Coles, Barrow and Locke win at the BA Conference Awards

The Reverend Richard Coles has been awarded Author of the Year award at the 2023 BA Conference Awards on 2nd October. Alison Barrow, PR director at Transworld, won The Sophie Christopher Award for Publicist of the Year, while The John Faiers Rep of the Year Award, named in memory of John Faiers, was given to Rosy Locke from the Independent Alliance.

Meryl Halls, managing director at the Booksellers Association, said: “We are delighted to honour a brilliant rep, publicist and author at the BA Conference Awards, recognising their deep understanding of bookshops and booksellers, and showing our huge appreciation of all that they do."

The awards honour the key figures in the book industry and their work towards supporting UK bookshops. The 2023 winners were selected by 367 booksellers across the country.

Halls added: "We hope the awards encourage the wider publishing sector to acknowledge the essential role bookshops play in promoting and selling books, connecting authors and readers, and contributing to a healthy publishing ecosystem.

“Following what was still a very Covid-heavy year last year, a lot of rebuilding and recalibration has happened this year, for the BA and for booksellers. It was a pleasure to gather our members at the BA Conference (our biggest yet!), and reflect on the challenges and opportunities bookshops are facing, hearing from some incredible speakers, and come together to learn and network as only booksellers can do.”

Booksellers from across the UK and Ireland gathered at the BA Conference and Gardners Trade Show, held at Leonardo Hotel in Hinckley Island, to discuss key issues impacting bookshops and attend the BA Skills Labs.