barnes & Noble's continued silence)

In the aftermath of the social media conversations around Barnes & Noble's new policies, the CEO released a statement that told us...absolutely nothing. So here we are, still speculating on what the heck is going on! If you write middle grade, is there any change you'll ever see your book on the shelves at a B&N?
B&N's (non)statement: www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...
TIMESTAMPS
Intro 00:00
B&N's middle grade policy 01:48
Put on your spin glasses 03:30
Why is B&N doing this? 05:31
How are publishers responding? 07:39
Advice for aspiring middle grade authors 12:35
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[@MichelleSchustermanAuthor]

ICYMI, here's my first B&N video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZqrhI2gZ9OZf9E What do you guys think? How are you feeling, especially if you're writing middle grade?

[@BarrettLaurie]

I was in my feelings about it the last month. However, your content and newsletter has turned my dread into determination. Thank you for being you and for sharing information. But also, thank you for that last newsletter. It was as if you were speaking directly to me about getting out of my own way and doing the dang thing.

[@DaisyXMachina]

Thanks so much for this. I feel so discouraged as an aspiring MG author. I wonder if B&N would have just stated they're expanding bookshelf space for paperbacks and left it at that, if there wouldn't have been as much blowback. I'm still not sure how this actual "policy" will affect MG and it sounds like not many others do as well.

[@MichelleSchustermanAuthor]

I know, it's hard not to feel discouraged - I'm with you. And yeah, the whole issue is that B&N simply isn't disclosing everything, so we're going to have to wait and see. I'd love it if this ended up saving the chain and leading to better sales for authors, but...yeah. We'll see, I guess!

[@Avionne_Parris]

Well, this week has been chockfull of literary drama for me to push through regardless: The Lightlark drama on TikTok (don't have TikTok, will NEVER have it but somehow its bookish drama always seems to find it way on KZbin and IG all the time, sheesh). Writing is not a merit-based business. Unfortunately most of it is based on luck, who you know and privilege. There are those who can jump over the slush pile and get their books published minus the usual hardships that 99% of us will face to even get our manuscripts in front of agents, editors, etc. I thought Wattpad was a dumpster fire of flaming hot garbage but BookTok blew that out of the water, thanks to Lightlark. Rant over, onto better news, Michelle! You mentioned in your newsletter that traditional publishing has always been a bit of a lottery. And that got me thinking, folks play the lottery every day, despite the fact that there are more losers than winners. Everybody knows this and yet it hasn't reduced the number of folks who play with the hopes of winning big one day. Trad pub is a gamble but it is worth it. I've been checking out other videos about the B&N policy changes (to inform, not depress myself further, it's fine) and a B&N seller mentioned that readers should order books by midlist and marginalised authors (debut or established) ONLINE as B&N can do that, they just can't STOCK those same books in a physical bricks-and-mortar store. That way, the author still receives the sale, support, readership, etc. Reading is fundamental but the powers that be must gatekeep and do all they can to ensure that making a buck in this industry is as difficult as humanly possible. Believe it or not, my biggest motivator for being a writer is designing merch for my fans to enjoy and creating their own personalised reading nook. Last night, I was creating life-sized decals of my characters in Canva! Your I

[@MichelleSchustermanAuthor]

These are all excellent points, Sio! I love that you're so into creating the graphic stuff for your stories - and you're SUPER good at it, I can only imagine how epic all the swag for your debut will be! (Oh and yes - while I've fostered several different breeds, both my pups have been labs! I had Adi for 15 years

[@Avionne_Parris]

@@MichelleSchustermanAuthor Aww, Adi sounds like she was super AWESOME! I'm a bit of a former doggy foster mom myself - the list of breeds I haven't had is probably shorter - but I've never had a Labrador before, might consider getting one for nephew's first dog. And thanks for the compliment on the graphics lolz, God knows, Canva is the ultimate time suck for me hehe.

[@rebeccadey]

I don't mean to intrude, but I love using Canva to make aesthetics! And that creating swag for fans is one of your biggest motivators is just awesome to me. Even though I have always told stories and made up worlds, I was a visual artist first before I got into writing seriously, so when I got stuck on a scene, and didn't have the writing skills yet to execute it, I'd draw it out -- and I have a mountain of sketchbooks with character art in them. 📚 Strangely enough, I only heard about Lightlark today, as a matter of fact. Read an article that interviewed the author, so much of it was positive spinning (it happens everywhere), but I definitely was reading with my eyebrows at my hairline at a few points. It was pretty discouraging, yeah. But we must soldier on. Complete sidenote: Michelle, your curls are on point! (Also a curly girl here)

[@Avionne_Parris]

@@rebeccadey I'm a curly girl too! Welcome, we're a fun bunch :-) And yeah, Michelle's curls were def poppin'. That's so AWESOME about the character art when you're stuck on a scene, I've got to try that myself. I have a feeling that will be really helpful to me as a fellow visual artist. Thanks for the "intrusion" it made me smile :P

[@rebeccadey]

I think the only thing I can think to add at this point is: SIGH. I really hope the rest of this decade doesn't come as hard as these last three years have been (in all the ways). And while there is a practicality to the policy as we know it so far, with the high returns on hardbacks, and while I know publishing has never been kind, I'm just tired of seeing people's dreams get shortchanged. I hope the rug being pulled out from under those debut authors can be replaced by the indies setting out all their quirky, mismatched carpets for them to stand on instead.

[@MichelleSchustermanAuthor]

It's definitely hard to keep going in this industry with what feels like one wave of bad news after another. But debut authors are still getting deals every day! I'm really curious to see what the bookstore landscape looks like in a few years.

[@kanashiiookami6537]

(Not sure if I've already said this) For some reason I always thought published made paperback first then hardcovers after sales were guaranteed, just because the insane price difference of the two. It felt more like hardcovers were special edition. 😂 (still feels that way honestly. The only time I'll buy a hardcover if I'm buying new rather than second hand is if I figure the book warrants the extra protection of the spine, like for the heft you get with a book as big as Stephenie Meyer's Midnight Sun, or if I want the book to feel like a special edition and hard cover is available. But mostly, if I'm buying books, they're second hand and I take what I can get.) But I gotta say, knowing the future may be that they release both at the same time sounds good to me in a sales aspect even if royalties suffer from people buying the cheaper option. Bright side is in that, that at least they won't (hopefully) be relegating midlist authors to ebook only. At that point it'd be better to self pub because you keep more profits. (I'm thinking in terms of Smashwords or Amazon and like ebook self publishing platforms rather than forking out cash to get physical books here.) I'm hoping that if publishers do release MG books in paperback and hardcover at the same time that it'll help your (and other MG author's) sales so that you'll be up there in numbers for B&N to stock your books. (Though I don't no how high the numbers would have to be for that if you're thinking HP and similar popular books are what they'll stock. Considering HP, at least, has been around for most of my life. It'd be ridiculous if they expect new books to reach 180m in the States alone to be considered viable for their precious shelf space)😩 Anyway, congrats again on finishing the first draft of Waddle. Good luck with the edits, and I'm wishing you all the best with publishing it. Hopefully 🤞 they'll not bump the pub date on this one! Hope your weekend is a good one, and that you get some stress free days coming your way. ❤

[@MichelleSchustermanAuthor]

That's so funny! I can't speak for other countries but in the US, publishers tend to go with hardcover first because that's more $ in their pockets. And I agree - from a reader/consumer standpoint, I like the idea of both releasing simultaneously. There are plenty of cases where I wouldn't buy the hardcover, but I WOULD buy the paperback if it was available, and I imagine that's the case for a lot of readers. Thanks so much, K!! I hope you have a great weekend too!

[@j.s.elliot7121]

I'm certainly crossing my fingers for MG authors and wishing them the best. The developments are certainly concerning at this point, with as little information as we have to go on. I hope that the indie bookstore strategies pay off.

[@MichelleSchustermanAuthor]

Same here! It all sounds great in theory...

[@BarrettLaurie]

I am so grateful to you for these videos. I also want to say your newsletter last week spoke directly to me. Thank you for telling us to keep going, keep writing the stories we love and not let the noise get in our way. I've hated that I've been so busy with work and moving that I have missed a lot of content but as things settle down I look forward to getting back in the loop. We appreciate you for sharing this. Smart to point out that we need to look at this through spin glasses. That I can do. I'm interested in what the changes will be to releasing books both in paperback and hardcover at the same time. It is good to know that B&N is still stocking some hardcovers. I think I worried most about earning out and that impacting my career with the switch to paperbacks. But I also need to remember my job is writing the books and leave the business stuff to my agent and follow their advice as it comes. Excellent advice for getting connected with the local bookstores. That is a great tip. Thank you for the advice. I'm taking it to heart and sharing this video to my community tab today. My best to Rosa.

[@MichelleSchustermanAuthor]

Hey Barrett! I'm so glad this helped and that you're feeling better. And I hope you aren't beating yourself up about missing anything while moving - that's always a stressful time! I hope you guys are settling in and loving it in the new place. (Brylee too!) You're right - your job is writing, the business stuff is what agents are for. And while I know our brains are wired to look for worst case scenarios, the truth is we don't know how this will impact us individually - and it might even benefit your books! My Scholastic MGs don't have hardcover editions, and while I LOVE hardcover, I can't deny that my sales are better with paperback. In fact, the only time I ever earned out an advance was on a paperback book, no hardcover at all! I'm telling myself that if I'm going to speculate on what might happen, I might as well imagine the best case scenario instead of the worst!

[@madelinejameswrites]

I love how you put stuff together for the indie and local bookstores! That sounds like such a good idea!

[@MichelleSchustermanAuthor]

Thanks, Madeline! It really does make a difference when you meet someone face to face!

[@debrahewitt9011]

I agree. I’m wondering who you speak to or ask for when you do this.

[@MichelleSchustermanAuthor]

@@debrahewitt9011 I usually ask if a manager is around, or if they're really busy, I just leave the sales sheet with a bookseller!

[@debrahewitt9011]

@@MichelleSchustermanAuthor Thanks so much!

[@Kevlandia]

As always, very greatly appreciate your videos on this!

[@MichelleSchustermanAuthor]

Thanks so much for watching, Kevin! :)

[@zoot9393]

Thanks so much for your helpful videos and materials. I've learned so much from your channel.

[@JoeyPaulOnline]

I appreciate you keeping us informed on this front, and hoping that B&N clarify their stance

[@MichelleSchustermanAuthor]

So do I! Thanks for watching, Joey!

[@chrisgriffin9948]

Re Perfectionism, the next video you are thinking of working on...How will I know when I've done all of the revising I can do? I feel like I could work on my novel for years and still not be finished. Thanks!

[@Cnhfcsh]

What is a “middle grade“ book?

[@ivylilybasket]

Book for children aged 10-13.

[@Cnhfcsh]

Thanks!