Award-winning actress Sheila Hancock
Award-winning actress, author and Hammersmith resident Sheila Hancock has backed H&F Council’s call to support the borough’s local bookshops on Super Thursday (9 October).
“I cannot imagine life without the pleasure of a good old browse in a local bookshop,” Sheila says. “But if we don't support them now, we have to accept that is what we may face.”
Currently, the borough is home to two thriving independent bookshops: Nomad Books in Fulham Road and Foyles in Westfield shopping centre.
Publishers hope their new ‘Super Thursday’ drive can be as successful as ‘Mega Monday’, the biggest day for online sales before Christmas.
“With so many great new books being published on Thursday, we hope residents will think about buying themselves a good read in one of our excellent local bookshops, or perhaps get a picture book to read to their children,” said Cllr Ben Coleman, who chairs the new policy and accountability committee for economic regeneration, housing and the arts.
A spokesman for Nomad Books said they had eagerly prepared their shop front to display some of the many new books released on Thursday in the pre-Christmas rush, which range from Sheila Hancock’s new novel, Miss Carter's War, to the latest cookbook from the Hairy Bikers.
At Foyles in Westfield, the store will be giving away 50 exclusive Books Are My Bag tote bags to all customers who spend more than £20 in the store on Super Thursday.
And this Saturday (11 October), Foyles will hold a Roald Dahl storytelling event for children to celebrate Books Are My Bag and take part in the Big Bookshop Party.
For more details on the Foyles events, see here.
