The Book Vault

Indie bookshops’ business rates to soar by up to 100%, BA research finds

Independent bookshops in England are facing business rates increases of up to 100% under the government’s new reforms, research commissioned by the Booksellers Association has found 👇 #BookSky

Photo of three books - Kakegurui v. 2, Blue Lock 25, Sakamoto Days 19.

A sample of the first books sold today, different customers in for books from Kakegurui, Blue Lock and Sakamoto Days.

#booksky #manga

Photo of the paperback edition of Faithbreaker by Hannah Kaner standing up on a table of books with other new paperbacks by Lauren Roberts, Claire Lynch, Lisa Rizden, Roisin O'Donnell in view in front of the book.

Variety is the spice of life and bookshops. First sale today was the paperback of Faithbreaker from Hannah Kaner, the second was a collected order of Celtic World Collection Ukulele Tunes. Next, it being half-term, waiting to see what a number of children come to the till with!

#booksky

Forgot the alt text - a photo of the book as mentioned in the first post, Good Omens graphic novel. Black background with a doorway style frame encompassing the main characters in the centre.

First actual sale this morning was another copy of the Good Omens graphic novel adapted by @colleendoran.bsky.social - only available in very select bookshops!

That's just over half of our copies now sold, once they're gone that's it!

#booksky

Photo of books illustrated by Lydia Monks, written by Julia Donaldson, arranged in a fan formation. Sharing a Shell, The Tooth Fairy and the Crocodile, The Rhyming Rabbit, and the four What the Ladybird Heard books.

First book sales of the day (sort of)! We put the remaining @lydiamonks.bsky.social sold at Saturday's event through our till this morning.

These copies are signed by Lydia and with a little drawing to suit each title, available in store while stock lasts!

#booksky

Photo of an event. Lydia Monks standing on stage with a big screen and early draft of a drawing, with Barnsley Book Festival roller banners behind. In the foreground the backs of children and families from some of the audience, 100 capacity sold-out event!

I'm at Barnsley Library for the first event of Barnsley Book Festival. Photo from the start of the event with @lydiamonks.bsky.social in front of a room full of families! Stories, demonstrating artwork on the big screen, toddlers crawling in front of me, lots of fun!

#booksky

Title: A Valentine’s Day experiment In an effort to test the efficacy of cupids arrows of desire. A placebo group is shot with regular arrows. Their injuries range from moderate to sever. Unexpectedly, romances struck up in hospital and lawyers’ waiting rooms create a "romance ratio" similar to that of magic arrows. However, once the cost of compensation claims is factored in, it is decided to discontinue.

A Valentine’s Day cartoon for @newscientist.com

🌹 Happy Valentine's Day

From the Private Eye archive.
Issue 1437, February 2017.

Photo of an event. Lydia Monks standing on stage with a big screen and early draft of a drawing, with Barnsley Book Festival roller banners behind. In the foreground the backs of children and families from some of the audience, 100 capacity sold-out event!

I'm at Barnsley Library for the first event of Barnsley Book Festival. Photo from the start of the event with @lydiamonks.bsky.social in front of a room full of families! Stories, demonstrating artwork on the big screen, toddlers crawling in front of me, lots of fun!

#booksky

Fortuitous recharge, a volt from the blue

Good to see old traditions live on...

📚 World Book Day is in a few weeks time, but FROM TODAY children can choose their own book FREE with a £1/€1.50 book token - including this exclusive BUNNY VS MONKEY book! Tokens are available through schools, some magazines, McDonalds Happy Meal boxes, or digital tokens from worldbookday.com

Gigs & Festivals & Fundraisers, March 2026 MARCH 2 -  BARNSLEY BOOK FESTIVAL  -  Performing with my old N&T family at LIVEWIRE in Yorkshire,  alongside gorgeous Toria Garbutt  and Ma...

Gigs: March 2026

📚March 2: Barnsley Book Festival @livewirepoetry.org @mattabbottpoet.com & Toria Garbutt

🇯🇲March 12: Manchester, Sounds of Solidarity, fundraiser for Hurricane Melissa

🎤March 21: @hackneyempire.bsky.social with @holliemcnish.bsky.social

🎟️ www.salenagodden.co.uk/2026/02/gigs...

Hello, yes that would be fine!

Photo of the World Book Day stand - a yellow cardboard stand with a thing on the top saying World Book Day, Choose your £1 book for free! With your World Book Day book token. With 12 mini-shelves for the 12 books ranging from toddler to 11/12 year old target ages.

The stand is up, the books are out, #worldbookday vouchers are valid from today! Peppa, Bear Rescue, Bunny Vs Monkey, Pablo & Splash to Against All Odds. We'll tag @jamiesmart.bsky.social and @hannahgold.bsky.social as I know they are here! Anyone else?

#booksky

Very many thanks to @alicefraser.bsky.social for taking time to support us. Pages of Passion is our Romance & Romantasy book club and we have a promotional event on Saturday, Valentine's Day, 3 - 5pm. Come visit to find out more!

Follow Alice, listen to @realmsunknown.bsky.social

#booksky
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Base Notes by @adellestripe.bsky.social

Published in paperback on Feb 12th 2026 by @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social

When I first met Adelle in 2006 (we were sending each other bits of our writing before we ever met) I said "Maybe you should write a memoir?"

And a mere 20 years later, here it is!

Photo of books laid out mainly in two fans. Bottom fan is Richard O'Neill books - Polonius the Pit Pony, The Lost Homework and others, not all titles in view. The higher fan in shot features Lydia Monks artwork for Julia Donaldson titles - The Rhyming Rabbit, The Tooth Fairy and the Crocodile, What the Ladybird Heard, Sharing a Shell.

Barnsley Book Festival starts on Saturday and we are pleased to be supporting a number of events, starting with Lydia Monks, art and storytelling, and more storytelling from Richard O'Neill on Tuesday. Plenty more to come, go to the Barnsley Libraries website for more info and to book!

#booksky

Love supporting booksellers. If you’re one, always feel free to ask me for help with your things.

Photo of the book A Passion for Passion by Alice Fraser, a delirious love letter to romance. Burgundy cover with artwork of Alice in flowing red dress, book in hand in romantic pose. The book is pictured on top of a book tower, with a sign next to it. The Book Vault, The Leaning Tower of Spice. It has spicy books and leans a little. The sign has an illustration of two young lovers in pose.

Will I have time to come up with the 'fun'?! I had the excellent A Passion for Passion on the counter today to seek inspiration, it sold before I had the chance. Luckily I have my signed copy at home.

Pictured sitting on top of our recent additional romantic fiction tower of books.

#booksky
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Very many thanks to @alicefraser.bsky.social for taking time to support us. Pages of Passion is our Romance & Romantasy book club and we have a promotional event on Saturday, Valentine's Day, 3 - 5pm. Come visit to find out more!

Follow Alice, listen to @realmsunknown.bsky.social

#booksky
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Photo of the poetry collection Hedgerow of Voices by Paul Brookes, a nature scene of animals near to what we assume is a section of hedgerow on a black background. In shot next to this is Wolf Eye, by Paul with other books side on behind these on the shelf.

Thank you to @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social for stopping by earlier today with copies of his new book Hedgerow of Voices. Varied poems on natural, mythic themes and many of a local basis. 'A rich and powerful collection'. Pictured near to other of Paul's works, including our last copy of Wolf Eye.

A writer sits on a large couch in the foyer of a publisher's office. An assistant approaches. Assistant. "Suzy is caught up in an editorial meeting but she shouldn't be long. Can I get you a triple vodka and tonic while you wait?" Writer "You know it's 11 am, right?" Assistant "Yes, but I also know what she thinks of your latest draft." The assistant goes to get the drink adding " ... Actually, I'll get you a couple."

My latest cartoon for @theguardian.com books

Photo of our chalkboard. "The Book Vault. Valentine Pages of Passion, Romance and Romantasy book club. Saturday 14th Feb, 3 - 5pm. Photo taken of the board in store this morning before going outside.

You may detect a theme... We are having a promotional event for our Pages of Passion book club on Valentine's Day, a romance & romantasy group open to attend, to say hello to us and others, talk books, share recommendations.

Details on the chalkboard! 1/2
#booksky

Photo of a wooden tower bookcase with modern-themed romance. The stand on top has the title 'The Leaning Tower of Spice', with an image of two figures in romantic pose.

And an image of our recently added Romantic Fiction tower, complete with fresh sign on the top! We needed more space in addition to two bookcases of romance, as well as titles in SFF and YA, so added this.

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#booksky

Photo of our chalkboard. "The Book Vault. Valentine Pages of Passion, Romance and Romantasy book club. Saturday 14th Feb, 3 - 5pm. Photo taken of the board in store this morning before going outside.

You may detect a theme... We are having a promotional event for our Pages of Passion book club on Valentine's Day, a romance & romantasy group open to attend, to say hello to us and others, talk books, share recommendations.

Details on the chalkboard! 1/2
#booksky

Very late nineties, I did occasional spot illos for a big Fleet Street newspaper, and they would take the actual artwork by fax. As in: I’d go to the newsagent, pay 50p, and fax it over. Not roughs. The art. That was it. It would be reprinted in one of the biggest selling papers. From a FAX.

I have @mosababutoha.bsky.social more recent book, Forest of Noise, would highly recommend. 44 Poems... is a collection from various poets work, a Poetry Unbound collection, with notes and analysis.

Image of a poem, pages in a book. Ibrahim Abu Lughod and Brother in Yaffa Mosab Abu Toha The two walk toward the beach, barefoot. With his soft index finger, Ibrahim starts to draw a map of what used to be their home. 'No, Ibrahim, the kitchen is a little farther to the north. Oh, don't step over there, Dad was sleeping there on the couch.' Tourist kids run by, flying kites. The waves hit the beach, shaded with cloud cover. The mosque on the hilltop calls for prayer. Ibrahim and his brother still argue about where their kitchen was. They both sit on the sand. Ibrahim takes out a lighter, wishes he could make tea in their kitchen for everyone on the beach. Ibrahim looks upward to what used to be their kitchen window. The mint no longer grows.

First in an occasional series where I attempt to take a photo of a poem. This from @mosababutoha.bsky.social is from a new collection 44 Poems On Being With Each Other, collected from Things You May Find Hidden In My Ear. A moving work of relations, a sense of place, of memory and loss.