I’m proud to be part of the national campaign to support bookshops throughout lockdown – #SignForOurBookshops. During the last lockdown, bookshops moved mountains to remain operational – taking orders online, or over the phone. They now face a second lockdown in the build-up to Christmas, their busiest sales period.
#SignForOurBookshops is a national show of support from UK authors, launched by Holly Bourne, urging people to keep buying through bookshops by offering exclusive signed bookplates to stores and customers. Over 200 authors are taking part so far, including Matt Haig, Dolly Alderton, Malorie Blackman, Michael Rosen, David Nicholls and so many more.
The former Children’s Laureate, Chris Riddell, has designed bespoke bookplates for the campaign. Buying a #SignForOurBookshops book is buying a slice of positive history in a challenging year. What better Christmas present idea than that?
WHAT THE HECK IS A ‘BOOKPLATE’?
It’s a signed label that can be stuck into the front page of books, so it’s like having a personalised, signed, copy. In the lead-up to Christmas, authors usually travel around bookshops signing stock for the holiday trade, but obviously can’t do that this year. A bookplate makes a book into a individualised, signed copy 🙂
HOW CAN I BUY AN EXCLUSIVE #SIGNFOROURBOOKSHOPS BOOK?
Check out the hashtag and see which authors are involved, and how you can buy their signed copies. Some authors are sending out personalised notes to any customer who gives them proof-of-purchase from a bookshop, where others have nominated their favourite bookshops to send signed plates to. There are so many exciting books up for grabs by amazing authors – including bestselling crime writers, children’s authors, romance authors, and non-fiction. Please do get online, and start supporting bookshops. They are amazing pillars of our community, and I want them all to still be open when this awful pandemic has passed.
WHAT AM I PLEDGING?
If you want a signed Catherine book, here is what I’m currently pledging as part of the campaign:
I will send signed, personalised, bookplates to 50 people who buy one of my books through a bookshop during lockdown.
I will send signed bookplates to 10 bookshops
HOW CAN I GET A CATHRINE BRUTON BOOK?
I’m offering this on a first-come-first-serve business.
If you are interested in the above, please contact me via the contact form on my website or send me a DM via twitter @catherinebruton. Please send me proof-of-purchase, and I can make up your personalised bookplate and pop it in the post.
Bookshops and Usborne reps, the same applies. Thank you.
IS THIS UK ONLY?
I’m afraid this is currently only a UK campaign. Although Irish authors are pledging for Irish customers too, so check out the hashtag to see who’s involved.
AND PLEASE SUPPORT BOOKSHOPS!
If you buy a signed copy, do try and pick other books up while you’re shopping with that store. I know I’m hugely biased, but books make such incredible, thoughtful Christmas presents – even if they’re not signed.