We live in a world where books are pretty much readily available. As home educators, we use those books to our advantage, maybe more than the average family. We lose ourselves in fantasies, romances, and adventures. We absorb knowledge through piles (and piles!) of non-fiction books. But when it comes right down to it, books - as with anything else - are a business.

I’ve ranted about some quirks of the publishing industry before, but today the whole books as business thing was brought to the forefront again. Melissa Wiley, the author who let many of us continue our love of Laura Ingalls Wilder by introducing us to earlier generations in The Martha Years and The Charlotte Years, announced on Thursday that she will no longer be writing the stories of Laura’s ancestors. Today, she posts a bit of an explanation as to how that difficult decision was made, why it had to be made, and how consumers impact the publishing world.

“HarperCollins has made a business decision, and I disagree with it on principle, as an author, a reader, and a mother. I think chopping up the books is a mistake. But—and this is very important—publishers respond to trends in the marketplace. They make decisions based upon what sells. If you, as consumers (readers, parents, booklovers), want to influence publishing trends, you must do it (I am sorry to say) with your pocketbooks.”

It’s worth reading. And maybe it will inspire you to buy a book or two.