Our round-up of Midas news from the week:
Bookshop Day is coming on Saturday 12 October
The initial plans for Bookshop Day were revealed! It will return this autumn on Saturday 12 October 2024, with lots of exciting initial plans to celebrate the importance of all high-street bookshops across the UK.
This year’s theme is “Bookshops Making a Difference”, with this year’s campaign artwork commissioned from award-winning illustrator Sophy Henn. Artist, author and illustrator Angela Harding who has designed this year’s Books Are My Bag Limited-Edition Bag, exclusively available in book shops from Bookshop Day. Meanwhile, a spotlight on Glasgow and its wonderful bookshops will see local artists Jacqueline Briggs and Jack Stamp creating two murals in St Enoch Square and Blythewood Street. Exciting celebrations are already lined-up, with around 1,000 bookshops set to take part, who will be organising in-person author events up and down the country.
Make Some Noise by The Horne Section
Comedy band The Horne Section delighted members of the public at St. Pancras International Station with a surprise performance to mark the publication of their first children’s book, Make Some Noise. Described by the Guardian as ‘Britain’s Funniest Band’ and led by Alex Horne, creator and host of the hit Bafta winning TV Series Taskmaster, The Horne Section is a six-man band known for their trademark unruly, ridiculous and surprisingly satisfying stylings, having starred in their own hit Channel 4 TV show and chart-topping podcast alongside a range of TV appearances from The Last Leg to 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. The day before the book’s publication, the band gathered around the iconic Elton John Piano within St. Pancras for a fully coordinated performance with a range of acoustic instruments including a trumpet, banjo, saxophone, drum and bass guitar, filling the station with music as unsuspecting passers-by were able to watch and listen.
Flora and Fern: Wonder in the Woods by Sarah, Duchess of York
Sunday Times bestselling author and philanthropist Sarah, Duchess of York revealed the details of her brand-new picture book Flora and Fern: Wonder in the Woods, sharing the news with her followers on Instagram. The book is the first in a new series, illustrated in full colour by Denise Hughes and to be published by New Frontier on 10th October 2024, with a second book to follow in 2025. The festive picture book follows Flora and Fern on a snow-filled woodland adventure as they prepare for a party and has with a message of community and sustainability at its heart.
Far by Rosa Ribas
Foundry Editions published their third book on Tuesday, this time hailing all the way from Spain. It’s Far by best-selling author Rosa Ribas, dubbed ‘queen of Spanish noir’, translated by Charlotte Coombe. Far is an atmospheric, addictive novel and a social critique on the scars of the Spain’s housing crisis – full of rivalry, tension, mystery and love.
Book Lover Spotlight: @zoelovesbooks
Bookshop.org’s initiative ‘Book Lover Spotlight’ shines on a different individual every two weeks to curate and post their favourite books.
This week’s Book Lover Spotlight is on @zoelovesbooks, who has created a list of her favourite books from the 21st century. Check out the post here or on the website here.
Exciting News from Midas!
We are thrilled to announce that Maddie Dunne Kirby and Yolanda Copes Stepney have joined our team in pivotal new roles in the digital marketing team. Maddie, Senior Digital Account Manager, comes to us from HarperCollins, bringing her impressive reader-focused marketing expertise and dedication to author care. Yolanda, Associate Director, has been a game-changer with her knack for reaching influencer communities and non-traditional audiences.
And that’s not all! We’re also welcoming Phoebe Williams from Penguin Random House Children’s as our new PR Account Director. Phoebe is eager to bring her creativity and strategic insight back to the dynamic world of PR agencies.
For more Midas news see here.
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