Could lockdown herald an exciting new chapter for the book trade?

The pandemic has thrown publishing and booksellers into crisis – and left customers struggling to obtain books when they most want them. But some in the industry sense an opportunity to drag it into the 21st centuryOn 18 March, Emma Corfield-Walters received the news that for the second year running, her shop, Book-ish, in Crickhowell in the Brecon Beacons, had landed the title for Wales in the regional round of the independent bookshop of the year award. Corfield-Walters has run Book-ish for 10 years. It has 16 staff and a cafe, is the base for a literary festival that she also organises, and is credited with having played a major part in the regeneration of Crickhowell’s award-winning high street. Above all, it is a highly successful business: 2019 was a record year. The fact that it would now again be a contender for the overall prize – to be announced in June at the British book awards – was for Corfield-Walters a hard-earned affirmation of a decade’s passion and work.But she was hardly celebrating. Britain was then five days from lockdown. “It was surreal,” she says. “We’d won best bookshop in Wales, yet I wasn’t sure for how much longer I’d have a shop that people could visit. It was like that scene in Star Wars when the walls are moving in, and the room’s getting smaller and smaller. The goalposts were shifting every day. At first, we thought: OK, we’ll buy hand sanitiser! But by the weekend, it was clear the shop would have to close.” Her first thought was for her... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2020-05-10 08:00:20 UTC ]

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EL James heads to Texas for rare signing event as fourth novel, Grey, is released

Sequel to Fifty Shades of Grey, told from Christian’s perspective, is Amazon.co.uk’s most pre-ordered book of the year Related: EL James to publish Fifty Shades sequel telling story from hero's point of view An independent bookshop in Texas that opened its doors for the first time earlier this... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Educational Development Corp. Has Record Year

Sales rose 25% at Educational Development Corp. for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2015, and net earnings jumped to $859,200 in the year, up from $357,600 in fiscal 2014. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Kids Only on the Uptown Stage

For the third year running, children’s book creators will take over an author’s stage for an entire day, and devotees of books for young readers will be happy to learn that today is that day. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Trade wary of children's market boom

Editors, agents and booksellers have told The Bookseller they worry that authors are failing to reap the benefits of growth in the children’s book market. With 2014 being a record year for children’s books—sales of which grew 9.1% year on year to a value of £336.5m, according to Nielsen... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Summer fun for kids at Foyles

Foyles is planning a "Summer of Fun" children’s festival, featuring events with favourite characters such as Alice in Wonderland, Star Wars and Aardman’s Shaun the Sheep. The festival will take place during 25th July-30th August at Foyles stores across London and Bristol. Themes of art,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Blackbird Books opens in Ireland's County Meath

A new independent bookshop has opened in Navan in Ireland, selling new books with a focus on children’s literature.  Last weekend husband and wife team Shane and Lorraine Breslin “quietly opened” Blackbird Books on the Old Corn Market in Navan, County Meath, which is about a 40-minute drive... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Customers encouraged to tweet support for winning indies

Customers are being encouraged to help ensure their local bookshop is crowned the Independent Bookshop of the Year by tweeting their support.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In Brief: North Texas Teen Book Festival

The festival featured more than 40 authors who spoke on panels, signed copies of their books, and met with readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Independent Bookshop of Year shortlists and winners revealed

The regional shortlists and winners of The Bookseller Industry Awards’ Independent Bookshop of the Year category, sponsored by Gardners Books, have been praised by the judging committee for their “creativity, passion and [for] demonstrating the very best the sector has to offer”. The judges —... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Record year for children’s

Led by hits from David Walliams, Jeff Kinney and Egmont’s Minecraft stable, the UK children’s market hit an all-time high in revenue and market share in 2014, and exceeded sales of Adult Fiction for the first time since accurate records began. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Comic Book Artist Phil Noto Drew A Stunning Poster For "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"

Everything about this is perfect—even the weird new lightsaber.There are a huge number of things that make Star Wars unique in terms of how movies are marketed—but one that doesn't get discussed much is the fact that the series' posters and one-sheets, rather than being photoshopped assemblages... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Brian Blessed memoir to Pan Mac

Pan Macmillan has acquired actor Brian Blessed’s autobiography. Editorial director Ingrid Connell bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Tim Bates at Pollinger Ltd. Blessed has been acting for more than 50 years and has appeared in more than 200 films and TV programmes, including "Star Wars:... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Costa shortlist revealed in record year for entries

Books by a brain surgeon, a former Mormon, a chef and an acclaimed artist are among those shortlisted for the 2014 Costa Book Awards. The awards honour books published in the last year in five categories – First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children’s Book. This year the awards received... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HC and Kobo in bundling trial with Australian indies

HarperCollins Australia and Kobo have teamed up with two Australian booksellers to sell print and digital titles bundled together. The new project began yesterday (17th November) with Pages & Pages Booksellers, an independent bookshop in Mosman, New South Wales, and online bookseller... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Slightly Foxed wins Vintage Indie of the Year

London’s Slightly Foxed has been named Vintage Independent Bookshop of the Year for 2014, winning £1,000. The shop, in Gloucester Road SW7, impressed judges with its “brilliantly conceived events”, including a vintage wine and Vintage literature evening, and a phantom book group, where people... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dulwich Books holds its first literary festival

Dulwich Books hosted its first literary festival over half-term, using the money it received as the winner of the Independent Bookshop of the Year award at the Bookseller Industry Awards in May. The south London bookshop won a £5,000 prize sponsored by Gardners for winning the award, and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookselling Roundup for September 26

This week marks the launch of a new literary festival in New Jersey and two new bookstores (King City Books in Mt. Vernon, Ill., and Vallejo Bookstore in Vallejo, Calif.). Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PRH launches My Independent Bookshop

Penguin Random House UK has launched My Independent Bookshop - a consumer book recommendation... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PRH U.K. Launches Reader Recommendation Platform

My Independent Bookshop allows book-lovers to set up a virtual bookstore, share their favorite reads and discover, recommend and review books online. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Trophy Wife Star Albert Tsai Spends His Free Time Reading Harry Potter Books

Specs Who Albert Tsai Age 9 Accomplishments Stars as Bert on ABC’s Trophy Wife (Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c) Base Los Angeles I’ve read that you take all of your classes online. What’s that like? Yeah, I’m homeschooled. When I’m on set, there’s a studio teacher who helps me with my work. I like it,... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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