Guest Northern Highlight - Through the Wardrobe

 Guest Northern Highlight

Through the Wardrobe

Can you tell us about Through the Wardrobe, where you are and what you do?

Hi everyone! My name’s Leanne, and I’m the owner, manager and all found solitary face of my specialist children’s bookshop in Mirfield, West Yorkshire. My shop is a teeny tiny, but - in my view – perfectly formed little corner of bookish magic for children of all ages.

Why do you think it's important to have a thriving and vibrant book industry in the North of England?

I am a firm believer that everyone deserves to see themselves and stories that reflect their lives in the books that they read. While otherworldly and escapist reads make reading magical for us all, there is an utter joy in reading and thinking “Gah – that’s me!” or “Woah, I’ve been there…it’s just up the road”.

Our bookshelves have more gaps than I’d like, and it’s often a real struggle to truly reflect the wonderful diversity and cultural heritage of our West Yorkshire communities. We have so many stories to tell…

What are your bestselling children's books?

I have a wonderful handful of core books that I recommend time and time again so consistently sell well: Nen and the Lonely Fisherman by Ian Eagleton and James Mayhew, the Ballet Bunnie series by Swapna Reddy and Binny Talib and of course the incredible Heartstopper series for example. But actually, we are so lucky to have a handful of incredible middle grade authors on our doorstep that this is the area that really outsells; the incredible Tom Plamer, the wonderful, arguably nicest-man-in-publishing Phil Earle, and my ‘own voices’ bestie, the disgustingly talented Lesley Parr, are by far our shop favourites. Mirfield has a very rich War time history and there is a strong culture of remembrance here that I think helps to make historical stories so popular with our readers.

Can you tell us more about Through the Wardrobe's book clubs?

Our 9+ book club was set up during our first few months of opening and has a very well-established group that meet monthly to discuss their chosen read. They’re a passionate bunch who have gotten to know each other well, and all bring different likes, abilities, and personality to the meetings; it’s safe to say…it’s never quiet! We’ve been lucky to welcome authors via zoom chat and have had letters, bookmarks and bookplates gifted regularly which is wonderful! It’s an absolute joy seeing them grow as people, as readers and as friends. 

Our Y/A book club hasn’t had quite the same consistency (teenagers are gloriously fickle creatures) but they have recently been loving some great fantasy reads and am seeing them settle into a more regular and growing group.

How do you work with local children's authors?

I’ve welcomed children’s authors to the shop for a range of events from workshops, story times and book signings, as well as a few author events with local schools, with a vastly ranging degree of success. Covid concerns and now the cost of living crisis have made events a struggle, but I still LOVE to welcome authors to the shop for fleeting visits and always make sure to have a nice book stack waiting to be signed. Mentions on social media, bookplates through the post and small gestures of support from authors and creators are more valued than I can say, and not only help me support and promote your work, but also serve to remind customers all the ways a bricks and mortar book shop can enrich their book buying experience.

What is for you the Spirit of the North?

It’s a friendly smile and an ow do? for any randomer in the street; it’s a sunny it be reyt when things seem bleak; it’s an unbreakable salt o’ the earth, no nonsense drive that makes us build dry-stone walls, even though we know they’ll inevitably need rebuilding. (And yes, before you ask…I do know how to build dry stone walls, even if I was the only female in her 30’s on the course). Mostly though, I think it’s that innate sense of pride and collective spirit that connects us. It dun’t matter where you were born; if you’re here…you’re one of us, and if you leave?? Well…no one quite builds a dry-stone wall like us do they?!. Even if you don’t return, the North will always be in your heart.

What would you like to see from the creative industries in the North of England?

I would like to see our stories told. Just like those Brit flicks of the 90’s, I want mining town grit, council estate humour and Northern community spirit – the spirit I’ve been surrounded by my whole life – to come alive in children’s books in a contemporary and representative way. I want publishing to celebrate our stories, our creators and our readers in a way that makes them feel just as valued as parts of the country that always have the spotlight. In the few years I’ve been open, I’ve already seen more publishing and creative industry events taking place up here. This is wonderful, but it needs to continue and grow.

What are your plans for the coming year?

In honesty, the last 6 months have been the hardest of the 3 and a half years I’ve been open. Where the pandemic brought communities together and really made people think about their shopping habits, the cost of living crisis and the return to normality post-Covid have meant that every sale has been harder fought and therefore more valued than ever. Our community has felt hard hit, and I’m determined to become more involved with events and organisations that have struggled to recover from the pandemic, our Arts Festival and carnival for example. Building relationships with schools has also been a slow but rewarding journey…so I’m hoping to continue that this year and hopefully boost that more with a newsletter and author visits. Team that with fundraising and solo bookselling over Christmas, as well as getting myself a bit hooked to TikTok and there’s lots to do… On a more personal note, I’d really love to explore my own passion for writing and maybe – just maybe – write the story that young me was so desperate to see. So if you fancy chucking writing advice my way, or just generally poking me with a long ‘I hope you’ve done some writing today’ stick, feel free.

Follow Through the Wardrobe on:

Instagram: @through_the_wardrobe_books

Twitter: @WardrobeBooks