Guest Northern Highlight - The Edinburgh Bookshop

 

Guest Northern Highlight

The Edinburgh Bookshop

Interviewee: Marie Moser (owner)



Can you tell us more about The Edinburgh Bookshop?

 The Edinburgh Bookshop opened in 2010 in the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh – the birthplace of the great Muriel Spark. It is a small, friendly bookshop with a particular passion for children's books.  We run story times for the under 5's, and 4 book groups (2 for children and 2 for adults). We are simply a kick-ass community bookshop.
 

Congratulations on being appointed as Scottish Independent Bookshop of the Year at the 2023 British Book Awards. How do you feel about it, and how has this impacted your work? 

 This is the 5th time in 10 years we've won this award, and this time it was in consecutive years. We are very touched to have been honoured like this – there are so many amazing independent bookshops in Scotland, 8 in Edinburgh alone!
  

What does a typical work day look like for you, and what is the most rewarding part of your job? 

 I love being in the shop – engaging with customers of all ages and especially the children. I do a couple of book subs with publisher reps most weeks – but mostly I am engaged with all the usual activities of a retailer... making recommendations, selling, unpacking and displaying new books, and hoovering at the end of the day!
 
The most rewarding part of the job is definitely dealing with our customers of all ages... When small children bang on the window to say hello or an older person brings us some biscuits – we know we are making a positive impact in our community.
 
Inside the Edinburgh Bookshop

Do you have any recommendations for books created by Northern children's authors and illustrators? 

Since we are in Edinburgh, we are very spoilt with the number of great illustrators and authors who live and work near us. We love Catherine Rayner's beautifully illustrated books, the humour and joy of a Ross Collins story and anything Viv French has written.
 

What is for you the spirit of the North, and do you feel it's represented by The Edinburgh Bookshop? 

 I can only speak for Scotland – but I feel that there has always been a massive respect for and understanding of the value of books in Scotland, and that remains to this day. We try and continue that tradition by being passionate and keeping things fun. We never want anyone to be intimidated or put off reading by thinking it is not for them – or that they must be reading particular books. We believe books should bring joy as well as knowledge to readers!
 

What would you like to see from creative industries in Scotland?   

I would like to see them better funded – but this isn't within their control. Governments in the UK seem to view the arts as a luxury – they are not. Once you have somewhere to live and food to eat, you need food for your soul to help you find the joy and meaning in life.

 What does the future of The Edinburgh Bookshop look like, any projects and events in the works? 

The future is looking good, and there are always events in the works - take a peek at our website.

We just want to keep doing a good job for our customers and the authors and illustrators out there. We really love what we do!


You can find the Edinburgh Bookshop on:

Website: https://www.edinburghbookshop.com/
Instagram: @theedinburghbookshop
Facebook: The Edinburgh Bookshop
Twitter/ X: @EdinBookshop

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