Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Bookseller Group to launch We Love This Book

The Bookseller  - 11.04.11 - Bookseller Staff

The publisher behind The Bookseller is launching an ambitious new quarterly consumer book magazine and website this June, We Love This Book.

The magazine will look at what to read each season. Distributed free to readers via independent bookshops, small chains like Foyles, libraries and festivals, it will have a 100,000 circulation and a website hub for readers. The magazine will also be available on subscription. Sam Husain, chief executive of Foyles, said: "This is a great initiative and much needed in the present climate. I am sure it will increase awareness of books and the latest titles."

Employing the expertise of independent booksellers as reviewers and opinion-formers, as well as readers, top literary journalists and authors, the We Love This Book magazine will combine timely, bite-size features with in-depth coverage of new titles, classics, themes and genres. As well as the book-centred features, it will delve into awards and festivals, film and theatre book adaptations, carry a new short story and have a section dedicated to children's books.

The accompanying website, centred­ on independent bookshops, will create a book community­ with a host of ways for readers to get involved. It will feature author profiles, an events planner, tailored recommendations and reviews, competitions, bookshop profiles, insider news, blogs and book videos. A weekly email newsletter, digital edition and social media applications complete the picture.

Editor Ed Wood, formerly editor of Waterstone's magazine Books Quarterly, said: "We Love This Book is all about people's passion for reading and introducing them to fantastic books. There is a huge gap in the market for an independent book magazine, which we will be filling with amazing content and an eye for what readers really want."

The launch is timed to coincide with the BA's Independent Booksellers Week and National Reading Group Day. Nigel Roby, managing director of the Bookseller Group, said: "This is a great opportunity for us to help stimulate demand for new and interesting books. We Love This Book will give all parts of the book trade a relevant, responsive and vibrant new way of reaching consumer book purchasers."

To contact the editor, email ed.wood@bookseller.co.uk; for advertising, brett.walker@bookseller.co.uk or marzia.ghiselli@bookseller.co.uk. and for bookshop, library and festival involvement louise.lenzi@bookseller.co.uk.

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