The new Indie Book of the Month initiative will see independent bookshops across the UK & Ireland unite to promote a new adult fiction title each month, together with a new children’s fiction title.
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The BA is currently calling for entries for adult fiction titles published in March, April and May 2020, with a submission deadline of 10 January. Publishers should contact the BA to request an application form via: sharon.benton@booksellers.org.uk or download from here. 

Award-winning picture book author and illustrator, Sophy Henn, has designed new artwork for the Indie Book of the Month campaign.

Emma Bradshaw, Head of Campaigns at the BA, said: “Our Independent Booksellers’ Children’s Book of the Month initiative has proved hugely popular with publishers, authors, booksellers, and – most importantly – readers. Independent bookshops play a vital role in connecting books with readers, and we’re very excited to be rolling out the campaign to include adult fiction, under the new name of Indie Book of the Month.”

Sophie Henn added: “I am completely thrilled and utterly honoured to be a small part of this wonderful initiative. I love independent bookshops and all who sail in them, they are a vital source of wonderful book knowledge, expertise and love. Hooray for the indies!” 

The BA launched the Independent Bookseller’s Children’s Book of the Month in January 2019. 

Praise from publishers and authors for the Children’s Book of the Month initiative:

Paul Black, PR & Brand Director at Anderson Press, said: “We could see the effect of the Independent Children’s Book of the Month immediately – with a healthy TCM week-by-week for the month of promotion, which continued after A Wolf Called Wander wasn’t book of the month! The vast majority of our sales have come from, and continue to come via independent booksellers.”

Helen Peters, author of Anna at War, published by Nosy Crow commented: “I was so thrilled and honoured that Anna at War was chosen as the Independent Booksellers Children’s Book of the Month for July. It’s been wonderful to connect with independent booksellers around the country, who tweeted messages as well as pictures of their beautiful displays. I’m certain that being Book of the Month hugely increased people’s awareness of Anna at War, and I am enormously grateful for that.”  

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