‘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 ]
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Two Indie Bookstores In Chicago Closed Their Doors Right After They Opened—and These Authors Are Trying to Help

Chicago authors are spotlighting the unique plight of two local indies that both closed to walk-in traffic on March 16: one bookstore that was only officially open for one day, and another that had changed ownership two weeks earlier. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Paraclete Postpones Two Books Amid Covid-19 Disruptions

Paraclete Press announced that it is delaying the publication of two titles originally slated for release May and early June due to the new coronavirus outbreak and “a mostly disrupted book market at every level,” the publisher said. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Woody Allen: 'I would welcome Dylan Farrow back with open arms'

Director says in new memoir that not raising his adopted daughter after abuse allegations – which he denies – was ‘one of the saddest things’ of his lifeWoody Allen has written that he “would welcome Dylan [Farrow] with open arms if she’d ever want to reach out”, in his recently published memoir... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-03-24 17:17:03 UTC ]
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Bookspeed closes to protect workers and stop spread of Covid-19

Edinburgh-based wholsesaler Bookspeed has closed its business during the coronavirus pandemic, saying it is unable to protect its warehouse workers with social distancing measures. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-24 05:06:40 UTC ]
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How Christian Publishers, Retailers Are Responding to Covid-19

Christian publishers and retailers are faced with challenges amid the novel coronavirus, Covid-19 outbreak, but are finding ways to cope. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Canadian publishers turn to e-book discounts to entice readers amid COVID-19

Some Canadian publishers are offering special deals on e-books in a bid to entertain readers and pay authors during the COVID-19 shutdown. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2020-03-23 09:00:00 UTC ]
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Trade trio launches £10,000 crowdfunder for booksellers hit by Covid-19 crisis

Three members of the trade have launched a £10,000 crowdfunder raising money for hardship grants to help booksellers hit by the coronavirus crisis. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-23 07:43:54 UTC ]
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Pearson warns Covid-19 will hit profits and pauses share buyback

Pearson has warned its profits will be hit, and paused its share buyback, after the Covid-19 pandemic closed testing centres and saw US state assessments postponed or waived.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-22 23:25:19 UTC ]
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Rolling Stone Launches IGTV Concert Series In Response to COVID-19

As the world continues to grapple with its temporary new normal, Rolling Stone wants to make sure its readers, and music fans, don’t miss out on their spring and summer concert plans. In an effort to leverage its access to musical artists across genres, the Penske Media brand launched an IGTV... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2020-03-20 14:28:37 UTC ]
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Ad Age print subscription update in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

As many of us transition to working from home in this unprecedented situation, we recognize that you may not be receiving your print copy of Ad Age. We would like to offer you the option to redirect your copy of Ad Age to your home so you can continue to enjoy the magazine in print. To change... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2020-03-19 18:27:27 UTC ]
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Covid-19 Updates: Special Offers and Discounts

A list of special offers and discounts offered in an effort to mitigate the impact of the new coronavirus on the book publishing industry and related communities. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Open Access for All to PW

A letter from PW president George Slowik addressing PW's response to the Covid-19 crisis, and steps on how to access all of PW's assets during this time. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Reviews Submission Update Regarding Covid-19

We ask that all titles sent in for review consideration going forward be submitted via our GalleyTracker platform only using digital review copies. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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W&N rushes out 'urgent exploration of Covid-19 emergency'

Weidenfeld & Nicolson is rush publishing Italian physicist and novelist Paolo Giordano's How Contagion Works: Science, Awareness and Community in Times of Global Crises, pitching it as a book that "helps us understand why Covid-19 should be a wake-up call for us all". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-18 02:18:41 UTC ]
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Folio:’s Promise to Our Community During the Covid-19 Pandemic

I have been with Folio: for eight years now. In that time I have seen a lot of ups and downs in magazines and publishing. Mass layoffs, bankruptcies, brand closures and misplaced bets have often dominated our headlines and the narratives around our industry. While all of those unfortunate... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2020-03-17 18:18:06 UTC ]
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Regional Independent Bookshop of the Year Award winners announced

The winners of the regional and country round of the Independent Bookshop of the Year Award have been announced, with nine shops in contention for an overall prize of £5,000. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-17 14:37:10 UTC ]
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Independent bookshops start to close as coronavirus advice comes in

Independent bookshops across the country are closing their doors to protect staff and customers from the coronavirus outbreak. Many indie shops are encouranging customers to support their businesses and place orders online. Delivery services have also been ramped up across the board, with some... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-16 22:52:52 UTC ]
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Coronavirus: International Publishers Make COVID-19 Research Content Freely Available

Research houses and scholarly publishers and associations are pooling their content for professional and public access free of charge. The post Coronavirus: International Publishers Make COVID-19 Research Content Freely Available appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-03-16 08:15:00 UTC ]
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B&N, BAM Remain Open

Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million are currently continuing to operate all of their stores, although both noted they are closely monitoring new developments related to Covid-19. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Horace Bent and the trade take the fight to Covid...sort of

I prepared as if LBF was going to happen, beginning with a vigourous pre-fair free solo ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite with Andrew “Danger is My Middle Name” Nurnberg. Free soloing means no ropes or protective gear and I was nervously looking up at the famously tough 3,000-foot cliff face—and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-13 00:31:17 UTC ]
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