Headline hosts first Rooftop Book Club

Headline launched its Rooftop Book Club last night (19th August) at London’s Carmelite House with author Tasmina Perry saying the industry needed to work out how to “put the entertainment into publishing”.

The event hosted authors Perry, Stella Newman and Jo Thomas in conversation with Heat magazine’s Isabelle Broom.

Perry told The Bookseller the industry needed to work out “how to put the entertainment into publishing”.

She said: “My husband works in the music industry and that model relies on visibility, touring, secret acoustic gigs and we need to work out how to put the entertainment into publishing. Festivals are great but they’re only once a year. We all want to publishing to thrive and we do that through collaboration and inclusivity.”

Newman added: “It’s amazing to be able to meet readers one on one and have that personal interaction you miss because writing is so isolating. I write to connect and so this is great.”

The event was advertised through the social media accounts of Headline, Bookends and the authors involved. Tickets were priced at £10 and included one paperback of the reader’s choice, a tote bag and a cocktail as well as items from the event’s partner James Villas, the holiday company. This is the first event in what Headline hope to be an ongoing series with the next event planned to link in with their new “H for History” community.

Vicky Palmer, head of marketing and digital at Headline, said: “With Headline’s move to Carmelite House we wanted to set up a series of events to celebrate our books and authors. It started with an idea for a women’s fiction event based on authors who celebrate food and travel in their books and to help launch our new reading community Bookends, a joint venture between Headline, Hodder and Quercus.”

Altogether 80 people attended the event, including eight bloggers. Headline ran a “VIB” (Very Important Bloggers) competition through BookBridgr where four bloggers were able to bring a plus one for front row seats and a signed copy of Perry’s upcoming hardback which is out next month.

Picture (L-R): Broom, Thomas, Newman and Perry.