IBW2021

IBW2021: Louise Mumford’s bookshop date (almost!)

To celebrate Independent Bookshop Week, Louise Mumford – author of Sleepless – looks back on one of her favourite bookshop memories… the time she almost got a date! Love at first sight? My favourite memory of a bookshop is an easy one: the day I nearly got a date… Read More

IBW2021: Nadine Matheson’s bookshop memories

To celebrate Independent Bookshop Week, Nadine Matheson (The Jigsaw Man) looks back on her childhood bookshop memories, and the importance of representation. One building; many worlds Is it possible to miss a building? To feel a longing to be back inside those hallowed walls that housed a gateway… Read More

IBW2021: Kia Abdullah on the joys of being ‘bookish’

It’s Independent Bookshop Week! Today we are joined by Kia Abdullah, author of the upcoming gripping courtroom drama Next of Kin. She talks about how it is such a joy to be ‘bookish’. Bookshops have been an anchor My mother tongue, Sylheti, is very much an oral language. It’s… Read More

IBW2021: Katie Ginger on why every town needs a bookshop

Katie Ginger, author of The Secrets of Meadow Farmhouse, tells us why every town needs a bookshop in this fantastic blog post for Independent Bookshop Week. Every town needs a bookshop When I was around ten, every weekend was spent in my favourite place in my tiny hometown: a… Read More

IBW2021: Sophia Money-Coutts on the unique treat of book shopping

This Independent Bookshop Week, we are joined by Sophia Money-Coutts (author of The Wish List, Did You Miss Me? and more!) as she revels in the ‘unique treat’ of book shopping! The unique treat of book shopping Almost inevitably, books about ponies came first. What is it about… Read More

IBW2021: Jessica Ryn on her number one bookshop memory

We’re continuing our Independent Bookshop Week series with a trip down memory lane with Jessica Ryn, author of The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside. Continue reading to reminisce along with her! My Number One Bookshop Memory What did you miss most about bookshops during lockdown? If… Read More

IBW2021: Melanie Golding on the sweet smell of bookshops

To celebrate Independent Bookshop Week Melanie Golding, author of Little Darlings, shares her love of bookshops, specifically the smell we all wish could be bottled. The Sweet Smell of Bookshops There was no bookshop in the village where I grew up. Although there were plenty of… Read More

IBW2021: PL Kane on memories of bookshops in Chesterfield

For this Independent Bookshop Week blog post, PL Kane author of Her Husband’s Grave shares some fond memories of growing up and exploring bookshops in Chesterfield. PL Kane on bookshops on memories of bookshops in Chesterfield My main memories of gaining access to books when… Read More

IBW2021: Samantha King on magical booksellers

To celebrate Independent Bookshop week, Samantha King – author of the upcoming novel The Secret Keeper’s Daughter, joins us to talk about the exception to her goal-focused approach to shopping… bookshops! The quirkier, the better Truth be told, I’m not a very enthusiastic shopper. Retail excursions tend to be strictly goal-focused: I identify my desired product,… Read More

IBW2021: Karin Nordin on books as friends

To celebrate Independent Bookshop week, author Karin Nordin (Where Ravens Roost) discusses how bookshops were her most reliable companion when moving around as a child. Next stop? Bookshop! I don’t have a first bookstore memory, but I have many I’ll never forget. There was the time my best… Read More

IBW2021: Louise Hare’s bookshop escapes

To celebrate Independent Bookshop week, Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City, reflects on her childhood memories of bookshop escapes and the wonder of bookshops in a post-lockdown world. Bookshops are gateways to myriad worlds When I was a kid, I spent all my pocket money on books. Every Saturday my mum took… Read More

IBW2021: Rachel Dove on bookshops feeling like home

To celebrate Independent Bookshop week Rachel Dove, author of Meet me at Fir Tree Lodge, is here to share how bookshops make her feel like she’s home and how 2020 showed us the importance of them. Growing up, books were my safe place. No matter… Read More