This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
By Carlie Lee
“Book
shops,” Tim Godfray tells me. “Are necessary.”
I nod, trying desperately to scribble down the gist of the ‘Books Are My Bag’ campaign. It’s hugely difficult, as his voice is quite quiet, and Earls Court very noisy.
Tim Godfray is the chief executive of the Book Sellers’ Association, and carries an exhausted but jubilant air, like a hound that’s been out all day, but has finally spotted a fox. You get the impression it has all been a hard slog, but now the launch is in sight, hugely worth it.
“Without bookshops,” he continues. “Readers are bereft of choice, whether informed or not. We also lose the discernment of the bookseller – we’ll be reduced to populist choices. The excitement, the discovery of new voices, will be gone.”
I keep nodding, impressed by the passion and fervour in his voice.
We are sitting at a table at the London Book Fair, surrounded by people writing sticky notes for the glossy yellowy-orange wall behind me. When I first arrived at the Fair, I was immediately drawn to the ‘Books Are My Bag’ stand. The idea is that you write your favourite book and bookshop, and stick it to the wall. There were stickies naming shops from all over the world.
There were also the bags themselves, emblazoned with the logo, hanging jauntily on special hooks. I have a shopper-bag fetish, and I very quickly got chatting to a lovely lady called Alison.
“It’s about saving Britain’s book shops,” she told me. “Such a brilliant campaign. We have our bags, and they’ll be given to special customers – celebrities and the like.” She moves them away from my hand. “It’ll make people remember to use their local bookshops. And–” here she broke off, and looked about in excitement. “–And, Maurice Saatchi himself, will be here tomorrow to launch the project!”
The tremendous energy and belief behind the campaign is laudable – the project is the joint idea of Booksellers Association president Jane Streeter, and Random House chair and chief executive Gail Rebuck. M & C Saatchi designed the ‘Books Are My Bag’ campaign to give booksellers a positive message. They wanted to avoid the pervading poor-me-itis that drips through British high streets.
“So,” I say to Tim Godfray. “I hear you have M & C Saatchi on site tomorrow?”
Tim’s handsome face brightens. “We’re so tremendously pleased,” he says. “They’ve been a great support. I can’t tell you how much they’ve put into the campaign, but it’s made all the difference. It’s lovely to work on a project like this, and with people who are so supportive. Not just Saatchi, but also the publishers, agents – everyone. The whole industry wants to work together to save Britain’s bookshops.”
I mention listening to Patrick Brown, Community Manager of Goodreads earlier that day, and Tim Godfray bristles with indignation.
“He said he wants to work with bookshops,” I tell him. He looks mollified when I say I’ll try to get his number, so he can speak to Patrick Brown himself (annoyingly, I later can’t prise the number out of the Authoright team).
The Books Are My Bag stand is filling up with people now, and earnest, slogan-decked ladies are trying to catch Tim’s eye.
“We’re running out of bags,” one hisses. She looks at me and confides, “All the movers and shakers have been down to collect one.”
I gaze at the bags, then back to Tim and his team in mute appeal. They crumble.
“Will you write a nice article?” they say. “Will you tell everyone what a great thing it is we’re doing?”
I grin, thanking Tim and his team for their time.
Most definitely, definitely: Books Are My Bag.
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