‘I’m giddy to be here’: the risk-takers who opened bookshops during Covid

More than 60 bookshops launched in the UK and Ireland in the past 18 months – but who would open one in a pandemic? We asked five to share their stories, while bestselling author Val McDermid remembers the bookshops of her youthWhen I was growing up in a small Scottish town, we had a bookshop that was utterly terrifying. The books were housed on high shelves behind counters staffed by intimidating assistants. If you didn’t go in knowing what you wanted, tough. There was no possibility of browsing. If I got a book token for my birthday or a school prize, I’d always pick a title I hadn’t read yet from a favourite author so I knew what to ask for. Chances were, they didn’t have it and it would have to be ordered. Cue pursed lips and a frown.Honestly, it’s a miracle that I ever managed to amass a book collection at all.Val McDermid’s new novel, 1979 (Little, Brown, £20), is published on 19 August Related: Shakespeare and Company: a 'socialist utopia masquerading as a bookstore' – in pictures Related: 10 independent bookshops you should visit worldwide: our readers recommend Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-08-15 11:00:06 UTC ]
News tagged with: #favourite author #book collection #val mcdermid #bookshop #bestselling author

Other Publishing stories related to: '‘I’m giddy to be here’: the risk-takers who opened bookshops during Covid'

Covid-19 Forces ALA to Make Inaugural LibLearnX Conference Virtual Only

The ALA's plans to hold the in-person portion of its new LibLearnX conference in San Antonio have been shelved due to the Covid-19 surge, coupled with the size, scope and location of the event, the ALA said. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-09-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #liblearnx conference #san antonio #covid-19 surge

Bookshops 'vital' for high street regeneration, study finds

Bookshops are playing a "vital" role in the recovery and regeneration of high streets in towns across the UK and Ireland, early findings from a survey have found. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-13 12:21:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #study finds #high streets

Basic Books UK launches with diverse list after remote inception during Covid-19

Having worked on the launch of John Murray Press list Basic Books, a sibling to the US imprint of the same name, while suffering from long Covid, Sarah Caro is primed to release its first titles Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-10 12:29:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #diverse list #sarah caro

Lambert joins Bookshop board

Sophie Lambert has been appointed to Bookshop.org's advisory board, as the company continues to grow and embarks on future development plans. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-08 04:20:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sophie lambert #advisory board #company continues #bookshop

When Covid struck the Wolitzers, Meg and Hilma bonded by creating a book. Let them tell you about it.

Meg Wolitzer talks to her mom, Hilma, about her new collection, “Today a Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket,” parenthood, writing and how humor carries them through Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-08-31 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

Peninsula opens submissions for fiction

Peninsula Press has opened submissions for fiction this September, inviting writers to enter their work for the chance to be part of the publisher's "experimental, boundary-pushing" list. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-31 07:43:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #opened submissions

Beyond normal: new novel brings Sally Rooney mania to bookshops across UK

Many shops plan to open early for the arrival of Sally Rooney’s latest novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You next monthWhen they were children they lined the streets in their witch hats and capes, keen to pick up the latest Harry Potter title as bookshops opened their doors at midnight. Now they... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-08-28 15:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #open early #sally rooney #beautiful world #irish author #harry potter

Think of it this way: at least you're not locked down with drunken, misanthropic bookshop owner Bernard Black

The lead protagonist in the British TV comedy series Black Books might even relish being in lockdown. If you don’t, you might enjoy watching this show. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2021-08-27 00:11:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookshop

Illustrating the Risks of Winston Smith’s Love Affair

The following is excerpted from 1984: The Graphic Novel _______________________________________________ 1984: The Graphic Novel by George Orwell, adapted and illustrated by Fido Nesti. Copyright © 2021 by the Estate of Sonia Brownwell Orwell and Frederico Carvalhaes Nesti. Reprinted by... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-08-26 08:55:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #love affair #george orwell #mariner books #harpercollins publishers #harpercollins #graphic novel

Chicken House opens submissions for 24 hours

Children's publisher Chicken House is opening submissions for finished or unfinished children's novels for a period of 24 hours, inviting selected writers to gain mentorship from its editors. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-26 03:39:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #children's publisher

Essex indie bookshop doubles in size after 'thriving' in pandemic

An Essex-based indie bookshop is doubling in size after "thriving" during the pandemic. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-25 20:03:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookshop

Louis Theroux charts 'weirdness of Covid world' in Pan Mac deal

Louis Theroux has signed a deal with Pan Macmillan for a new book, Theroux the Keyhole, billed as a “heartwarming diary of the weirdness of family life in Covid world”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-25 15:16:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #louis theroux #family life #pan macmillan

New indie bookshop nods to Bristol's 'radical past and present'

A new independent bookshop which nods to Bristol’s “radical past and present” has opened in the city’s Harbourside area, near where Edward Colston's statue was brought down last year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-25 11:33:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent bookshop #bookshop

Law firm charity to launch string of bookshops

A law firm's charity arm is launching several bookshops as a way to combat loneliness and foster community connections. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-25 09:01:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #law firm #combat loneliness

Louise Penny’s latest mystery imagines a post-covid world. Things are still pretty complicated.

In ‘The Madness of Crowds,’ the sweet town of Three Pines struggles with the pandemic and its fallout. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-08-24 13:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #louise penny #post-covid world

Amazon to open US department stores, WSJ reports

Amazon plans to open several large physical retail locations in the US that will operate like department stores, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-20 23:13:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon plans #department stores

Bookselling Profile: The King’s English Bookshop

A quarter-century after Crosby, 55, left his native Utah for California, he quit his job as executive director of the California Independent Booksellers Alliance and returned to become co-owner, as of July 1, of the Salt Lake City literary icon. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookselling profile #english bookshop

Doire Press lands two titles inspired by Covid-19 pandemic

Irish publisher Doire Press will publish two October titles inspired by the Covid-19 pandemic, with commissioning editor John Walsh acquiring world English language rights directly from authors Madeleine D’Arcy and William Wall. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-17 23:27:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #titles inspired #covid-19 pandemic #irish publisher

ChineseALL USA’s ‘Crazy Maple Studio’ Opens a ‘Gamification Platform’

The US online storytelling subsidiary of China's COL Digital Publishing Group announces gamification techniques for user-generated content. The post ChineseALL USA’s ‘Crazy Maple Studio’ Opens a ‘Gamification Platform’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-08-16 22:46:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #user-generated content #digital publishing