Carrie Morris from Booka Bookshop in Oswestry and Sue Porter from Linghams Bookshop in Heswall are independent bookshop owners, collaborating together to widen the reach of their events programme and audience awareness.
Their aim is to bring books to life by bringing a wide ranging programme of author-led events to the region.
Both bookshops are nationally recognised as award winning bookshops bringing the very best debut and established writers to their individual areas.
Booka won UK & Ireland Independent Bookshop of the Year in 2015 and now has a second shop in Bridgnorth, Shropshire.
Linghams owner Sue Porter was named Wirral Life Business Woman of the Year in 2024.
Both bookshops deliver regular event programmes in their own areas, but come together ‘sub-regionally’ to host high profile events in large theatre venues such as Storyhouse, Chester, William Aston Hall, Wrexham and St George’s Hall, Liverpool.
The bookshops have been working together on large author events for the past three years and they are now branding their collaboration to distinguish between events they do individually in their own communities and those they do together.
Their new brand name is: BLing -Booka & Linghams Events
Carrie said: “Our aim is to bring the sparkle and excitement to book events.
“Meeting your favourite author and hearing them speak, is a special moment and one we want to make memorable'”
This Autumn, they are hosting events with national treasures, household names and key figures from sport: Michael Rosen, Joanna Page, Geraint Thomas, Charlie Mackesey, Susie Wolff, David Walliams, Philippa Gregory, Bradley Wiggins, John Cleese, Lee Child, Jeff Kinney and Joe Wicks.
Sue said: “Events are the life-blood of modern day bookselling. They allow us to extend the opening hours of our shops and reach readers who might work during the day. We are providing an evening of entertainment centred around the publication of a new book. It’s a celebration.
“Books are at the heart and centre of our event structure. We are booksellers after all, so every ticket we sell includes a copy of the author’s book. The book is our event ‘Merch’ and a fond reminder of a wonderful evening spent in the company of your favourite author or celebrity.”
If you would like to find out more about BLing events visit the individual bookshop websites:
www.bookabookshop.co.uk
www.linghams.co.uk
