1. When you set up the Wee Bookshop, what was your vision and what made you go into bookselling?
Our vision was to create a cosy, safe, and beautiful community space with books and reading at the heart (and good coffee too!). How it felt or made people feel was a priority – calm, inspired, accepted and welcome.
The decision to go into book selling was part romantic notion, part retirement planning. I thought it would be like Hugh Grant in Notting Hill …! My youngest was in her final years at school and I felt my veterinary CPD business had run its course after 15 years and the Covid years. We saw a dilapidated chip shop up for sale in our local village and the location was perfect. Naively we thought knocking down a few walls and putting up a few shelves would be easy but 2 years and a spiralling budget later proved otherwise.
2. What’s it like running an independent bookshop and café in Dollar? What do you hope your shop brings to the local area?
It is (mostly) wonderful! We have had so much community support, have great staff, made new friends, even if I lurch from teetering on the brink of being overwhelmed, not knowing what I’m doing, to feeling so happy and excited and full of ideas. We hope our shop provides a community hub, a haven for friends to meet, a place to relax and be inspired by books and reading.
A customer wrote us a lovely review recently: “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”
Our village has been drawn together by the opening of The Wee Bookshop, it is a safe and welcoming space where, by the fireside books, ideas, conversations and connections are shared. Different groups and individuals have been drawn together creating a vibrant sense of community and togetherness.
Books are a window into a world that allows us to know that there are others everywhere who think like us, who feel like us, that the capacity for expansion and discovery is endless. The space the Wee Bookshop has gently opened within our community invites us all to belong and I am delighted by this every time I walk through the door.”
3. What’s your favourite part of the bookselling day, and the least …?
Favourite parts are many :- from the first quiet moments when everything is set up and I have time for a coffee before opening, to welcoming the regular oldies who come in everyday, to finding a book for someone (‘it’s got a blue cover and is about an otter’ type thing) to already having a book in stock that someone comes in to order . The least favourite is putting the cakes away and tidying up at the end of the day, accounts (!) and any grumpy or rude customer (thankfully a minority but still staggeringly baffling!).
4. You stock a wide range of titles for readers of all interests and ages, as well as some gift products – how do you choose the books and gifts you have in the shop?
Only being open 18 months has meant an evolving stock as we get to know what our customers like and want as well as us finding the confidence to bring ‘new stuff’ to people they may not have considered. Katie and I are the main book buyers, but all staff have a hand in suggesting new books or ways to organise our shelves. We read lots of reviews, have finally just started having Rep visits, follow lots of other great booksellers on social media and try and cater to our market: we stock a huge range of travel and outdoor writing as we are at the foot of the hills and have many outdoorsy folk and tourists. This is my area of interest too. Our historical and political non-fiction section is very popular with the discerning gentlemen of Dollar as is the children’s section with our local families. Surprise hits are our translated fiction shelf. Bucking trends, we don’t sell a lot of romantasy as we just don’t have that demographic ( nor do any of us read it …. yet!!) Our other products are mainly chosen as stuff we like. We are quite discerning with our choices of non-book stock and carefully curate this for our ‘brand’ and our customer base.
5. And finally, do you have any exciting plans for the shop in the coming months that you’d like to share with us?
To still be open and thriving in another 18 months would be amazing. We are getting busier and busier and our events programme and schools’ outreach is really taking off. It’s all very exciting although overwhelming. Hopefully we will find a balance soon and through it all we want to stay true to our ethos and ‘vibe’.
1. We see that there has been a bookshop located at 22 Thurloe Street since the 1940s. Tell us more about the history of the shop and what it is like today.
Yes, I have only worked under the current ownership who have had the shop since 2010. But the shop has always had a tradition of selling books that reflect its location in the ‘Museum Quarter’ so lots of Art, Fashion and History but we try and offer something for everyone – we have a lot of visitors to the area so our Fiction and Children’s sections are equally as popular.
2. How do you pick the books that line your shelves?
We pick things that work along our traditional strengths, but we try to the offer the best of current publishing. We sell quality remainders alongside newly published works this means we can offer discounts on things that we think people will find interesting– so it’s often a case of taking a chance on something we see that we think will work and going for it!
3. What’s your customer base – is it mainly tourist or local? What are they currently buying – is there a particular trend?
Our customer base has shifted much more towards visitors to the area, we still have some wonderful local customers, but they are in the minority. So interesting books that have broad appeal work best – we have consistent bestsellers such as ‘The Philosophy of Walking’ by Frederic Gros and ‘The Daily Stoic’ by Ryan Holiday. Some recent popular titles have been ‘Abroad in Japan’ by Chris Broad and ‘Four Ways of Thinking’ by David Sumpter. Our all-time best seller is ‘1984’ by George Orwell. The great thing about having so many different visitors is the right book will sell consistently for a long time.
4. If you had to pick one book to recommend that was published in the last year, which would it be?
That’s a tough question. I read quite a few last year that were great. The one book that still sticks in my mind though more than most of the others is The Bee Sting. It was brilliantly written from the perspective of four different family members weaving through their past and present with twists and turns and what an ending! I know you’ve said one but if I can also give a shout to Willy Vlautin as I think he is so great and should be read by more people. His latest, ‘The Horse’, is another great book worth a try.
5. And finally, do you have any exciting plans in the coming months that you would like to share with us?
We have lot of plans – window painting from illustrator Sharon King Chai for Easter, the Exhibition Rd Festival coming in June. We have upgraded our website and have a collaboration with James Norbury offering signed copies with a new book arriving in the Autumn. We are looking to increase our events – we currently offer a service to venues, authors, publishers but are planning on organising a few more of our own – so lots to keep us busy!
1. Linghams Booksellers is an established bookshop in Heswall, known for its events and very much part of the local community. Give us a taste of what a normal day is like; do you have a favourite (and least favourite) part?
Doors open at 9, computers on, lights and action so to speak! Check for our resident ghost who has been spotted on CCTV on the odd occasion. Check what’s on today, event, author visit, school visit, book club? Prep relevant areas and put signs out if there is an author event. Emails will be in thick and fast from online orders to replies to Sue for events, this usually involves lots of happy bookseller dances to be honest! Least favourite decking and chairs in the rain!
2. What’s it like running a shop on the Wirral?
We have a real community surrounding Linghams who have supported us through thick and thin. Author events have helped increase our reach to customers outside our region and introduce new readers to authors. Book clubbers are also a big hit, so much so we have opened a second slot to accommodate everyone. Our school visits are extremely popular and of course visiting reading ambassadors to choose some new books for the library. We also offer a wish list for schools, and this has been taken up by several recently. Working and curating lists with schools is a real favourite with Sue and Jane.
3. Tell us more about Letterbox Linghams, your book subscription service. What’s the criteria for the specially selected book each month?
This is a lovely service for both adults and children. The customer can choose a 3, 6 or 12 month service. Completing our questionnaire, our booksellers will choose some fabulous books for you each month with a note and some extra goodies! We are also looking at book hampers to compliment this service! Lily and Jane have some fabulous books up their sleeves.
4. What kind of books are your customers buying, is there a particular trend?
At the moment lots of cosy crime and romance. Marian Keyes is a big favourite! Sporting books always sell well too, and Everton’s Big Dunc has taken A LOT of pre orders! The LAMB by Lucy Rose has been read by all of us and we are hand selling this like mad! One to watch for little readers is Gozzle which Sue cannot talk about without tears in her eyes! Our local author Michael Barritt is a BIG seller with his history book Nelson’s Pathfinders.
5. And finally, do you have any exciting plans for the shop in the coming months that you would like to share with us?
Lots of exciting events booked in which is very exciting and some lovely children’s events during Easter too. Is it too early to mention Christmas? Yes, well just watch our website!
Photo credit: The Whitworth Shop
1. The Whitworth is an inspiring art gallery and creative space. How does this influence your bookselling vision?
We are very lucky to be selecting book ranges for an art gallery renowned for its inspiring exhibitions and vibrant creative atmosphere. The gallery’s ambitious and engaging program provides constant inspiration, and we strive to offer a diverse range of titles that resonate with our visitors. While exhibition-related merchandise holds a significant place, books consistently remain a cornerstone of our sales, offering visitors a deeper dive into the art and ideas they encounter.
2. Tell us more about the Whitworth Shop. Do the exhibitions and art displayed in the gallery inform your buying?
Absolutely! The Whitworth Shop plays a crucial role in supporting the gallery’s mission to connect people with art and ideas. We carefully curate a diverse selection of books, informed by the gallery’s exhibitions and the broader art world.
For example, we are currently expanding our stock of J.M.W. Turner titles in anticipation of the Whitworths first exhibition of J.M.W. Turner’s celebrated Liber Studiorum in over 100 years.This exhibition will be a major highlight, and we want to ensure visitors have access to a range of books that deepen their understanding and appreciation of Turner’s work.
3. What do you want the shop to bring to the gallery experience, and what’s your favourite part about working there?
We strive to create a shop experience that seamlessly integrates with the gallery’s unique identity. We want it to be a destination in itself, offering visitors a curated selection of books, gifts, and artist-made products that reflect the gallery’s diverse collections and thought-provoking exhibitions.
Sustainability is a core value for us. We prioritise locally sourced and ethically produced goods and support independent & local makers.
My favourite part about working here is the constant inspiration. We are always excited to take on the challenge of creating new and exciting exhibition collections. It’s a privilege to contribute to a space that nurtures creativity and connects people with art.
4. What sort of books do you find your customers most interested in – books that tie in with featured exhibitions or is it more varied than that?
A mix of both to be honest. Our customers demonstrate a wide range of interests, but books directly related to our featured exhibitions consistently prove popular. We strive to curate a diverse selection that caters to these varied interests while always reflecting the unique character and current programme of the Whitworth.
5. And finally, do you have any exciting plans in the coming months that you would like to share with us?
Turner In Light and Shade – our new exhibition! Please come and see it, it will be an amazing show. It’s on display from the 7th February until the 2nd November 2025. We are also very excited for Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970-1990 to open on the 7th March.
1. We see that the People’s Bookshop is run as a volunteer collective – how was it established, what was the driving force, and have its ideals been realised?
The People’s Bookshop was opened by a North East-based activist, Ben Sellers, back in June 2011. The first shop was tucked up an alleyway in Saddler’s Yard on the way to Durham Cathedral (the crooked staircase became legendary). Ben had worked in Waterstone’s (just next door to the original location) and had always felt there was a gap that a more radical, quirky bookshop could fill, as well as being a hub for community activism. So, in 2011 he took the plunge. It was initially a solo venture, but it wasn’t long before regular customers started offering to help out, and the first ‘bookshop collective’ was formed. Initially, this was an informal volunteer collective but, as time went on, Ben and others started discussing the idea of establishing a more formal co-operative collective, with the help of veteran local activist Vin McIntyre. After the enforced lockdown caused by Covid-19 (which nearly ended the bookshop venture), these plans took shape, a journey towards a more formal community enterprise began, and the move to new, more accessible premises was realised.
2. What do you feel the shop brings to the community at large?
Since opening, the bookshop has been at the heart of the progressive community in Durham. It is a space where alternatives become possible, and a community space where events, meetings and informal discussions happen that might not in more commercial enterprises. We’ve held hundreds of events over the last 13 years, from Owen Jones launching ‘Chavs’ back in 2011 to Women Against the Pit Closures singing ‘Women of the Working Class’ at the top of their voices, to folk singer Joe Solo wowing a packed room with his barnstorming poem ‘Why are you so Angry?’. We’ve also hosted small group meetings for newly formed organisations, with little resources and support from elsewhere – such as the Durham University Feminist Society and the Working-Class Student Association. These events, and the organisation that goes with them, could not happen without the welcoming physical, inclusive space that the People’s Bookshop has become. We still sell books, both new and second-hand – and that is important in terms of the cultural life of Durham – but we’ve always said that we are more than a bookshop.
3. What’s it like running an independent, radical bookshop in the city of Durham? Would you say a lot of your customers are students from the university?
It’s a rollercoaster ride running any bookshop in the current environment, never mind running an independent, radical one on a shoestring. There have been moments over the last 13 years when we’ve looked at our bank balance and wondered whether we could get to the end of the month but, somehow, we always managed to. There is so much good will towards the People’s Bookshop, both locally and nationally. We have been lucky with the few bits of national exposure we’ve had, with some very prominent supporters, including the former leader of the Labour Party, Jeremey Corbyn, but the thing that has really kept us going is the loyalty and enthusiasm of local customers, many of whom have become volunteers. Ultimately, a local, independent bookshop is a treasure, and many people realise that. We have been helped, rather than hindered, by our commitment to a radical politics, as that has given us a focus and a reason for people all over the country to support us, but we are now embarking on a journey in new premises and reaching a wider audience – and that, too, holds many opportunities, so it is an exciting time.
4. If you had to recommend one book that everyone should read, which would it be?
We have chosen the Ragged Trousered Philanthropist because it is a classic of radical literature that puts forth socialist ideas in an accessible way, a quality narrative introduction to the origins of English labour movements.
5. And finally, do you have any exciting plans for the shop in the coming months that you would like to share with us?
As a registered Community Benefit Society (CBS), we are committed to sharing our profits with community organisations. But we believe that we can benefit County Durham in many other ways, especially by making our shop a community hub where people can meet, talk and discuss community action on local issues and problems.
A CBS is run by its Members. In 2025 we will be launching a Community Share scheme where anyone who agrees with our aims and who buys the requisite number of £1 shares becomes a Member, is invited to general meetings, scrutinises our accounts, sets policies and elects the Board of Directors. However, our shop is run entirely by volunteers under the guidance of our store manager. Consequently, we aim to continue to operate as a volunteer collective where every volunteer has an equal voice and is encouraged to make suggestions about running the business.
We are the only radical bookseller in the region and one of the best sources for used books. So, in addition to stocking a full range of academic and leisure books, we will continue to develop our specialisms on regional, working class and trade union history, politics, world affairs, social issues and the climate crisis.
A major worry is that our current premises are due to be demolished as part of a major redevelopment towards the end of 2025. We can only hope that we can find a suitable alternative at a reasonable cost. Wish us luck with that!
1. Tell us more about the Hastings Bookshop, what was your vision when it opened in 2020?
We opened The Hastings Bookshop in November 2020. The initial vision for the bookshop was to create a vibrant, inclusive space to showcase a diverse range of new titles; with a particular focus on literary and translated fiction, poetry, art, politics and philosophy. We also aimed to become the go-to bookshop in Hastings for events; be it book launches, poetry readings, kids story times or art workshops, or anything else that seemed fun and interesting. Unfortunately, as we opened during the Covid-19 pandemic, we were forced into a national lockdown just days after opening our doors for the first time. This meant that we had to adapt quickly and develop an online bookshop, shipping books out nationally and internationally – alongside providing local deliveries (on electric bikes) and a click and collect service. We were in and out of lockdown restrictions for the first year of trading, but from the summer of 2021 we have been able to realise our vision more fully and develop a diverse range of talks and events, that have included dozens of in-shop events, as well as some larger annual projects such as The Hastings Bookshop Poetry Festival and Hastings Queer Book Festival.
2. What’s your favourite part of bookselling, and why?
I have been working as a bookseller since the age of 16. The dark art of bookselling is something that becomes second nature if you spend enough years in bookshops, surrounded by books and getting to know readers’ interests, preferences and interests. It can be a hugely rewarding job. You meet a varied, interesting and eclectic mix of people and you get to spend every day surrounded by books. My favourite part is picking the stock, as I only chose to stock books that genuinely excite me, so I get a real rush when someone comes into the shop and buys something that I have chosen.
3. What types of books have your customers been buying recently? Have you noticed any trends?
We have definitely seen an increase in sales of translated fiction – especially amongst our younger customers. Apparently this is a trend that is being seen across bookshops nationally, which is a source of hope to me. We have also been selling lots of books about folk culture, magic, the occult and the history of witchcraft recently. Make of that what you will.
4. We love a Staff Pick – what’s your criteria when choosing the books?
Our Staff Pick section is changing all the time. Me and my colleagues Elliot and Jamie are always eager to recommend books. We don’t really have a set criteria for choosing our selections – it could be from any section of the shop – if one of us likes a book, it will likely end up in the Staff Picks section at some point. It is a good way of recommending books that might not get noticed otherwise, and it can also be the start of an interesting conversation between us as booksellers and our customers.
5. And finally, do you have any exciting plans for the shop in the coming months that you would like to share with us?
We are approaching our 5th year of trading and we are so grateful for the loyal support from our customers. Expect more of the same in 2025; interesting books, bigger events and fun times.
Photographs by Justin Slee
1. From your website we see that Colours May Vary is more than a bookshop – tell us more about the concept behind the shop, how it came into being.
Colours May Vary is the result of the obsessive jackdaw tendencies of two retail loving people (myself and my wife Becky) and was an idea long before it was a reality. We both studied art & design history, both worked in retail (record shops being a formative experience) and could (and can) often be found crate digging and excavating everywhere from chaotic charity shops to shiny concept stores looking for treasure. I was always more drawn to books (many years spent as a librarian probably helped), and Becky to beautifully designed objects and products (a decade in jewellery design doing some of the work here).
When some of our favourite Leeds shops closed in the late noughties (Habitat, Muji and Borders being the most missed), we found ourselves with nowhere locally to go, and we ended up wandering more and more to Manchester, or London to get our retail fix. The idea of creating a retail space that combined our love of beautifully designed objects, and interesting and esoteric reading matter started to brew. In 2012 we found ourselves walking around an empty space (a former car showroom) in a red brick building on the city’s east side wondering whether we could turn our dream into a reality. We celebrate 12 years in business this year, and, for the last three have been situated in the beautiful Corn Exchange in the city centre. Here’s to the next 12.
2. What’s it like running a shop in the Corn Exchange?
It’s a lot of fun. The Grade 1 listed building is beautiful and stops us in our tracks every day we walk through its doors. There’s a great community too, lots of folks doing wonderful things – plant shops, gallery spaces, posters and prints, independent fashion, jewellery, coffee… you name it. It’s the best place to shop independently in Leeds city centre. New retail units are due to open in the basement very soon, so there will soon be three floors to explore.
Last night, as I locked the doors, the basement was filled with dancers, whooping and careering across the stone flagstones under an undulating purple light, as they prepared for this year’s Light Night celebrations. There’s never a dull moment here.
3. How do you choose the books that line your shelves?
When we first opened, we specialised in books related to what we term commercial art (graphic design, typography, printmaking, etc.). I’d spent years working in art libraries, so having my head in publisher catalogues was second nature. Across time our interests have shifted; we still stock a lot of design titles, but find ourselves increasingly drawn to books on folklore, environmental issues, and nature. We are, like a lot of independent bookshops, tight for space (and we do like to display books cover on), so it’s always quite a careful edit to get the stock balance right.
Selecting is always helped by customer’s recommendations, and there are always those publishers we trust to put out consistently interesting titles. Other than that, it’s reading reviews, eyes on social media, keeping up with publisher catalogues and the foresight of good reps!
4. If you had to pick one book in the last year, what would it be and why?
One book…, blimey, that’s a tough task. Okay, I’m going to pick the one I’ve just finished reading, as it is fresh in my mind and really got it’s claws into me. The book, ‘Bedsit Land: The Strange Worlds of Soft Cell’ by Patrick Clarke is the first in Manchester University Press’ British Pop Archive series and focusses on the first four years of the synth pop duo’s career.
Largely an oral history of the band, the content sheds a glorious (neon) light on not only the duo’s swift ascendancy from art college experimenters to leather clad chart toppers, but also on their innovation, boundary-pushing and vital position in the pop firmament (something I think has previously been missed). What the book also does wonderfully well is flesh out moments, histories and locations through memory. A particularly vivid picture is painted of the singular nature of the Leeds art school environment of the late ‘70s for example (Marc Almond and Dave Ball met while at Leeds Polytechnic) and is brought to life through the voices of students and tutors in attendance at the time. Elsewhere, the grit and sleaze of ‘80s Soho and the vibrancy and debauchery of Studio 54-era New York get the same treatment.
Much more than a mere band biography, this book gets you under the skin of the people involved, of the places they worked, and of the times they lived in. It also leaves you wanting to listen to their recorded work (I actually went out at the weekend and picked up a second-hand copy of the debut album ‘Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret’, in Farsley – the crate digging never stops).
5. And finally, do you have any exciting plans for the shop in the coming months that you would like to share with us?
In November we celebrate our twelfth birthday, and as part of the celebrations we have co-curated a group show with local art scamps Mek Summat that champions the bumper sticker! The show is called HONK! and brings together work from 25 artists, who have each created incredible artwork that harks back to the golden age of the bumper sticker. We’ll have big versions all over our walls and actual stickers that you can buy! On the launch night (the 14th November bumper lovers) we’ll have beer, music and adhesive-backed loveliness and we hope to raise a chunk of money for local asylum and refugee charity PAFRAS. HONK!
1. We see you were founded in 1977. What is it like running such a well-established art bookshop in modern-day London, has it changed much through the years?
I suppose it is quite tough to conceive of a bookshop where clients are allowed to smoke, where typewriters are an essential piece of kit, where you have to telephone a call centre for a connection and sometimes count £15,000.00 in cash or verify the validity of a cheque! When we installed our digital stock system in the late 80s, we were pioneers!
2. You offer a wide range of services including one to compile and maintain bespoke art libraries for clients – tell us a little more about how this service works.
If only we didn’t have confidentiality clauses!
We were once asked to put together a library of catalogues raisonnés from Daumier to Damien (Hirst). One of our staff found herself booked on a flight to the desert her first day of work and it took 6 of us a whole week to sort and shelve the thousands of books we had sent – at the end, we celebrated amongst the dunes, in the shadow of Richard Serra’s then new installation.
Shortly after, the same client called upon us to create a custom management tool to sort and easily navigate their vast library by artist, exhibition venue, auction location or collection – so we came up with ART|LIBRARY, currently used by a number of international dealers, private collectors… if only we didn’t have confidentiality clauses!
3. How do you pick the books which are stocked in the shop, are there specific criteria?
We always focused on books for the art market – catalogues raisonnés, monographs and international exhibition catalogues. As our staff learns from the interviewing stage, it is our policy to stock the most authoritative book on any subject and in any language, irrespective of its being new or second hand.
4. What is the most enjoyable part of your working day, and why?
Routine – or the lack of it, in our case.
We exhibit at a number of international fairs, from the Winter Show in New York to the Salon du Livre Rare in Paris. This April we were at the Venice Biennale preview, collecting ephemera for an American institution, and we just acquired an extensive Chinese art library which we are due to present at the Hong Kong Firsts book fair in December.
5. And finally, are there any exciting plans coming up for the shop that you would like to share with us?
We are celebrating 40 years in Duke Street this year – our anniversary falls on Guy Fawkes’ night! Luckily, books are not nearly as flammable as people imagine. One of the volumes we might bring to the Winter Show this January proves it – a vellum-printed copy of Malfilâtre’s Narcisse dans l’île de Vénus, 1795, recorded in the 1805 library catalogue of Count Boutourlin, one of the greatest Russian collectors and head of the Imperial Russian Library. Boutourlin’s magnificent personal library was destroyed during the devastating Moscow fire of 1812, and it was believed that the Malfilâtre was lost in the conflagration. Our copy has mild grey stains at the tops of the leaves and it is tantalising to identify it as one of Boutourlin’s, rescued from the ashes!
1. Tell us more about the shop – how did it come into being, what was your vision?
I purchased the shop in 2017 after working in education and facing redundancy. The opportunity came at a difficult time in my life, but with my husband’s support, we took the leap.
2. What’s it like running an independent in Halesworth?
Running the bookshop has been a truly rewarding experience for me. I feel a strong sense of responsibility to the community, as the bookshop has been a staple in town for 46 years. I am determined to keep it thriving and not let it go bust under my ownership.
3. What’s your favourite part about bookselling?
Organising events, meeting authors, and engaging with the community are all aspects of the job that I thoroughly enjoy. I am particularly proud of the Book Group we have developed, as well as the success we have had with natural history and local authors in the shop. It’s been wonderful to see the support and enthusiasm from our customers, who are passionate about having a bookshop in town.
4. Tell us more about the Book Group you’ve set up, for example, how do you choose the books that get discussed?
The Book Group started before Covid, and we had to pause our meetings due to the pandemic. We eventually resumed in a safe manner, starting at the local pub and then moving back to the bookshop. We now have regular meetings and a Christmas party where members choose books for the following year. The group has grown, and it’s been a joy to see everyone engage with different books and share their opinions.
5. And finally, do you have any exciting plans for the shop in the coming months you’d like to share with us?
In the future, I dream of organising a book festival in Halesworth, possibly next November. It’s a significant challenge, particularly in terms of funding, but it’s something I would love to see come to fruition. I’m also involved in other festivals, such as the ‘Low House Lit Fest’ in Laxfield and ‘FolkEast’. Reflecting on the past 7 years and all that I have learned, I believe I am confident enough to take on the challenge of organising a festival in our little town of Halesworth. It’s a goal that I am actively working towards.
1. Your bookshop is in one of three official booktowns in the UK – what’s it like running an independent bookshop in Sedbergh? What do you hope it brings to the local area?
It’s lovely to be part of the Official Booktown community. It’s nice to fall under a special banner which interests and excites book lovers across the world, and it’s always fun to meet people who have travelled especially to cross England’s Booktown off their bucket list. Sedbergh has a lovely local community which we are proud to serve, and we try our best to keep connecting with them by running author events or involving the local schools in literary activities to hopefully foster a love of reading. We hope the town will only grow and flourish in the coming years so more and more people will want to pay us a visit.
2. What’s your favourite, and least favourite part of a normal working day?
I really enjoy interacting with the customers who come through our door. Whether they need help locating a certain section, or seek a recommendation from the fiction shelves, talking to people from our local community – or visitors to the area from further afield – is often the highlight of the day. It’s particularly nice to catch up with regular customers, hear about what they’ve been reading recently, and swap book recommendations. Working in a public facing job teaches you that people have all sorts of knowledge, interests and stories which can surface after just a short conversation. And even if not, I love a good natter either way, so I’m not fussy.
The least favourite part of the day very much depends on the day itself. No day is the same in Westwood Books, and with every interesting new task comes an equally difficult challenge. The biggest challenge we have, however, is one which I would wager troubles every bookseller on the planet: a lack of space. Yes, even with a shop as big as ours, we still struggle to find room for the mountain of books we get through the door. We are literally bursting at the seams with books. Organising, tidying and reorganising our behind-the-scenes areas frequently feels like a Sisyphean task, with many of the jobs being impossible to start until a list of about ten other jobs get done first!
But we’d much rather have too many books than too few. Plus, it’s reassuring to hear from fellow booksellers that this is a problem shared by us all. We are at least not alone, drowning in a sea of pages and words.
3. How do you go about choosing the books that line your shelves?
Because our shop is a hybrid of new, second-hand and antique books, our stock flow can oftentimes be unpredictable. When it comes to newly published books, we do what we imagine most independent bookshops do; keep an eye on current trends and highly anticipated reads, take advice from our reps, and occasionally add in books which we would like to read and hope someone else would too. One of the great things about independent bookshops is that we can provide a personal touch to bookselling, meaning we can select and champion books that follow our interests and passions, as well as popular, mainstream bestsellers.
When it comes to our used and second-hand collection, things arguably get more interesting. We must be very selective with the books we acquire due to our constant battle against shelf space, and we are consistently offered more books than we could ever possibly house. The physical condition often dictates whether we take books or not, as well as what subjects we have gaps in at that time. We also gravitate towards books on topics we maybe don’t see covered as often, niches and particulars which would appeal to a customer already well-read in an area. Quality of the information, cultural importance of the text, and aesthetic beauty of the binding often also come into play. In short, there is no way to easily distil our process for selecting books – it is essentially a heady mix of opportunity, research, instinct and guesswork!
4. If you could recommend one book published in the last year, what would it be and why?
Queens of the Wild by Ronald Hutton. This wonderful book offers a concise yet informative history of all the goddess-like figures who have peppered our history and traditions, from the medieval period to the present day. Drawing on history, anthropology, and the arts, Hutton explores how hags and fairies, witches and queens, all came to be, and how they have changed over the centuries.
We would recommend this book as it combines so many things we personally love to read about: feminism, folklore, and reworked perspectives on history and literature. Across his book, Hutton looks closely at four main figures—Mother Earth, the Fairy Queen, the Mistress of the Night, and the Old Woman of Gaelic tradition— and challenges decades of debate around the female figures. It also has a beautifully designed cover, and that’s always a plus in our books! For anyone interested in British tradition, folklore and religious developments, we recommend you pick this up!
5. And finally, do you have any exciting plans for the shop in the coming months that you’d like to share with us?
Westwood Books is always in a state of change, constantly evolving as we adapt to stock changes or experiment with new, and hopefully, better ways to run our shop. One big project we hope to see into fruition soon is a considerable layout change: unifying our currently separate children’s sections and turning our space downstairs into a welcoming, comfortable and well-organized area to house literature for young people of all ages. We are also always striving to expand and hone our collection of antique, rare and collectable books, and hope in the coming months that our catalogue will continue to refine and grow.