Margaret and Dick found something they didn’t expect on their walk

Margaret and Dick were walking Rosie and Polly along a country track on the way to the little stream.

‘Why,’ stamped Margaret, staring ahead. ‘Do people do that? Poo bag, please Dick. Now.’

‘Really, they should pick it up,’ said Dick, groping. ‘Oh no, I have used all mine.’

Margaret fumbled in her pockets, tissues out, dog treats out, old co-op receipt. old post office receipt now. 2nd class book of stamps out.’ ‘Why,’ Asked Dick, ‘don’t you empty your pockets, from time to time?’

‘Never mind that. I have found my stamps. This could be a good morning after all.’

‘And a poo bag?’

‘I have two more pockets,’ soothed Margaret, knowing that Dick has a special pocket for poo bags, a special pocket for tissues, an inside pocket for receipts, and a second inside pocket for phone. Margaret doesn’t know how she came to live with someone with such a tidy mind. Sometimes she hears Dick asking the flagpole how he came to live with someone who was so dreadfully, awfully untidy, and who empties her pockets sometimes, but then filled them up again, in no particular order.

Finally Margaret found her poo bag, tucked up her jumper sleeve beneath her waterproof coat. She realised she had put it there, instead of her pocket, which was why there were so very many tissues in every pocket.

She gave Dick Polly’s lead to hold, and approached the poo. It was rather a large one. She felt cross all over again. She turned back to Dick, and started to say, ‘Really, it is too bad.’

But Dick was pointing, wagging his forefinger at the poo. (Margaret is sorry to keep saying poo, but needs must). His mouth was working, but no words.

Margaret turned back to the poo. It seemed it was once more, women’s work. But … Lord … Arrrgh … The poo … was moving, yes it was. Just a bit, then it sort of fell on its side. It had a little hand – yes it did, and another. Then there was a sort of shiver (not not from Margaret and Dick, but they felt like shivering.)

‘I’m holding the dogs,’ Dick said. ‘You’d better check things are …’

‘Are what?’ said Margaret creeping forward, poo bag in her hand. But what good was a poo bag if there was a sort of hand. The pile was back as it had been.

Urghh. Ooooh. How. Whaaat?

Margaret reached it, she bent over, she really looked. Was it a frog? But … There was another. Yes, two frogs, but there was another, sort of lying over the heads of the two frogs, and then, when she tried to count the legs, there was another set of legs and arms, all with hands, these two were sort of wrapped round the head of the two frogs.

Margaret breathed in. She put her poo bag back in her pocket. ‘Frog stack,’ she said in a matter of fact voice, because she had read about it, and she liked to be a know it all. But f-o-u-r frogs.

‘What are they doing?’ Dick said.

Margaret didn’t like to even think what they were doing, but she expected it was naughty. It was spring. She told Dick what she thought.

Dick looked at Polly and Rosie. ‘Not in front of the little ones,’ he said, his mouth looking as though he had sucked a lemon. ‘This is not our business, it really truly is not.’ Best just leave these four to ‘it’.’

So Margaret and Dick did as ‘it’ resonated for quite some distance. They left them to ‘it’ too, on their return, and as they stepped over them, the frogs sort of shivered again. (sorry if this is too explicit)

‘Well, it is spring,’ Margaret said to Dick.

‘Stop talking,’ said Dick, and hurried on back to Margaret and Dick’s garden, and Margaret did not make the coffee for a little while, for Dick would need a few moments… Yes, you know don’t you … with the flagpole.

Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win – Now You Can Be A Winner Too – by Award-Winning Author Dr Kathleen Thompson

I confess to being a quiz show fanatic. I freely admit to spending far too many hours staring at the TV and wracking my brains for that elusive answer, buried somewhere deep in my aging memories.

So I’m super-excited about Ant & Dec’s Limitless Win game –an impressively close match to the TV show experience.

Those who know the show won’t need an explanation, but for others, in brief: firstly there’s a real Money Ladder – yes there is – which you can hang up and then use the Score Trackers to climb up the ladder, just like on TV. The first part of the game is to answer questions to win lives, then you progress to the next stage when you must answer your way through 10 question cards by giving either the exact answer or a lower number, and bank as much money as you can – there’s no limit how much you can earn, but if your answer’s wrong you lose lives, and if it’s too high, you lose everything you’ve banked and lose the game. There are other neat features, such as life-line cards to be earned too. I love that a QR code is provided which allows you to play digitally, automatically keeping track of your scores.

I’m impressed how Ginger Fox have captured the spirit of the TV show and made it accessible to all. The game is for anyone from eight years old and above, and the questions range from easy to hard as you progress up the Money Ladder. The box is small enough to take on holiday without any problem and you can even play it by yourself if you are a serious quiz show addict.

At just £24.99 from Ginger Fox this is a great game.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Simba Hybrid Mattress Review

You sleep on a mattress every single night so buying a good one is important. Nothing is more important than sleep. Spending money on a good mattress is money that will never be wasted. It’s good for your body, your day when you are rested, and not being awake at night.

The Simba Hybrid Mattress is a fantastic mattress. Comfortable, cool and just the right amount of soft and firm. It contours to your body like a glove. It arrives in a box and expands in a few hours. Then you are ready to go. It smells a little at first so you might want to open a window. The Simba Hybrid Mattress is a dream to sleep on. I couldn’t recommend it enough. It is fantastic technology for a perfect night’s sleep.

Hybrid® Original Highlights

  • Our original Hybrid mattress. Our first ground-breaking design, over ½ million happy customers so far.
  • More springs, more comfort. Double the Aerocoil® springs of the Hybrid® Essential, for better spinal alignment & pressure relief.
  • Cooler sleep. Open-cell Simbatex® foam provides cooling airflow.
  • 100% edge-to-edge support. SupportCore™ base prevents roll-off at the sides.
  • Breathable cover. Soft, knitted cover with zip-off top for washing or replacing.
  • Made in the UK. With UK sourced materials, in zero-waste factories.
  • 100% recyclable. And designed with 68% less foam.

HIGHER AEROCOIL® SPRING COUNT

Extra springs, extra comfort

  
More contouring   
More cooling action   
Anti-motion transfer 

Made from titanium alloy. For strength in a tiny size.  

The Hybrid® Original features 2,000 of our titanium alloy Aerocoil® springs, the maximum we can fit in a single layer (and a big step up from the Essential). You won’t feel them, but they provide the tailored full body support and soothing pressure relief that’s already helped over half a million happy customers sleep better.  

They work in three, clever ways:  

Contour: each spring compresses individually in response to body weight; they’re also zoned for optimum pressure relief and contoured support  

Cool: they gently push fresh, cooling air through the mattress as they compress  

Control: their conical shape means they compress inwards, limiting transfer of movement.  

The Hybrid® Original also features our unique SupportCore® base, with another 1,000 pocketed barrel springs to ensure 100% edge-to-edge support.

Frost Loves: ‘Things I Wish I’d Known’ by parenting influencer Emily Norris

* The long-awaited book from the undisputed doyenne of mum-hacks, Emily Norris *

THINGS I WISH I’D KNOWN:

My hacks for a tidy home, happy kids and a calmer you

Things I Wish I’d Known is the go-to guide for easy and original mum hacks and habits. Packed with honest, gimmick-free and relatable advice to create a more harmonious family life from the much-loved influencer with over a million followers, Emily Norris, it’s the ultimate parenting guide.

Like Emily Morris I am a mum-of-three children. It is full-on and a happy chaos. Parenting is joyful and full of the highest of highs, but it is also hard and relentless. Anything that can make your life easier can make a huge difference. Emily Norris’s book is full of absolute gems I will be incorporating into my life. From slow cooker hot chocolate stations to rainy day hacks Emily Norris is a master of the lifestyle hack.

Things I Wish I’d Known is a fantastic resource to elevate your life and make parenting easier. Few people enjoy doing housework and there is plenty in this book to make it easier. The book is broken into sections and is easy-to-read and find whatever gem you loved again. This book is fantastic resource for parents and I can’t recommend it enough.

“Being a parent is hard. It can be boring and lonely and stressful and it’s OK to say that out loud. But I truly believe that even the mundane side of motherhood can actually be rather lovely: there is joy to be found even in the mundane.

My motherhood journey hasn’t always been plain-sailing. I’d gone from being a busy marketing director to just ‘mummy’. I loved being a full-time mum to my boys, but I missed the adult interaction I’d had at work and, as a result, my self-confidence took a knock. One thing I really enjoyed was getting tips and ideas from other mums on YouTube. Picking up simple tricks while juggling the ups and downs of motherhood saved me precious time, energy and money – they even saved my sanity on more than one occasion!

Every single hack and habit I’ve written about has been tried and tested on my own family and I hope make Things I Wish I’d Known the ultimate go-to resource for all things parenting – and I hope helps make your everyday a little easier.” – Emily Norris

Things I Wish I’d Known is separated into five sections. The first four – Home Sweet Home, Food, Glorious Food, Travel & Holidays, School Rules – are split into two parts: one for hacks (a quick, clever, and often fun solution to a parenting problem and something you can implement right away) and another for habits (a longer term, behavioural and routine-based remedy focussed on running your household as efficiently as possible).

·       Rainy day remedies including boredom beating activities such as mess-free painting, the painters’ tape assault course and learning ping-pong

·       Nifty ways to tackle that housework to-do list, from the ‘one touch method’ to the essential cleaning products you can make at home

·       Timesaving culinary tricks you’ll wish you’d known sooner including tips to make mealtimes easy, delicious easy-to-follow recipes for all the family and yummy snack ideas your kids will love

·       The must-read guide to managing the school holidays, from how to survive long journeys, beach hacks and the unexpected essentials you’ve got to take with you

·       Top hacks for the school routine, including time-saving tips for navigating the dash to the school gates, hassle-free homework and co-ordinating those extra-curricular activities 

In the fifth and final section, Emily looks at some of the ‘bigger picture’ issues around parenting, often discussed on her channel, such as sleep, boundary pushing and post-baby relationships with partners.

And sprinkled throughout the pages are Emily’s ‘Moment For You’ ideas to encourage busy mum’s to press pause on everything else and prioritise yourself for a little while.

Emily Norris, mum of 3 and YouTuber, has been creating positive, upbeat and sanity-saving content for mothers with young families around the world since 2014. She has created a space on the internet to support others in navigating the highs and lows of motherhood through sharing her infamous hacks and habits, all designed to create a more harmonious life for any family.

With over a decade of experience Emily has built a community of over a million followers cementing her reputation as a trusted voice within the industry. Emily is an ambassador for industry giants P&G and has partnered with household brands including, Disney, Microsoft, Sky,Dyson, Google, Tesco, EGO, KiwiCo and HelloFresh to name a few. Emily shares her raw and honest take on motherhood and is an advocate for ‘doing your best’ and is regularly praised by the mainstream media for her ‘mind-blowing’ and ‘genius’ hacks.

Emily’s community spirit was the inspiration behind her YouTube series ‘Hack your Home’. Putting her hacks and habits into practice, the series see’s Emily clean and re-organise the homes of those in need of a helping hand. Emily and her husband Matt have recently completed their dream home renovation which they documented across their home account @emilynorrishome.

Things I Wish I’d Known: My hacks for a tidy home, happy kids and a calmer you by Emily Norris will be published on 7 March 2024 (Ebury, Hardback, £16.99)

HeyDoodle Tales – Books Kids Can Scribble On With Impunity – by Award-Winning Author Dr Kathleen Thompson

I love HeyDoodle and so does my four-year old grandson – like all the best toys, the concept is simple and well-executed. There’s a wide range of educational colouring mats and books to choose from and each comes with a set of lovely brightly-coloured pens. As the mats and books are all made of silica, they can be wiped clean at the end of the day – no mess at all.

Certainly my grandson was absorbed for hours, keeping in the lines of the different animals and fish in the Habitats Above & Below book. Not only did it help him to colour neatly, but this book, in the new vertical format, has one page for creatures of the sky, one for mountain-dwellers, another featuring lions and giraffes living at ground level and finally a page for underground animals – a simple way for children to learn a great deal through simply colouring. But there’s more – on the other side were sea creatures – ranging from those living just below the surface (the Sunlight zone), those which swim in the deeper Twilight zone, then the Midnight zone-dwellers and finally the Abyss at 5000m below sea level, including of course sunken pirate treasure (I learned a lot myself looking at those pages).

Like all the books, it was presented with the colouring pens in a very neat keepsake box which is super easy to store and takes up almost no room. The books would be perfect for a long car journey, thus limiting the number of ‘Are we there yet?’s. Other titles include Natural Wonders and Old MacDonald Had A Farm. At £24.99 these make a really special gift for kids and can be used again and again.

Frost has featured the Dinoroars colouring mat before and these are still just £14.99 for the A4 size and £21.99 for the A3 size. But don’t take my word for it, check out the HeyDoodle website for lots more great ideas.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

The Thirsk Yarnbombers are thinking of holidays in their own inimitable way …

Yes, the wonderful Golden Fleece overlooking the Market Square – with its coffee and maltesers – leads the way with its yarnbombed railings. Then press the crossing button and nip over the road to the cobbled Market Place and here we go, just a sample of the holiday ideas.

A car with our animal friends enjoying the scenery. Well, there’s a lot of glorious scenery around Thirsk. Lucky lucky us.

We never know which of the many yarnbombers does what, but it doesn’t matter as they are such fun and we love their work so much. Someone asked me if they were ever vandalised. Certainly not, this is Thirsk, after all. And who would, with an octopus keeping an eye out.

Someone obviously travelled rather a long way, and lovely to see the kangaroo and Koala, both of which I’ve seen when I’ve travelled to Australia to research a couple of my novels. So many wonderful memories. (Thank you, Yarnbombers) But let’s move on…

A typical UK holiday scene, the lighthouse somehow standing sort of straight despite the rain, though the wind has caught the sails of the boat.

Beach huts and deckchairs, those were the days, with a hankerchief knotted at the corners if you were my dad. And there we are, a mermaid. What more do we need.

And of course, the holiday picnic – and for a moment out came the sun in Thirsk, so sandwiches can be eaten. Hurrah. And hurrah for the Thirsk Yarnbombers, they warm our hearts. What will they treat us too next?

Hot Romance Books For 2024

The Bookbinder’s Guide to Love by Katherine Garbera

The Bookbinder’s Guide to Love is the ultimate witchy rom-com, set in a magical bookshop and featuring the perfect enemies to lovers romance. Readers who loved The Ex Hex and The Pumpkin Spice Café will love this bewitching storyline, and its spicy romance scenes. Out now.

As a lonely foster child, Serafina Conte sought refuge in handmaking journals – and writing her wishes into their pages. Now, in the witchy shop she shares with her two best friends, her journals have catapulted into the spotlight and are rumoured to manifest remarkable things.

But her plot hits a twist.

After the death of her mentor, Ford Sitwell, her only comfort is the box of antique books he left her. Except Ford’s suspicious grandson, Wes, wants them back! Sera won’t back down, but it’s clear Wes is seeking more – an emotional connection no book can replace. So, he offers to work in her shop for six weeks if she’ll help him get closure by sharing memories of his late grandfather.

Wes may seem grumpy, but he is devastatingly good looking…and maybe even kind. Surely nothing’s going to happen between them, or will Sera’s story take her where she least expected?

The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovksy

For readers of Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun, The (Fake) Dating Game is the sizzling, laugh out loud romantic comedy where the fun of a reality show competition meets the undeniable chemistry of two men who are only dating for the cameras. 

Things are not going well for Holden James. His chance to audition for his favourite game show, Madcap Market, should have been great – a tribute to his mum, who died six years ago. Instead, he’s destroying the minibar in a grim hotel room… recently dumped and sliding into misery. But at least he has room service. It even comes with a sexy (smart-ass) concierge who arrives with pizza, Monopoly, and rather distracting forearms.

All Holden knows about Leo Min is that he’s beautiful, unexpectedly sympathetic, and the chemistry between them is off the charts. Maybe it’s even enough to convince the show’s casting directors that they’re a real couple. And if they can win the competition and the huge cash prize, all of Holden’s problems – his broken heart, buried grief, and complete lack of money and direction – will be solved.

Of course, nothing ever works out as planned. And love is an entirely different game…

Love Game by Emma Rae

Set in Wimbledon, South West London with a lot of real setting, this one was of particular interest to this SW Londoner.

Can a player on the court be a keeper at home?

Elle’s love language is food. But finding the right kind of work in her industry is difficult. After multiple different stints and temporary work, she lands her dream role: a personal chef to huge tennis star, Nicky Salco. It’s just a bonus that he’s handsome and athletic…but totally off limits.

The pressure is on, and not just in the kitchen. As Nicky trains for hours on the court for Wimbledon, Elle treads carefully around his brutally judgemental fiancée, while also trying to ignore her own boyfriend’s cheating habits.

But the temperature rises when Nicky’s training leads him to get hungry late at night and Elle is the one tasked with keeping his belly full. Despite being worlds apart, their late night rendezvous seem to lead to more than what they intended.

Should they risk the lives they have already built, for the lives they truly want?

A sizzling, forced-proximity sporting romance that fans of Hannah Grace and Ali Hazelwood will fall head over heels for.

It’s out on May 24th and I loved it. Great characters and setting.

Still Unwritten by Caroline Khoury

Loved this. Great characters and story. Drew me in from the first page.

Forty-eight hours to find her passion. Seven days to find his way back on stage. One chance to take a risk on love.

If Fran doesn’t nail this audition for a major TV role, she’s officially done as an actress. She just needs to tap into her inner seductress… who doesn’t seem to exist.

Enter stage right: Jae-seung.

To Fran, he’s just her landlord’s ridiculously hot nephew, helping her rehearse. To the rest of the world, Jae-seung is lead singer of global sensation, JYNKS – and he’s missing in action.

Together, they embark on an international journey of discovery: Fran, to track down her estranged mother and unlock her tightly guarded heart; Jae-seung, to continue (reluctantly) with his tour rehearsals. The chemistry between them is off the charts. But Jae-seung’s life is in South Korea, under strict contracts and constant scrutiny. Would a fling unleash Fran’s passion, or break the heart she’s learning to open?

A fast-paced, forbidden romance for fans of Helen Hoang, Lindsey Kelk and Ali Hazelwood.

Frenemy Fix-Up by Yahrah St John

Accountant Colin Anderson is a workaholic. Shay Davis is finally living her dream of owning a yoga studio. They may have gone to school together – but that’s where their similarities end. He’s Mr Corporate, hustling late into the night, while she flows through sun salutations and half-moon poses.

So when a health scare pushes Colin to make a few life changes, he knows where to turn. If he’s going to alter his work-life balance, he’ll need the right woman – and to do that, he must prioritise his health. Who better than Shay to help whip him into shape so he can win back his high school girlfriend?

The catch is, she only has ninety days to do it. And they can barely stand each other. But as their sessions start to heat up the studio, Colin and Shay move further and further away from what they thought they wanted…

***

Perfect for fans of:

Frenemies to lovers 🔥

Spice 🌶️

Opposites attract ❤️

The Devil in Blue Jeans by Stacey Kennedy

Deal with a devil

Moving to Montana to buy a dive bar with her two best friends sounded like the perfect plan to Charly Henwood. And after her cheating ex-boyfriend destroyed their relationship and their nightclub, she’s determined to focus on herself, her friends, and their business.

But it turns out the regulars resent newcomers swapping their craft beer for an extensive cocktail menu. Especially The Naked Moose’s previous owner, Jaxon Reed. The last thing Charly needs is a cocky cowboy telling her how to run her bar, or her life. But they make a deal – if Jaxon agrees to be the prize in a charity auction, Charly will make the bar a little more cowboy-friendly.

Except Charly finds herself doing battle with a man who is determined to win her over. And if her resolve goes up in flames, her heart is sure to follow…

***

Perfect for fans of:

Enemies to lovers 🔥

Small-town settings 🏡

Cowboy romance 🤠

Independent Bookshop Week 2024 Announces Ambassadors and Early Initiatives

The Booksellers Association (BA) hasIndependent Bookshop Week 2024 Announces Ambassadors and Early Initiatives announced this year’s official campaign spokespeople and initial plans for Independent Bookshop Week (IBW), the annual celebration of independent bookshops across the UK and Ireland. It will take place between 15-22 June 2024 with Hachette UK returning as the headline sponsor.

This year, renowned broadcaster and author of Murder at the Monastery (6 June 2024), Rev Richard Coles, celebrated journalist and author of Everything is Everything: A Memoir of Love, Hate and HopeClive Myrie and award-winning novelist and author of In The Shadow of the Wolf QueenKiran Millwood Hargrave will be participating in IBW as official ambassadors. They will also be appearing at bookshop events all across the UK – with more details and venues to be revealed.

Independent Bookshop Week 2024 returns with a packed line-up of exciting initatives from the inaugural Big Book Club to the sixth year of High Five for Bookshops supported by National Book Tokens and many more.

EXCLUSIVE POEM

With the success of poems created by Brian Bilston, Hollie McNish and Dean Atta, critically acclaimed spoken word performer George Mpanga, known for his artistry as George the Poet, has created a bespoke Independent Bookshop Week poem to support the campaign. The poem will be shared on social media at 6pm on Wednesday 19 June.

HIGH FIVE FOR BOOKSHOPS

High Five for Bookshops, the successful national giveaway from National Book Tokens, is back for a sixth year. The giveaway supports indie bookshops across the UK and Ireland to reward their most loyal local customers.

Bookshops participating in Independent Bookshop Week each receive 100 vouchers with unique codes, which customers can use to claim a £5/€5 National Book Tokens e-Gift card to spend instore.

Since its launch, High Five has continued to grow year-on-year, with 92,000 vouchers sent to indies in 2023 – a 200% increase since 2019. The giveaway is a valuable, footfall-driving asset to the annual Independent Bookshop Week celebrations.

BIG BOOK CLUB

Launching this year, the Big Book Club strand of IBW will celebrate the role of indies in bringing people together via a shared love of reading. The Big Book Club will see indie bookshops across the UK and Ireland holding book club evenings on the same day, on Wednesday 19 June. Participating bookshops confirmed so far include: The Beckenham Bookshop, Booka Bookshop (Bridgnorth), Booka Bookshop (Oswestry), Book-ish (Abergavenny), Book-ish (Crickhowell), Hungerford Bookshop, Jaffé & Neale, The Mainstreet Trading Company, and Wantage Bookshop.

BOOKSHOP CRAWLS

All booklovers are once again invited to organise their own Bookshop Crawl to celebrate IBW. The Bookshop Map on the homepage of the Books Are My Bag website is a useful resource to find your closest local indies and plan your route.

INDIE TWINNING

With its success making it a firmly established strand of IBW, Indie Twinning returns for a fifth year, with independent publishers and independent bookshops teaming up to develop bespoke programmes of activity across the country. Look out for special offers, exclusives, social media take-overs, bespoke bookshop windows and much more.

GUEST BOOKSELLING

Authors, poets and illustrators are invited to get involved with IBW with Guest Bookselling. Allowing guest booksellers to learn more about a new side of the booktrade and supporting local indies, and an exciting opportunity for bookshop frequenters to have a chance encounter with authors, poets and illustrators, this is a win-win for all!

BOOKSHOP.ORG FREE SHIPPING

Bookshop.orgthe online bookshop with a mission to support and celebrate indies in the UK, will again be offering free shipping on any purchases made on the website the last weekend of IBW, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June 2024.

Rev Richard Coles, said: “Booksellers around the market towns and cathedral cities of the UK have been so very genial and welcoming to me as I’ve spent many an enjoyable day visiting them to talk about Canon Daniel Clement, parish murders and dachshunds. I wouldn’t be in the wonderful position that I now find myself in – crime writer! – without their considerable efforts and support, so I am hugely grateful. It all began for me with an independent bookseller, The Oundle Bookshop, in Northamptonshire where, when I was 8 years old, my grandfather bought me my first proper book – The Complete Sherlock Holmes Short Stories – and without knowing it set me on this gilded path.”

Kiran Millwood Hargrave, said: “Independent bookshops are like treasure troves staffed by the most erudite and lovely dragons. Each knows their hoard inside out and I feel so lucky whenever I get to visit and ask for their recommendations, coming away with hidden gems and glittering storytelling riches. 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.”

Hazel Broadfoot, President of the Booksellers Association, said: “This is such a wonderful celebration of indie bookshops, and everything they bring to their local communities. Bookshops are not just about selling books – they connect people with books and authors – and each other! Independent Bookshop Week is an opportunity to shine a light on their hard work and creativity that brings so many cultural benefits to their high streets. In my bookshop, Village Books Dulwich, we have our planning under way – we’ll be joining in the fun and hosting lots of events for our customers of all ages to celebrate the power of books and reading.”

Emma Bradshaw, Head of Campaigns at the Booksellers Association, commented: “Independent Bookshop Week is one of the highlights in the book industry calendar. Throughout the week, we aim to celebrate not only the vital role the independent bookshops play in their local communities, but also the work of individual booksellers. We are thrilled to have the support of so many parts of the book trade; it’s a joy to see everyone brought together by the joy of books and a love for independent bookshops. This year’s programme of events, initiatives and exclusives is sure to be better than ever, and we’re very excited to kick off the celebrations in June!”

David Shelley, CEO Hachette UK, said: “We’re proud to continue our headline sponsorship of Independent Bookshop Week, an integral part of our happy and important partnership with the Booksellers Association. Independent bookshops are the beating heart of our industry, and this is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the vital work that they do, up and down the UK and Ireland, getting our author’s books into the hands of readers with such passion and dedication.”

Follow the latest developments via social media: #IndieBookshopWeek @BooksAreMyBag