Comments for cat dean » Cat Dean Presents — Enemy of Art http://catdean.com enemy of art - writing, creating & parenting Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:01:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Comment on Introducing… Scone Watch by Ros http://catdean.com/2012/01/introducing-scone-watch/#comment-185 Ros Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:01:59 +0000 http://catdean.com/?p=563#comment-185 Only this morning I enjoyed a very lovely scone, shared with my 3 year old daughter which meant that I had most of it, at the newly refurbished Gorgie City Farm Cafe (which now also has a sofa!). Can't quite manage such a detailed scone review, but it was very nice. Only this morning I enjoyed a very lovely scone, shared with my 3 year old daughter which meant that I had most of it, at the newly refurbished Gorgie City Farm Cafe (which now also has a sofa!). Can’t quite manage such a detailed scone review, but it was very nice.

]]> Comment on Introducing… Scone Watch by Cat http://catdean.com/2012/01/introducing-scone-watch/#comment-182 Cat Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:09:21 +0000 http://catdean.com/?p=563#comment-182 Hi Ellen, thanks for your comment – scones are there to be given in to ;-) and thanks for letting my know how you got here – it's always heartening to find that someone's found their way here! Hi Ellen, thanks for your comment – scones are there to be given in to ;-) and thanks for letting my know how you got here – it’s always heartening to find that someone’s found their way here!

]]> Comment on Introducing… Scone Watch by Ellen Arnison http://catdean.com/2012/01/introducing-scone-watch/#comment-180 Ellen Arnison Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:42:28 +0000 http://catdean.com/?p=563#comment-180 Scones - lovely. I'm almost inspired to find a recipe, but I'm sure the feeling will pass. I've just found your lovely blog via the Aye Write programme. Scones – lovely. I’m almost inspired to find a recipe, but I’m sure the feeling will pass.
I’ve just found your lovely blog via the Aye Write programme.

]]> Comment on 8 top tips for a first-time author reading by Cat http://catdean.com/2011/08/8-top-tips-for-a-first-time-author-reading/#comment-169 Cat Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:10:09 +0000 http://catdean.com/?p=415#comment-169 Thanks Colin! Thanks Colin!

]]> Comment on 7 ways to combat the post-bedtime slump by Fionnuala http://catdean.com/2011/09/7-ways-to-combat-the-post-bedtime-slump/#comment-168 Fionnuala Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:33:00 +0000 http://catdean.com/?p=459#comment-168 Reading this post slumped in an armchair while my better half puts our daughter to bed so although I haven't put her to bed myself, still definitely in that slump zone! Like these ideas and may even rouse myself into a 15 minute assault on the bombsite that is our living room! Reading this post slumped in an armchair while my better half puts our daughter to bed so although I haven’t put her to bed myself, still definitely in that slump zone! Like these ideas and may even rouse myself into a 15 minute assault on the bombsite that is our living room!

]]> Comment on 8 top tips for a first-time author reading by Colin Galbraith http://catdean.com/2011/08/8-top-tips-for-a-first-time-author-reading/#comment-167 Colin Galbraith Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:18:19 +0000 http://catdean.com/?p=415#comment-167 Great advice! Thanks for sharing. Great advice! Thanks for sharing.

]]> Comment on How to support independent bookshops AND be a super-organised mother by Fionnuala Stuart http://catdean.com/2011/08/how-to-support-independent-bookshops-and-be-a-super-organised-mother/#comment-146 Fionnuala Stuart Sun, 04 Sep 2011 14:42:32 +0000 http://catdean.com/?p=398#comment-146 I like this idea too. We are luck enough to have a great children's bookshop within walking distance so I do tend to do this anyway. It does take credit cards and I'd agree with Kim's point that anything that makes it more difficult (like them not taking cards) will lead people to buy elsewhere. Linked with Kim's idea, I agree that a forum for sharing information about good books and even general book points (e.g. board books are great for smaller babies as it's much easier for them to try to turn the pages themselves which they love and simple 'lift the flap' books similarly are a also a hit with this age group (more so than more complicated pop up books which tend to get trashed in my experience!) would be good and something that Amazon doesn't really offer. Lucy Mangan did a really good column in the guardian about her favourite children's books http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/12/best-childrens-books-ever which could maybe be encorporated in some way. She would be a good 'mini celeb' to get involved maybe as she is pretty passionate about this stuff. Hope that helps. I like this idea too. We are luck enough to have a great children’s bookshop within walking distance so I do tend to do this anyway. It does take credit cards and I’d agree with Kim’s point that anything that makes it more difficult (like them not taking cards) will lead people to buy elsewhere.

Linked with Kim’s idea, I agree that a forum for sharing information about good books and even general book points (e.g. board books are great for smaller babies as it’s much easier for them to try to turn the pages themselves which they love and simple ‘lift the flap’ books similarly are a also a hit with this age group (more so than more complicated pop up books which tend to get trashed in my experience!) would be good and something that Amazon doesn’t really offer. Lucy Mangan did a really good column in the guardian about her favourite children’s books http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/12/best-childrens-books-ever
which could maybe be encorporated in some way. She would be a good ‘mini celeb’ to get involved maybe as she is pretty passionate about this stuff. Hope that helps.

]]> Comment on Oh happy day! I’m reading @ Edinburgh International Book Festival by Rebecca Emin http://catdean.com/2011/08/oh-happy-day-i%e2%80%99m-reading-edinburgh-international-book-festival/#comment-123 Rebecca Emin Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:54:21 +0000 http://catdean.com/?p=370#comment-123 Super cool! How did it go? Super cool! How did it go?

]]> Comment on How to support independent bookshops AND be a super-organised mother by Rebecca Emin http://catdean.com/2011/08/how-to-support-independent-bookshops-and-be-a-super-organised-mother/#comment-122 Rebecca Emin Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:51:17 +0000 http://catdean.com/?p=398#comment-122 Love this idea. I like to buy books for children's birthday presents, and with 3 children we do stock up on these gift items quite a lot. One of my local independent bookshops has cottoned on to this as a gift idea and has a sign up in the childrens' section offering discounts on book tokens if you buy a certain amount which I think is a brilliant idea. It would be great to have a place for like-minded people to meet up on the internet so I'd love to see your document. Will drop you a line. Love this idea. I like to buy books for children’s birthday presents, and with 3 children we do stock up on these gift items quite a lot. One of my local independent bookshops has cottoned on to this as a gift idea and has a sign up in the childrens’ section offering discounts on book tokens if you buy a certain amount which I think is a brilliant idea.

It would be great to have a place for like-minded people to meet up on the internet so I’d love to see your document. Will drop you a line.

]]> Comment on How to support independent bookshops AND be a super-organised mother by Kim http://catdean.com/2011/08/how-to-support-independent-bookshops-and-be-a-super-organised-mother/#comment-118 Kim Tue, 23 Aug 2011 22:27:06 +0000 http://catdean.com/?p=398#comment-118 Independent bookshops rock and we now buy nearly all our books from Woolfson and Tay in Bermondsey Square. Sadly I think the pressure for ebooks is ever greater and maybe the best we can ever do is delay the inevitable... but surely that is better than nothing? I think your idea is great too. A couple of thoughts 1. Love the idea of focussing on one particular role of the bookshop (i.e presents for friends' children). Gifts should be tangible and not virtual! 2. Would supporting children's books alone be enough to make the difference? I notice at Woolfson and Tay that only 1/8 of the shelf space is given over to childrens books. Harnessing the purchasing power of mothers sounds like a brilliant plan though! 3. If you want to make sure people stick to their guns, it has to make sense. (I always remember doing something similar with my sister's local bookshop but gave up when they wouldn't take credit cards and it became a hassle). If it becomes difficult to do, or the gift isn't as good as it would be using amazon or other, then gradually people will weaken and go back to former habits. What could a local independent bookshop add that the amazons of this world don't have... I had a few thoughts walking home this evening The most important selling points for me would be a) information that amazon doesn't have about local tastes/ideas/preferences b) availability of books (superior supply) c) uniqueness of local bookshop a) if there was an association of independent booksellers, friends could all sign up with their local bookshop, and register their interests solely with this group.. Imagine if each shop had a weekly book blog and shared the ideas with the other shops in the association? As a group of friends you could all feed in favorite books with comments... if the association kept a record of all the books your household had purchased for itself along with books you had received as gifts, just imagine how great that would be! Only as good as the information you are prepared to share but it is just a thought.. It could start out as a small group of friends who use the same bookshop and then build from there (bookshop would agree not to share the information beyond your "friends") b) As an author giving local bookshops a headstart by allowing them to sell your books a day ahead of the amazons of this world? Imagine if you convince JK Rowling to do something like that? c) Book clubs with talks? I think bookshops are going to need to reinvent themselves .. crossing boundary between physical location into virtual forums.. so you can have a virtual discussion which is supported by an afternoon tea and chat (love that idea).. Now I am rambling and think I am heading off the point! Independent bookshops rock and we now buy nearly all our books from Woolfson and Tay in Bermondsey Square. Sadly I think the pressure for ebooks is ever greater and maybe the best we can ever do is delay the inevitable… but surely that is better than nothing? I think your idea is great too. A couple of thoughts
1. Love the idea of focussing on one particular role of the bookshop (i.e presents for friends’ children). Gifts should be tangible and not virtual!
2. Would supporting children’s books alone be enough to make the difference? I notice at Woolfson and Tay that only 1/8 of the shelf space is given over to childrens books. Harnessing the purchasing power of mothers sounds like a brilliant plan though!
3. If you want to make sure people stick to their guns, it has to make sense. (I always remember doing something similar with my sister’s local bookshop but gave up when they wouldn’t take credit cards and it became a hassle). If it becomes difficult to do, or the gift isn’t as good as it would be using amazon or other, then gradually people will weaken and go back to former habits. What could a local independent bookshop add that the amazons of this world don’t have… I had a few thoughts walking home this evening
The most important selling points for me would be
a) information that amazon doesn’t have about local tastes/ideas/preferences
b) availability of books (superior supply)
c) uniqueness of local bookshop
a) if there was an association of independent booksellers, friends could all sign up with their local bookshop, and register their interests solely with this group.. Imagine if each shop had a weekly book blog and shared the ideas with the other shops in the association? As a group of friends you could all feed in favorite books with comments… if the association kept a record of all the books your household had purchased for itself along with books you had received as gifts, just imagine how great that would be! Only as good as the information you are prepared to share but it is just a thought.. It could start out as a small group of friends who use the same bookshop and then build from there (bookshop would agree not to share the information beyond your “friends”)
b) As an author giving local bookshops a headstart by allowing them to sell your books a day ahead of the amazons of this world? Imagine if you convince JK Rowling to do something like that?
c) Book clubs with talks? I think bookshops are going to need to reinvent themselves .. crossing boundary between physical location into virtual forums.. so you can have a virtual discussion which is supported by an afternoon tea and chat (love that idea)..

Now I am rambling and think I am heading off the point!

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