World Book Night 2014. Want to be a book giver?
Did you notice the new image on the left sidebar? The cover of Miss Darcy Falls in Love with an intriguing logo attached? Well, here is the news – BIG NEWS – on what that is all about!
World Book Night U.S.
is a nationwide initiative, with the involvement of authors, publishers, agents, booksellers, librarians, and, above all, readers. It is the product of a round table discussion at London’s Book Industry Conference in May 2010, the purpose of which was to imagine a way to encourage more adults to read. The belief is that reading for pleasure improves literacy, changes lives, improves employability, and can have a positive affect on mental health and happiness. Giving is a powerful part of our culture, so what better way to spread the love for reading than to inspire passionate readers to go out into their communities and share copies of their favorite books with those who don’t regularly read?
With that concept in mind, World Book Night was first celebrated in the UK and Ireland in 2011, then in 2012 it was brought to the US. For three years now, 30-32 titles have been chosen by an independent panel of librarians and booksellers based on high-standards of quality, diversity, and more. The authors of the books waive their royalties, and the publishers agree to pay the costs of producing the specially printed World Book Night U.S. editions. Bookstores and libraries sign up to be community host locations for the volunteer book givers.
On April 23rd, givers hand deliver their selected books (around 20 copies of the title they chose) to people who don’t regularly read or who don’t normally have access to printed books, for reasons of means or geography. April 23 was chosen because that date is the UNESCO International Day of the Book, as well as Shakespeare’s birthday.
Givers apply to voluntarily join in the outreach in the months leading up to World Book Night.
To become a book giver all you have to do is fill out a short form, choose three possible books you want to distribute, and agree to the simple terms. You must be 16 years old, and agree not to sell the books. Due to the importance of the World Book Night charity outreach, and their passion for this cause, they want givers who feel the same passion.
In a major media burst on October 23, 2013 – six months before World Book Night occurs on April 23, 2014 – the 32 titles for 2014 were announced. All of them can be seen in the image below.
Now, surely you noticed which book is smack in the middle of that collection, didn’t you? YES! As amazing as it is to be in the company of Scott Turow, Terry McMillan, Agatha Christie, and all those incredible authors, my novel, Miss Darcy Falls in Love, was one of the 32 chosen. I am still in a state of shock. Absolute shock! It is, hands down, the most tremendous honor that has yet to be bestowed upon me since I began writing. I am thrilled, and SO happy to be a part of this wonderful outreach to readers. It is a dream come true.
In the weeks and months ahead I will share the news of World Book Night US and be as involved as I can with spreading the word both online and locally in my community.
This event is worth lifting up. These books are worth extolling. And how awesome is it to have an Austenesque novel in the mix? I think that is fabulous!
Omigosh! You and Agatha Christie in the same honored group!! Yay, Sharon!