Grantown's Bookmark in the running for top honours
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Grantown's much loved bookshop, The Bookmark, has been shortlisted as the best in Scotland – and perhaps even the United Kingdom.
Overcoming high street disruptions and lockdowns, a record 62 bookshops – with an abundance of newcomers – are contending for the prestigious title of Independent Bookshop of the Year.
The shops will compete to win their region first, before vying for the overall prize, to be given out at the British Book Awards winner ceremony on Monday 23rd May 2022.
Scotland has two former regional winners, Linlithgow's Far From the Madding Crowd and The Edinburgh Bookshop, the latter also won the overall Children's Bookseller of the Year in 2014.
But it's Strathspey's jewel in the crown that locals will be rooting for.
The woman behind the success is Marjory Marshall, who told the Strathy: "We're delighted to be included with so many fine Indie bookshops in Scotland.
"I'd like to say a big thank you to all my bookish customers near and far."
The 2022 Independent Bookshop of the Year finalists for Scotland are:
Far From the Madding Crowd, Linlithgow
The Bookmark, Grantown
The Book Nook, Stewarton
The Edinburgh Bookshop, Edinburgh
The Highland Bookshop, Fort William
Timberbook, Overton
The overall Independent Bookshop of the Year winner will also compete to be crowned Retailer of the Year.
A spokesperson for the awards said: "The Independent Bookshop of the Year Award celebrates those stores that have continued to support local communities with magnificent books, which have provided enjoyment, distraction and succour for the nation’s readers during these turbulent times.
"The past two years have seen independent bookshops up and down the UK and the Island of Ireland completely transform their operational models in order to get books into the hands of readers.
"This has ranged from bicycle deliveries to local customers, to booksellers rapidly building new e-commerce platforms, while also creating new channels for interactive video content to replace in-person events."
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