The Booksellers Association (BA) has announced Poonam Mistry, author and illustrator of The Midnight Panther, as this year’s designer of the Books Are My Bag Limited-Edition Bag, which will be available exclusively in bookshops across the UK and Ireland from Bookshop Day (Saturday 14^th October 2023).


 
Poonam Mistry is a freelance illustrator whose style incorporates her love of nature and explores the relationship between pattern, shapes and colour creating beautifully intricate illustrations. Bought up around Indian fabrics, paintings and ornaments, she cites them as a source that heavily influences her work. She has collaborated with Penguin Random House, Tate Publishing, Buster Books, Hachette, and Michael O’Mara Books among many others. She’s represented by ASH Literary.
 
Poonam Mistry said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been asked to design this year’s ‘Books Are My Bag’ tote. Bookshops are wonderful and magical places that bring communities together and celebrate stories all around the world. I owe so much to booksellers and bookshops who do an amazing job championing all writers and artists. I hope everyone likes the design of the tote as much as I enjoyed illustrating it.”
 
Emma Bradshaw, Head of Campaigns at the Booksellers Association, commented: “We are delighted that Poonam has designed this year’s incredibly eye-catching Limited-Edition Bag. Her illustrations are absolutely beautiful and the detail is exquisite. They are going to look wonderful in bookshops with their beautiful colours and patterns.”
 
Previous Limited-Edition Bags have been created by acclaimed illustrators, artists and designers including Jackie Morris, Dapo Adeola, Charlie Mackesy, Yehrin Tong, Sir Peter Blake, Grayson Perry, Tracey Emin and Orla Kiely.
 
 For more information visit www.booksaremybag.com
 
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