‘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 ]

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


James Patterson to Give Indies a $250,000 Bonus

After offering $1 million in grants to indies last year, the bestselling author is continuing to show his support for bookseller "heroes" through holiday bonuses to those working on the frontline, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Latest James Bond scribe says Idris Elba 'too street' to play 007 - and later apologizes

First of all, Anthony Horowitz may be a bestselling author in England, but he's not Ian Fleming. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Oliver Sacks, neurologist and bestselling author, dies at 82

Oliver Sacks, the neurologist and bestselling author who sought to humanize people with brain disorders by portraying their bizarre lives not as litanies of freakish behaviors but as examples of resiliency, has died. He was 82. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Cleeves, James and Hawkins win Dead Good Awards

Established authors Ann Cleeves and Peter James and newcomer Paula Hawkins were among the winners of the inaugural Dead Good Reader Awards. The awards, given out on Friday 17th July at the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, were voted on by readers and members of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Strayed Doing Book of Quotes for Knopf

The bestselling author of 'Wild,' Cheryl Strayed, has closed a deal with Knopf to publish a book of collected quotes. 'Brave Enough' is set for October 27, and will feature 100 of the author's most popular pearls of wisdom. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Learn from Nicholas Sparks: how to write a tear-jerker

Nicholas Sparks is more than just a bestselling author of sappy romantic fiction; he's a pop culture phenomenon. A former pharmaceutical salesman from Omaha, Nebraska, Sparks has sold a reported 97 million books worldwide, and the films based on them have, so far, have grossed a total not far... Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


UK Twitter event for E L James

E L James will be holding a live Q&A from the Twitter head office in London's Piccadilly next Monday (29th June). The bestselling author of the Fifty Shades of Grey series will hold the live #AskELJames Q&A at 6pm. The five best questions on the day will win a signed copy of the latest... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Matt Haig 'crucified' on Twitter for planning book about masculinity

‘If a man wants to write about gender and the pitfalls of masculinity, they’re met with sneers,’ says the bestselling author, who disputes criticism that he is antifeministThe author Matt Haig found himself “crucified” online after suggesting that his next non-fiction title could be a book... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Dead Good Books creates crime awards

Penguin Random House’s crime community Dead Good Books has created six awards to be presented at this year’s Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival by authors including Lee Child and Val McDermid. Each award has been created in collaboration with the Dead Good Facebook community and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


5 Writing Tips: Ann Packer

Tips from the bestselling author of "The Dive From Clausen's Pier" and the new novel "The Children's Crusade." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Russell Brand voted world's fourth most influential thinker

Comedian voted on to Prospect magazine’s annual list, topped by economist Thomas Piketty, after year that saw him publish a book advocating the eradication of the nation stateThere are few figures who make the nation’s blood boil – either with sheer frustration or the spirit of revolution –... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Terry Pratchett, acclaimed fantasy author, dies

Pratchett is the author of such works as 'Wyrd Sisters,' 'Night Watch,' and 'The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents.' He was knighted in 2009 and was the bestselling author in the United Kingdom in the 1990s. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Teenager’s 10 Steps To Become Successfully Self-Published

Aaron Ozee, a prolific 18-year-old self published poet, offers his sometimes unorthodox methodology for becoming a bestselling author. The post Teenager’s 10 Steps To Become Successfully Self-Published appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Australian Insults Colleen McCullough in Obit, Inciting Ire

The Australian opened its obituary for the country's bestselling author, Colleen McCullough, with this: “Plain of feature, and certainly overweight..." The post The Australian Insults Colleen McCullough in Obit, Inciting Ire appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Diana Gabaldon, Poisoned Pen Launch Writers' Program

The bestselling author has partnered with her local bookstore on a writer-in-residence program in Scottsdale, Ariz. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Haruki Murakami wants you to send him a question

The bestselling author is reportedly soliciting questions from readers about anything from problems in their own lives to queries about his novels. Murakami will publish his answers on his website over the coming months. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-01-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


James Patterson Makes Holiday Donation to Indies

Eighty-one booksellers got a special gift just in time for the holidays. The bestselling author sent out $473,000 in grants for the third round of his million-dollar campaign to invest in indies. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Dan Brown: 'no rush for next Langdon'

Dan Brown’s next novel will feature character Robert Langdon, but the bestselling author has warned fans it may be some time before the manuscript is ready. The American thriller writer met a group of trade press journalists in Sharjah, UAE, where he is attending the Sharjah International Book... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Fault in Our Stars author backs literature diversity campaign

We need to reflect the reality of our communities, says The Fault in Our Stars writer John Green in video backing social media-led We Need Diverse Books campaignAll readers need to know that they too can be the heroes of a story, according to the bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Indie Author Star Freethy Starts Print Imprint

Amazon KDP's bestselling author of all time, Barbara Freethy, has started a new imprint to oversee publication of her books in print formats. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this