In this time of Pandemic

Unless you've been living in a cave, you must be aware that the year 2020 has been the most chaotic and physically dangerous year in a very long time. Between the COVID-19 pandemic, the loss of millions of jobs because of that, the economic difficulties so many people have suffered, and the ongoing malign chaos fostered by President Donald J. Trump, this has been a year that many people will feel lucky just to survive.

Publishing has not been spared by the chaos and disruption. Most publishers are not in their normal offices in Manhattan. Editors have been forced to retire to their homes. Some in New York City, some elsewhere, and this diaspora has had its own disruptive effects. Moreover, other departments have been denied their offices and usual ancillary facilities. Somehow, through all this, books are still being published, but many books scheduled for the past few months have either been delayed, or their publication has been altered, in-person publicity impossible.

And booksellers have been similarly hampered. Online bookselling has prospered, especially amazon.com, which as independent bookstores and bricks-and-mortars chains have struggled to stay open and solvent has had an enormous boom in sales and profits--not only from books, but also from the sale of everything else the "everything store" sells. In other words, just about everything.

Other booksellers have been doing what they can, and are slowly recovering, but we're not done with this chaos yet.

We don't generally like the idea of espousing political content in this blog, but it has become clear that the present occupant of the White House has used his power to enrich himself, his family, and his autocratic friends, at the expense of everybody else. So we are formally endorsing Joseph Biden for President. In this difficult time, voting can be a more complicated business than usual. I hope you will find a way to vote, early by mail or at a location near you where you can vote early, and safely. The Trump administration has been destructive to many of the normal functions of our democracy, and if Mr. Trump gains another four years, the danger to the country--and the entire world--is greater than we have risked in any election in many decades. So we hope you will vote for hope, for unity, for compassion and cooperation among all people in the United States, and not for the current administration, which has fostered division and hatred.

We also hope you will stay safe as long as the pandemic is still a danger. Despite what President Trump says, this is a very real disease, and you can protect yourself and others by doing simple things: wear a mask when you are out among other people; socially distance yourself from others; and wash your hands when you get home. We hope you will be safe. This will end, and we look forward to better days ahead!