"We resist price increases for as long as we possibly can. The last time there was an increase for Martina Cole was in 2006," she said.
"Where we can, we absorb additional costs without passing them on. However, the substantial rise in the cost of paper this year has forced us to increase some of our prices by around 5%–6%."
Other retailers have criticised the hardback prices in light of rising inflation and cost of living, which will have an impact on consumer spending at Christmas. Jasper Sutcliffe, senior buyer at Foyles, said: "It is indeed a shame to see publishers increasing r.r.p. in the middle of a recession, particularly as we're simply not able to match the heavy discounts they encourage. Furthermore, this level of discounting draws consumer focus to a relatively small number of new titles."
Another retailer suggested that the publisher and author "win" when the r.r.p. is set that high, because it drives up the margin and the author will earn more. He said: "Even retailers such as Waterstone's, Amazon or Smiths will do okay because they can afford to discount it. But independents will really suffer because there is no real way they can sell it."
Bookseller Sheridan Swinson, who owns Aardvark Books in Bucknell, Shropshire, said he would make "about £1" on Oliver's new title. "I have to have Jamie because my customers ask for it. I make about £1 and I just have to accept it because there is nothing I can do," he said.
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/retailers-hit-out-christmas-pricing.html