Rev Coles, Mackintosh and Okojie among lineup for 2023 Independent Bookshop Week

Reverend Richard Coles, Clare Mackintosh and Irenosen Okojie are among the lineup for this year’s Independent Bookshop Week (IBW). Run by the Booksellers Association (BA) between 17th and 24th June, IBW is the annual celebration of independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland, with Hachette as the headline sponsor.

With nearly 700 independent bookshops confirmed to take part, celebrations will be taking place up and down the country. These include a special event with Rev Coles in conversation with Mackintosh. Rev Coles will be travelling to various cities during IBW, including Norwich and Ely.

Other events include the return of the Indie Bookshop Week BookTok Tour with participating BookTokers from across the country, sharing content from their favourite independent bookshop. A full festival line-up will also be featured as part of the Brighton Book Festival.

This year, a bookshop-led fundraising event will be held for Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home. The Independent Bookshop Week children’s bag this year features artwork by Cressida Cowell to mark 20 years of How to Train Your Dragon (Hodder Children’s Books).

John Patrick Green, creator of the comic book series InvestiGators (MacMillan Children’s Books), is visiting the UK and Republic of Ireland for the first time during Independent Bookshop Week. His UK tour includes 14 events and signings organised by nine independent bookshops, as well as a virtual multi-school event hosted by Village Books.

“Poetry Café” will take place on Friday 23rd June, at Brighton Centre for Contemporary Arts. It will be hosted by Roy McFarlane and joined by Salena Godden, Nii Ayikwei Parkes and Ty’rone Haughton.

The Heath Bookshop in Birmingham will have author Claire Fuller visiting for the evening of Saturday 24th June. Meanwhile, Afrori Books and The Feminist Bookshop are bringing back their Brighton Book Festival between 20th and 25th June, with several events during IBW.

Other events will include a supper club on Tuesday 20th June, as well as a poetry workshop on Friday 23rd June at Brighton Centre for Contemporary Arts, hosted by McFarlane and AFLO. An emerging authors showcase will also take place on Saturday 24rd June, with debut authors across different genres. 

Bookshop.org will be offering free shipping on any purchases made on the website the last weekend of IBW, Saturday 24rd and Sunday 25th June.

Rev Coles said: “One of the many enjoyable things about publishing my debut novel Murder Before Evensong (W&N) last year was getting out to meet lots of independent booksellers all over the country. Seeing their amazing window displays, tables and stacks of books was heartening."

Emma Bradshaw, head of campaigns at the Booksellers Association, said: “With the number of UK independent bookshops at a 10-year high, we are looking forward to celebrating this milestone, and no doubt independent booksellers will know how to make the week extra special. There will be something for everyone, so we encourage all book-lovers to make the most of this week that brings the wonderful indies together."