George the Poet and Sarah Waters to mark IBW as Hachette UK reveals new plans

Hachette UK, Independent Bookshop Week’s (IBW) lead sponsor, has partnered with its authors for a social media campaign, while two exclusives from George the Poet and Sarah Waters will further mark the occasion.

Held by the Booksellers Association, IBW celebrates independent booksellers across the UK and Ireland, and Hachette UK is the headline and only publisher sponsor.

The social media campaign, now in its fifth year, will run for a week on Hachette UK’s channels from Saturday 15th June. It centres around a series of videos from authors including Peter May, Rachel Clarke, Harriet Townson, L D Lapinski, Reverend Richard Coles, Rachel Blackmore and Chetna Makan. The authors will share their favourite places to discover new books, and why independent bookshops "are so important to them".

“There are over 100 events and activities taking place in independent bookshops, or with partner venues, during the week, as well as number of exciting online highlights, including George the Poet’s wonderful campaign poem," commented Emma Bradshaw, head of campaigns at the BA. "Whether readers are able to visit their local bookshop in person, or join in online, they are in for a treat.”

To further mark the occasion, Hodder & Stoughton author George the Poet has written a poem for the campaign, which will be shared on social media on 19th June. Moreover, to celebrate the release of a re-branded collection of Sarah Waters’ novels, Virago has created an IBW exclusive reader’s companion, which will be offered to customers as a gift with the purchase of any novel by the author. The guide includes a letter from Waters, and a "Where to Start with Sarah Waters" piece by her long-time publisher Lennie Goodings. In addtion, a "love letter" to Waters’ novels by Charlotte Mendelson — the author of The Exhibitionist (Pan Macmillan) — is included in the package, which also features a guide to adaptations of Waters’ novels.

“Our valuable partnership with Independent Bookshop Week seeks to recognise and support the vital role independent booksellers play in our industry," said David Shelley, group c.e.o. of Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group. "I’m excited by the scope of activity that our teams and authors have planned to ensure that we reach all readers during this fantastic week of celebrating bookshops.”

Hachette Children’s Group has planned in-store initiatives including window displays and installations, competitions, and merchandise giveaways around some of its key titles, such as The Cheat Book, Which Way Round the Galaxy, Giraffes Can’t Dance, Heartstopper and Sharky McShark and the Shiny Shell Squabble, as well as an exclusive Oi Frog and Friends! IBW tote bag.

The publisher also has a range of other author activities planned throughout the week, including with IBW ambassadors Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Coles and Clive Myrie. Meanwhile, authors Sarah Brooks, Paula Sutton, Harriet Townson, Lia Leendertz, Mick Herron, Elly Griffiths, Alex Hay and Nanako Hanada are taking part in independent bookshop events across the UK.

“Independent bookshops are like treasure troves staffed by the most erudite and lovely dragons," added IBW ambassador Hargrave. "I love the high ceilings of Forum Books in Corbridge, the gorgeously-painted windows of Booka Bookshop, the pitch perfect curation at Porty Books and of course the dazzling array at my local, Mostly Books. But every shop I visit is distinct and precious, and offers an experience as unique as the people who run them — and that is what makes indie bookselling such a vibrant and vital part of the book world.”