Joanne Harris: We should all celebrate Bookshop Day

Small presses, libraries and independents are all under threat. No one wants to hear their child ask: ‘What’s a bookshop?’On Saturday it is Bookshop Day. My heart always sinks a little when I hear that a day has been set aside to celebrate something I love: it too often feels like being put on a list of exotic endangered species – and indeed libraries, small presses and bookshops are all disappearing fast.When my first book was published, there were no ebooks, no Amazon and most high streets boasted a bookshop. Chains and independents thrived equally – partly because book prices were fixed, which made for a level playing field. But with the demise of the net book agreement, the book world began to change. Independent bookshops could no longer afford to compete. The chains pointed to the free market – until Amazon appeared on the scene, when they themselves began to fall to online competition. Related: Weird and wonderful bookshops worldwide – in pictures Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]

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Industry Notes: Germany’s Buchtrailer Awards and the UK’s Republic of Consciousness

This is the second year of operation for Germany's Buchtrailer Awards and the third year for the UK's Republic of Consciousness Prize for small presses. Both niche programs have opened for submissions. The post Industry Notes: Germany’s Buchtrailer Awards and the UK’s Republic of Consciousness... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harris takes fourth Chocolat novel to Orion

Joanne Harris is bringing out her first novel in the Chocolat canon in seven years, with publisher Orion. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Watkins gives indies early release date for foraging title

Watkins Media is launching a campaign for independent bookshops for its upcoming title Foraging With Kids by Adele Nozedar. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Templar launches indie bookshop window competition

Independent bookshops can win £500 and a visit from Jonny Duddle via a new window display competition, organised by Templar Publishing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Feminist Book Fortnight launches this summer

Over 25 radical and independent bookshops are taking part in a two-week long celebration of feminist books in a bid to add to the debate about diversity in publishing and showcase books by women writers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Influx wins Republic of Consciousness Prize

Hackney-based independent publisher Influx Press has won the 2018 Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses for its title Attrib. and Other Stories by Eley Williams. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indie bookshops vie for The British Book Awards title

A bumper crop of Britain and Ireland’s best independent bookshops are bucking the market trend, achieving double-digit sales rises in 2017. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Big Green Bookshop proposes indie alliance

The Big Green Bookshop is proposing to set up an alliance of independent bookshops in order to negotiate better discounts on books to compete with the bigger chains and retailers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary fiction in crisis as sale drop dramatically, Arts Council England reports

New figures show that fewer UK writers earn enough to live on, as ACE blames falling sales of literary fiction on the recession and the rise of smartphonesThe image of the impoverished writer scratching out their masterwork in a freezing garret remains as true today as it was a century ago,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Five thousand signed book plates for 'La Belle Sauvage' released to indies

Penguin Random House Children’s and David Fickling Books are releasing 5,000 La Belle Sauvage book plates, signed by author Philip Pullman, to independent bookshops as part of “special plans” promised last month. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-11-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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TLS and Arts Council back Republic of Consciousness Prize

The Times Literary Supplement has become the official media partner of The Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gaiman, Pullman and Trollope in 'yoga challenge'

Neil Gaiman, Philip Pullman, Joanna Trollope, Lemn Sissay and Joanne Harris are throwing their weight behind a five day yoga challenge next week, organised by The Society of Authors. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indie Pub Two Dollar Radio to Open Bookstore

The Ohio-based literary press is opening a bookstore/cafe/bar in its new headquarters in Columbus's South Side neighborhood. The new store will sell Two Dollar Radio's titles, as well as books published by other small presses. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indie bookshops praised as IBW Book Award shortlist revealed

Independent bookshops have been praised by authors as “oases of intellectual and physical comfort” as the Independent Bookshop Week Book Award nominees have been released. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fitzcarraldo's Counternarratives wins inaugural Republic of Consciousness Prize

Counternarratives by John Keene (Fitzcarraldo Editions) has won the inaugural Republic of Consciousness Prize for small presses, for its "once in a generation achievement for short form fiction". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indie bookshop presence in the UK contracts for an 11th consecutive year

The number of independent bookshops in the UK has fallen for the 11th year in a row, according to the Booksellers Association’s annual membership figures, but the rate of closure has slowed. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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McCormack's Solar Bones up for Republic of Consciousness Prize

Irish author Mike McCormack’s Goldsmiths prize-winning novel Solar Bones (Tramp Press) is one of the eight titles shortlisted for the inaugural Republic of Consciousness Prize for small presses, alongside titles from indies including Freight Books, Galley Beggar Press and Cassava Republic. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Crowdfunded small-press prize announces inaugural shortlist

Neil Griffiths’ Republic of Consciousness prize for ‘brave and brilliant’ works from small publishers unveils contenders for award funded by online raffleA prize designed to reward “brave, bold and brilliant” literature from small presses that raised its purse from crowdfunding has announced its... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-01-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indie bookshops called on to complete annual Christmas Trading Survey

The Bookseller is calling on independent bookshops in the UK and Ireland to complete its annual Christmas Trading survey. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hygge and Bake Off mark second Civilised Saturday

Independent bookshops are gearing up for a second year of events to mark “Civilised Saturday” – billed as the antidote to the mayhem of deep discounting day Black Friday. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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