Showing posts with label British Book Industry Awards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label British Book Industry Awards. Show all posts
Congratulations
Big congratulations to Emma and Alex of the The Hungerford Bookshop, Independent Bookshop of the Year. They are probably nursing slight hangovers this morning after (hopefully) a whirlwind night...and for everyone else, place it on your map for a holiday visit this Summer if you are into a bit of bookshop tourism!
Come see our nibbie!
Having got back to the bookshop yesterday lunchtime, we entered triumphantly to balloons, banners and congratulations from Alison, Julia and Karen in the shop (thanks guys!) - and then it was back to work. The broadband and phone were out. So after spending an hour grovelling around under the counter fixing that, I was all set to write-up the blog yesterday evening but...on popping down to the shop, I found a full-scale ant invasion at the back of the shop and spent two hours sorting that out.
Obviously the bookselling gods were a little concerned that some hubris was setting in. I duly sacrificed a Jeffrey Archer paperback on a small altar in the courtyard garden, and things seem to be resolved on the connectivity/infestation front. It was certainly an effective way to be brought back down to earth after an incredible 24 hours.
It was bookgroup tonight. The Thursday evening group was the first one we started just after we opened, and amongst those discussing the current book (Sharon Dogar's Waves) were members who have been with us since the first meeting. It was particularly nice to pass the nibbie around to show them, because they are as much a part of the shop as we are. I'm sure many of our customers will feel that this award is partly theirs - and they'd be right.
So anyway, it has been some 48 hours. For everyone who has sent messages of congratulations, sorry we haven't been responding. Normal service resumes tomorrow (hopefully). Before that, and in response to requests for photos, here's a heavily edited version of what happened when we went down to Brighton.
We arrived early in the afternoon - I'd never been to Brighton before, but Nicki has a bit of 'previous' where Brighton is concerned, so we headed for The Lanes and the Bath Arms for a nice pint sitting outside. We genuinely didn't expect to win (this isn't just false modesty - we just thought Mr B's was the hot favourite, which actually proved to be spot on but for different reasons), so we were reasonably relaxed - at that point.
By the time we got to the awards, any relaxation had evaporated. The awards ceremony is *big* (well, the biggest thing I've ever been to) and the staging was immaculate. On the way up to the drinks reception, we spotted the nibbies in glass cabinets along the wall. Reckoning this was the closest we were going to get to them, Nicki took a quick photo:
Obviously the bookselling gods were a little concerned that some hubris was setting in. I duly sacrificed a Jeffrey Archer paperback on a small altar in the courtyard garden, and things seem to be resolved on the connectivity/infestation front. It was certainly an effective way to be brought back down to earth after an incredible 24 hours.
It was bookgroup tonight. The Thursday evening group was the first one we started just after we opened, and amongst those discussing the current book (Sharon Dogar's Waves) were members who have been with us since the first meeting. It was particularly nice to pass the nibbie around to show them, because they are as much a part of the shop as we are. I'm sure many of our customers will feel that this award is partly theirs - and they'd be right.
So anyway, it has been some 48 hours. For everyone who has sent messages of congratulations, sorry we haven't been responding. Normal service resumes tomorrow (hopefully). Before that, and in response to requests for photos, here's a heavily edited version of what happened when we went down to Brighton.
We arrived early in the afternoon - I'd never been to Brighton before, but Nicki has a bit of 'previous' where Brighton is concerned, so we headed for The Lanes and the Bath Arms for a nice pint sitting outside. We genuinely didn't expect to win (this isn't just false modesty - we just thought Mr B's was the hot favourite, which actually proved to be spot on but for different reasons), so we were reasonably relaxed - at that point.
By the time we got to the awards, any relaxation had evaporated. The awards ceremony is *big* (well, the biggest thing I've ever been to) and the staging was immaculate. On the way up to the drinks reception, we spotted the nibbies in glass cabinets along the wall. Reckoning this was the closest we were going to get to them, Nicki took a quick photo:
Up on the balcony, the scale of the thing became apparent:
By now the nerves were well and truly jangling. It was only when I saw the award board that I started getting sweaty palms, and believing we were in with a shout.
We were sitting on a table with members of the Bookselling Association (BA), as well as Lyn and Mike, fellow shortlistees from Bookstór in Kinsale, Co. Cork. They were a total delight to chat to for the evening, we swapped loads of tips and stories, and Nicki and I sincerely hope we can make it over to what sounds a beautiful part of the West Coast of Ireland to see their shop. Thanks for the lovely comment you left on the blog yesterday as well.
I did take some pictures and video of the awards in the run-up to ours - but the quality was naff. Suffice to say that the tension was ratcheting up. All the award presentations had short films shown before them - here's the one for ours. I almost drop the camera at some point, just when we're announced, but you get the general idea:
The New Bookshop of the Year award was presented by Tracy Chevalier - remarkably at this point, I was still able to take a reasonably steady shot as she opened the envelope...
By now the nerves were well and truly jangling. It was only when I saw the award board that I started getting sweaty palms, and believing we were in with a shout.We were sitting on a table with members of the Bookselling Association (BA), as well as Lyn and Mike, fellow shortlistees from Bookstór in Kinsale, Co. Cork. They were a total delight to chat to for the evening, we swapped loads of tips and stories, and Nicki and I sincerely hope we can make it over to what sounds a beautiful part of the West Coast of Ireland to see their shop. Thanks for the lovely comment you left on the blog yesterday as well.I did take some pictures and video of the awards in the run-up to ours - but the quality was naff. Suffice to say that the tension was ratcheting up. All the award presentations had short films shown before them - here's the one for ours. I almost drop the camera at some point, just when we're announced, but you get the general idea:
The New Bookshop of the Year award was presented by Tracy Chevalier - remarkably at this point, I was still able to take a reasonably steady shot as she opened the envelope...
And we'd won. Shock, tears, an embarrassingly long trek to the front whilst being flimed, trying with only partial success to squeeze through all the chairs and tables blocking our way. What happened next was a bit of a blur as you can imagine. We made our way up to the podium, I thanked family and friends, our wonderful customers, and - sincerely - all the help and support we had received from the book trade since we opened, without which we wouldn't have received the award. I believe I singled out Anna Dreda at Wenlock Books and Matthew & Adam at Crockatt & Powell for special mention - difficult to remember exactly. Then we were whisked round the back for a photoshoot with Meryl Halls of the BA (who is completely lovely and, with the marvellous benefit of hindsight, chaperoned us brilliantly for the evening). You can see this photo here (I'm the one looking like an extra from a George Romero film).
I'm afraid for the rest of the evening - for obvious reasons - the picture taking went out of the window. I did, however, manage to get a picture of Emma from Snowbooks receiving her innovation award - she recollects her acceptance speech very well over on Snowblog.
I'm afraid for the rest of the evening - for obvious reasons - the picture taking went out of the window. I did, however, manage to get a picture of Emma from Snowbooks receiving her innovation award - she recollects her acceptance speech very well over on Snowblog.
We were also - finally - able to meet Nic, Juliette and Caroline - the illustrious team at Mr B's as they scooped Independent Bookshop of the Year.
Many, many thanks to Jane of Troubador/Matador who took this splendid picture of Nicki and I with our nibbie at the end of the evening:
Many, many thanks to Jane of Troubador/Matador who took this splendid picture of Nicki and I with our nibbie at the end of the evening:
We then spent the rest of the evening in a bit of a whirl, and I won't namedrop because a) it'll be tedious and a bit luvvy, but mostly because b) I can't remember everyone's names. Suffice to say that we had a wonderful evening in the company of some remarkable individuals, and we feel very embraced by all aspects of the book trade, which kind of proves the point I was trying to make in the speech...When we got back to the shop we hastily placed the award in the shop window.
We'll try and improve its display in the next couple of days (we have three big events coming up in the next week) but until then - thanks to everyone who's sent congratulations, thanks to the judges for choosing us, thanks to our amazing customers for making the shop what it is. We are definitely having a big party - most likely Saturday week. We'll announce it in the Herald next week, but before that, to everyone in Abingdon, come in and see our nibbie 'cos it belong to you as much as us...
Mark & Nicki
Mark & Nicki
And the winner was...
OK - I'm a bit 'jaded' this morning, so this is a quick blog from the hotel lobby, but we won! It was an incredible evening, I did take lots of pictures - so expect a more complete blog once we're safely back in the shop. Can't remember too much about our acceptance speech, so I hope I didn't do a Halle Berry, but it was all a bit overwhelming. It was also geat to meet the wonderful people from Mr Bs (who won independent bookshop of the year - how cool is that?) and also Emma from Snowbooks (Innovation in the Book Industry Award).
What a night - thanks for everyone's messages of support, and to everyone back in Abingdon - expect a party at the shop in the very near future...
Last minute nerves
Well, the big glitzy award ceremony is tomorrow evening. The mystery shopper reports will be in. The decision has been made. To everyone who has sent good luck messages since the shortlist was announced, our sincere thanks - we'll find out Tuesday night. Several people have popped in over the last few weeks to say that they will be there as well (I'm amazed at how many people in 'the biz' live in or around Abingdon!).
If you are going, we'll be very easy to spot: the couple sitting at the table fidgeting with our hire outfits, looking ashen faced, and desperately trying not to barf up the prawn cocktail. Yep, we're a bit nervous...
We've been in the papers a bit over the last couple of weeks - and I did a radio interview today on Jack FM (pop pickers). Ah, the corrosive nature of celebrity. Luckily it's bookgroup on Thursday which will allow the purifying power of books to purge me of my oversized head (I can't work out what's sadder, having to have my head deflated, or having it inflated from being on Jack FM...)
Anyway, good luck to all the other people waiting on a nibbie nomination tomorrow night...
Blimey
We've been shortlisted for this. Yoinks.
This means (apparently) that we will be mystery-shopped twice in the next fortnight as part of the judging process.
I will try to remain calm and not act like a grinning, over-friendly idiot every time someone new enters the shop over the next two weeks...
Congratulations to our other shortlistees: Bookstór in Cork, Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath and Seven Stories Bookshop in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
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