The Paying Guests wins the Independent Bookshop Week Award!

The Booksellers Association of UK and Ireland (The BA) today announced the winners for the Independent Bookshop Week Book Award 2015 (IBW Book Award), which is supported by independent bookshops across the country, and we are delighted to announce that Sarah Waters won in the adult category for The Paying Guests!

There were ten adult titles on the shortlist, which was selected by independent booksellers from nominations put forward by publishers. The other winners were Sally Nicholls in the Children’s Fiction category for An Island of Our Own, and Salvatore Rubbino in the Children’s Picture Book Category for A Walk in Paris.

Meryl Halls, Head of Membership Services, Booksellers Association, said: “The judges lunches were very lively affairs as they talked through the incredibly strong shortlists with passion, intelligence and a lot of enthusiasm. The winners of each category soon emerged as strong favourites and the judges were unanimous in their choices. On behalf of the Booksellers Association, I’d like to congratulate Sarah, Sally and Salvatore on winning this year’s awards.”

The Adult Category was judged by Patrick Neale (Chair); Emma Corfield (Book-ish, Crickhowell); Paul Wallace (David’s, Letchworth); Patrick Gale (author and 2008 IBW Book Award winner) and Cathy Rentzenbrink (Books Editor, The Bookseller).

Sarah Waters said: “It was a great honour to be on the shortlist for the Adult Category of the IBW book award, alongside so many fantastic authors and books. To have won is a huge thrill. I am absolutely delighted.”