Page 12 - 45746 Together Magazine November 22 Stg3 AW flip

TOGETHER NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2022
Writers’ Roundabout
RETAILER FOCUS BOOK FEATURE Andrew Lacey of The GLO Bookshop, Motherwell, on

supporting local authors.

As part of their Christian Bookshop Day
talented team and I’m grateful for their work in
celebrations, The GLO Bookshop in Motherwell
held their second author fair in autumn 2022.
Sarah Grace Publishing author, Wendy Jones,
Billed as ‘Writers’ Roundabout@The GLO putting on the event.’
added, ‘After several years of few, or no events,
Centre’, a number of local authors were invited it was exciting to be able to meet once more
to come along and meet their Motherwell with fellow authors and those who enjoy
customers and the general public. In addition reading. The whole day had a real vibe to it,
to setting up beautiful displays to showcase with readings and book signings throughout
their books, each of the authors were invited to the day. Chatting to customers about books
make a brief presentation to tell the audience and reading brought a little bit of normality
about their writing and their books. The event back to everyone’s lives. The staff from GLO
was used as a book launch for new titles pulled out all the stops for this event and their Jim Bryden
from several of the authors – just in time professionalism and welcoming attitude was
for the Christmas present list! In addition to evident. I would like to thank them for their
connecting with customers, the authors enjoyed vision and support of local authors.’ There were huge benefits for both shop and
the opportunity to meet together, to create authors. Rather than bringing stock in for each
friendships and gather ideas for new books. Andrew Lacey, manager of The GLO Bookshop, author, we simply invited them to sell their own
commented, ‘We have had great days at
This was the second event, with the 2021 one Writers Roundabout events, with enthusiasm stock and give us a proportion of their sales –
being hosted by Instant Apostle author and and conversation between the authors and our generally ten per cent but some authors kindly
GLO Bookshop volunteer, Joy Vee, who ably customers. We appreciate all the commitment gave us more. We also offered our card terminal
compèred that day. facilities to authors who didn’t have their own
that our local authors put into their writing, option, and that was appreciated. One of our
Onwards and Upwards author, Jim Bryden, and it is our privilege to support this talent. volunteers took photos of the event which were
commented, ‘I appreciated meeting up with As a specialist Christian bookshop, we try to posted online- the photos have also been used
other authors, having chats and picking up encourage local authors as much as we can, by the authors in their own social media feeds.
some interesting ideas from those who clearly and this event is definitely one we will want We provided free tea and coffee for the authors,
were experienced writers and promoters of to repeat. Although this was a lot of work which was appreciated. The good news (for us!)
their work. Joy Vee brought energy, focus and to organise, now we have created a template was that the folk also took time to visit our café
fun into making the event enjoyable. The GLO further events will be much easier to and the bookshop. The GLO Centre was really
Bookshop in Motherwell have a dedicated and put together.
busy as authors and their families and friends
roamed about, chatting to customers, making
We appreciate all the commitment that our local authors put connections and generally spreading some
pre-Christmas cheer and laughter.
into their writing, and it is our privilege to support this talent.

Wendy Jones

Should any other bookshops want to
discuss this event with me, and some of the
lessons that we learned, you would be
Image from the 2021 event shows authors Jim Bryden, David Forrest, David Galloway, more than welcome to contact me at
Caroline Johnston, Wendy H. Jones, Alistair Noble, Karen Palmer, Margaret Skea, Mark The GLO Bookshop.’ T: 01698 275343
Anderson Smith and Joy Vee E: books@glo-europe.org
12 12