Margaret wants to know: What shape would you like to see Loyola Press publishing in, say, ten years from now? Are there any new directions you want to encourage?
Dear Margaret,
With unrelenting technological innovation, it is difficult to imagine what the publishing industry will look like next year, let alone what we will be doing a decade from now. That having been said, in this year of our centenary, there are some unchanging certainties for us.
Our mission is primarily catechetical – the Jesuits have charged us with helping parishes and schools in the faith formation of young people. It was, is, and always will be our focus and our passion. In ten years, I imagine that traditional textbooks will have gone away and that we will be delivering our programs in some digital form or other – quite possibly through a technology or device that is not yet imagined.
As far as our offerings to adults, (what we call our Trade Books), it is a hard fact that books – and not just in the religious area – are largely purchased by middle-aged women. While continuing to serve that very important audience, I’d love to find ways to reach out to a younger and more diverse demographic. More fiction? Graphic novels? Religious games?
We cannot put our collective heads in the sand and hope, like King Canute, that the tide will cease to arrive. This week, for instance, we have invited several guests to come to the Press to help us plan how to present the Spiritual Exercises in the digital environment.
Whatever happens, I want us to be brave and bold. With God’s grace, we will find new and exciting ways to serve our sisters and brothers.
Paul
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
“Books are primarily purchased by middle aged women”……..how would you then explain the popularity of the “Harry Potter” series?????? As long as books are written FOR middle-aged women, they will be the ones who primarily purchase them.
Loved the Harry Potter series as an adult talked about them with the kids and there was alot of “spirituality” to be discussed.
Emma,
I actually said “largely” rather than “primarily purchased.” That is my out for Harry Potter and all the other exceptions. I was not making a value judgment of any kind, simply noting a reality.
If I sound defensive, it’s because I am.
Paul
Why? Defensive, I mean. I wasn’t attacking you. Then, I have to laugh, because my first reaction to your stating that you’re defensive, is to become defensive! Hmmmmmmmm………….two “peas” in a pod methinks.
Well, I have to agree with Emma on this, unless there is a product that commands demand from the whole spectrum of customers, what there is on the market will continue to be purchased by those it is aimed at (on the other hand – though I doubt this – maybe ‘the market’ is right and perhaps the demographic with the most spare time and most disposable income is middle aged women which is why the suppliers target that.)
Publishers are, at the end of the day, business men and, like us all, are guilty of behavioural bias. If books for middle aged women have worked in the past then they are likely to favour books for middle aged women in the future – at least until they go bust and the new media guys step in with products that appeal to a new dempgraphic with economic power.
That said, from what I see here and on the other offerings of Loyolapress, you are certainly not ‘doing a King Canute.’ You seem to embrace media and recognise that the genie is out of the bottle. Go where the tide (no doubt in the form of the Spirit) takes you and I am sure that it will reap rewards – and I don’t mean financial ones.
So, what you’re indirectly stating is, “there is a corporate consideration that must take precedence over mission”?
The offerrings here at Loyola Press that have a following in my demographic are the books by Joan Anderson, her Angels and Miracles series. They won’t read anything concerned with deep spiritual thought if they’re not first interested in spiritual matters. These are writings that give hope (what Rico likes to call a “hook”) and for those who are older, we all pretty much agree that we connect most with Paul Coutinho’s work. He speaks to everyone, not only those walking an Ignatian Path and his books are something that an eclectic group of pilgrims can share in. Or, maybe, it has something to do with the fact that some theologian on Amazon accused him of heresy, maybe that was the “hook”. So, yes, we do read. Talk to us, not about us.
Haha. No. However, I am advocating a bit of Schumpeterian creative destruction. The mission has always had to deal with ‘stuff’. Dealing with a few unimaginative business people shouldn’t be too difficult for the Jesuits and their intellectual fire power. It’s ‘men against boys’
Simon,
I’m glad to see Emma’s comment and your response to it. In your first comment you write “Publishers are, at the end of day, business men…” Not us, Bro. We’re a not-for-profit mission-driven company. We’d rather help one person that earn $1 million.
Paul
Yes, I had already worked out that Loyolapress weren’t your ordinary publishing group
If I hadn’t already, the fact that you are GIVING away Margaret’s latest while it’s hardly off the presses confirms you are not exactly in the profit maximisation business 
If what you mean is that more books are purchased in traditional than digital form by middle-aged women, I’d say that’s changing. Most of my friends have made the transition to Kindle — I have Kindle on my laptop, iphone, and Kindle itself — and I for one am extremely frustrated when I have to click on “Tell us if you’d like to purchase this book on Kindle.” The first ipad I ever was saw shown to me by a couple in their 80s, out birding on a boardwalk in a marsh in Florida; they were nearly rapturous over the immediacy of the color and diagrams in their guide”book.”
Robin,
Thanks for the clarification. The latest figures I’ve seen suggest that about 14% of fiction titles are now sold electronically. Our religion list is available in multiple formats but the percentage is lower than that for fiction… at least so far.
Paul
Much has been written and discussed regarding the future of book publishing. With the onslaught of eBooks, readers are now able to interact with various parts of the book to move the story forward. Soundtracks, music & sound effects enhance to the readers experience, immersing the reader into what is being consumed. These new book apps are making the words come alive. Pretty cool stuff enhancing all the senses, Ignatius would probably get into this.
Having said all this “boy I’m really ahead of the techno curve on publishing”, I don’t ever see books going away, and just not for middle aged woman; books are widely used by all generations and demographics. Printed materials cannot receive a virus or become n/a when there is a power shortage.
People still like printed material that they can hold onto, something about being able to feel the book as one turns the page. People like to write notes & highlight pages which are more convenient on paper. Maybe because I’m rounding second and headed to third in the game of life, cozying up with print is more alluring on a cold winter night than booting up a tablet.
What I really got out of this blogalogue today however, I never heard of King Canute before, must of skipped that page…
Tim,
I guess I learned about King Canute in elementary school because I can’t remember when I didn’t know about him.
No matter how “American” I become, I still have lots of history and culture from the Celtic Isles that’s crammed into my little head.
Paul
I’m going to pop in with an opinion about why it is middle aged women who are buying the trade books… Look around your parish. Who is most present?
*sigh*
This is part of a continuum about how we are Church in general. If I sound cynical, I do not mean to – just realistic.
When I hear about dioceses where the role of women is eroding, I wonder – who does all the work? No disrespect to the men, the older (who are really vital as well, and I worry about that demographic too) or the younger! But in parish life as I know it, middle aged women make up a huge portion of life and a huge portion those interested in spiritual life and development.
At my home parish we began offering Sunday afternoon retreat/reflection days for women twice a year. We figured that if we got 25-35 women, we would be good. We consistently get about 80…
Sorry, I’m ranting again. Somebody stop me, please!
Signed, MAW (middle aged woman!)
And YES – I am aware that I am stating the problem and not addressing it. I think that LP is wise to talk to people about digital opportunities; that is how we reach so many others.
Fran,
If you think that’s a rant… God bless you!
Paul
Fiction – YES! it had the ablity to touch the imagination and heart which is part of the methodology of the “new evangelization” which needs to transform hearts in this post modern world.
Games focus on ones that have people actually interacting with eachother and building community whether in homes or classroom,s not just a computer
Please don’t be too quick to dismiss those text books. The e-book technology or whatever replaces it will be very difficult to get into the hands of underprivilaged families and the parishes that serve them due to cost. Don’t forget that if you go in that direction your catechetical mission will need to find ways to make it accessible as well.
Maura,
Thank you for your caution about printed books. Rest assured, for as long as they are needed and wanted, we will continue to produce them.
Paul
Middle-aged women and older
For I am older. Mind you, I read Harry Potter at the same time our eight-year old grandson was reading it.
My grandsons (11 and 9) are spending ours playing MindCraft…
True, I buy books for my husband and myself. But our son-in-law buys many books as well.
I am not on Kindle yet, even though I’m thinking of buying one.
By the way, if you want to touch kids, you might want to hire people to make computer games with an Ignatian slant
Good luck for the future! I think you’re doing fabulously well already.
Claire,
I got a Kindle only because I thought I needed to see an emerging technology. Much to my surprise, I fell in love with it immediately and now I won’t leave home without it. Go and get one.
Paul
I have a Nook – which I got as a hand-me-down from my stepdaughter. I agree with Paul – get a device!
I love books and I love ebooks. I am an older woman, passed middle aged. One thing I have noticed after years of teaching the preschoolers – young children know the language of technology from a very young age. It’s almost like being bilingual, technology being the second language. I hope we always have books to put in our hands, but if we want to communicate, we must speak the language. For our young especially, the language is technology.
I have also learned, Never Put Your Head in the Sand.
Anne,
I learned the lesson about young people and technology a couple of years ago when I discovered that my 3 year-old goddaughter had downloaded two Thomas the Tank Engine games onto my iPhone when I wasn’t looking!
I was astonished.
Paul
Dear Paul,
Margaret asks tough questions!
I hope there will always be people who write and read (in whatever form they become tangible) sustained threads of thought (longer than 250 word blog posts), but I hope that technology can open us up to deeper engagements with these threads. Could I leave a marginal note for Robin or Fran for them to discover when and if they read the same book, or a note for any subsequent reader? Could I be privy to the thoughts of the writer, editor, readers, that underlie a text? (I’m going to admit, I enjoy footnotes and marginalia…)
I hope we can work to find technologies that are inexpensive and widely accessible. I teach a course that relies heavily on technology, I sometimes suspect my students sleep with their laptops, but when I spoke with a colleague who teaches students who live in places that are far less safe than my lovely campus, he pointed out he can’t teach that way because his students have to worry about theft of their laptop while they are at their jobs, or their homes.
Sand tastes awful…far better to look out at the horizon, even if the longboats are landing!
Michelle,
How horrible to have to worry about safety coming and going to school – or anywhere else, for that matter.
Yes, Margaret asks tough questions. But I return the favor…
Paul
My husband is a very slow reader. He has lately taken to listening to others read to him via CDs from the library. His voracious appetite for these things amazed me. He reads so many diverse types of things. I told him I would bury him with his ear pods in place so he better pick the book now.
So, I think this audio book routine has a very important place in what Loyola Press can offer to not only middle-age women, but how about some old farts like me and my husband? Hearing someone read aloud anything Ignatius has written might have more meaning when there are appropriate inflections, deep spirituality ringing through the oral reading, etc. This would be a real thrill for me, even though I’m one of the last hold-outs (I LOVE hard copy) for digital “books”. I think books for children read aloud to them would help them also learn to read if accompanied by a hard copy.
You are right that we can’t know what will happen to books in ten years time. But back in my early career as a tech writer, we were warned to be on the lookout for the paperless society in the technical world. Hmph! I’m still waiting.
Just an observation re the slow reading-me too. I found it was related to the font size and my eye sight. Since buying an e-reader I am taking through the books.
Helen,
As I write this, I have no idea if any of our titles are available as audiobooks. But now I’m going to find out.
Paul
I would love it if you find some. If not, why not start? I belonged to a readers’ theater years ago and it is great fun to read aloud to anyone. I’ve even taped some of my own favorites so that when my eyesight fails, I will have something wonderful to listen to.
Helen,
What a wonderful image of a reader’s theater! And I know when my mother lost her sight, books on tape were a gift…particularly old favorites.
Great idea about the audio cd, Helen. I have a long commute every day and would love to listen to something inspirational to and from.
Wow, I think the “ten year” question is hard in anything considering our rate of speed these days. You have gotton some really good insight here from many people…and the fact that your determined to be pro-active is great. I would agree with the idea of increasing fiction, it speaks to a greater audience and there is a desperate need for hope-filled fiction.
At 65 years of age and being a life long avid reader I now purchase all ebooks and no longer paper books. Why? because I like to be able to read what I want, when I want and where I want. Respectfully suggest that you consider more eBooks to replace the paper books. It might be easier and faster to reach more people using the ebook format vs printing and shipping books. We called it market share in the “old” days. Peace
This is most interesting reading what everyone has to say; also, so encouraging for me to read that most readers are middle-aged women. I am a woman past middle age.
I personally don’t think women have less to do or are gifted with more time. From my experience, many are on a spiritual path or are being introduced to one through what they read. There is so much more interest today about the mystics. Anyway, this gives me hope that someday people will find more spiritual value in poetry, maybe even a way to slow down their thinking in this fast-paced world – to try to get some balance. Meanwhile, I continue to write.
Regarding regular books, part of my reading experience is to highlight savored words, phrases, and passages. It’s nice to see favorites on my bookshelf or to be reminded of other books to pick up and page through on another day. I think they add to the coziness of a room.
I do intend to get a Kindle or similar, but no hurry. Meanwhile, I value where the computer takes me, and I like so much your presence online! Thanks!