Dawson, Bennett and Page support Independent Bookshop Week with Hachette

Hachette and its authors, including Juno Dawson, Brit Bennett and Libby Page (pictured), are championing indie booksellers in a social media campaign to support Independent Bookshop Week.

Independent Bookshop Week (IBW) is part of the Books Are My Bag campaign and is run by the Booksellers Association (BA), taking place from 19th June until 26th June, celebrating booksellers across the UK and Ireland. Hachette has sponsored IBW for more than 10 years.

Hachette's campaign will feature a series of videos from more than 20 Hachette UK authors, including Bennett, Dawson, Page, Alex Michaelides, Candice Brathwaite, Hollie McNish, Clare Mackintosh and Clare Balding. The authors will share their favourite places to discover new books and explain why independent bookshops are so important to them.

Cressida Cowell, a Hachette Children’s Group author, has also designed an exclusive celebratory Independent Bookshop Week tote bag for all participating bookshops.

David Shelley, c.e.o. of Hachette UK, commented: “Independent bookshops are a vital part of Britain’s high streets and a vital way of reaching readers everywhere. Like many high street retailers, they have also had the most challenging of times during lockdown. So, we are incredibly proud to be sponsoring Independent Bookshop Week again and working with some of our fantastic authors to help publicise it. I think this year promises to be the best yet and I’m really looking forward to shopping in a variety of independent bookshops and joining in the celebrations.”

McNish described independent bookshops as “my haven on the high street” while author Claire Lynch said: “I think we all understand that time stands still in a great bookshop.”

“Independent bookshops are vital because often they serve communities that wouldn’t otherwise find books that speak to them,” Singh added.

Page commented: “Independent bookshops are very special places where readers can receive personal recommendations and discover books they might never have heard of, but also where you can find a real sense of community.

“Our high streets would be so much sadder without these unique places.”

Emma Bradshaw, head of campaigns at the Booksellers Association, said: “The Books Are My Bag message to ‘choose bookshops’ has really struck a chord over the last year or so. Consumers recognise that by spending money on their high street, they are investing in their community. We’re inviting book buyers to ‘shop local’ this Independent Bookshop Week and celebrate the unique experience that can only be found by shopping in a bricks and mortar bookshop.

“We are enormously grateful to all at Hachette UK for their continued support and sponsorship of Independent Bookshop Week. We couldn’t do it without them.”