For the past few years there have been a number of publisher focused fortnights. There have been 2 Pushkin Press fortnights (I definitely took part in one), 1 NYRB fortnight, 1 Seagull Books Fortnight and last year Lizzy and I co-hosted Fitzcarraldo Editions Fortnight. We started talking about a second …
But remembering that 2020 was rough on everyone (who could possibly forget!), singling out one publisher for a focussed event didn’t seem fair. So we decided to highlight and support as many independent publishers as we can by spending a whole month reading from their lists. February 2021 is hereby designated #ReadIndies month.
The badge names 32 independent publishers based in the UK. There are many more. Apologies if your favourite is not listed, but there had to be a cut-off somewhere. Neither does this mean that reading is restricted to UK publishers. Global reading is encouraged for this event!
Lizzy and I are currently busy reviewing our TBRs in preparation. We are amazed at the variety of reading available. The challenge will be whittling our choices down to a manageable shortlist. An enjoyable one, of course.
Is it one that appeals to you? Will you join #ReadIndies next month?
Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings 
Jan 04, 2021 @ 09:11:22
What an excellent idea and a brilliant way to showcase our fabulous Indie Presses. I’ve got loads of titles on my TBR so will dig out a few for February. Thanks so much for this initiative!
Jan 04, 2021 @ 09:59:34
There are *so* many wonderful indie presses – and it was Lizzy’s brilliant idea to extend our Fitzcarraldo fortnight. It’s going to be a fun month!
Jan 04, 2021 @ 09:24:11
Great idea. I’m sure I have a load of books that would be suitable. Will need to have a think
Jan 04, 2021 @ 09:56:54
It was Lizzy’s idea and it’s a brilliant one – so many wonderful books and publishers to choose from! 😀
Jan 04, 2021 @ 09:58:48
Very good idea!🐧⚘
Jan 04, 2021 @ 09:59:59
We thought so! Lizzy’s brainwave, and I thought it was a wonderful one!
Jan 04, 2021 @ 10:00:21
Yep, totally there for it, as I just said on Lizzy’s blog. As you can imagine, being a struggling new indie publisher myself, I can only celebrate such initiatives and will of course join in!
Jan 04, 2021 @ 10:11:57
I think it’s a wonderful iniative – so looking forward to it and glad you can join in! 😀
Jan 04, 2021 @ 10:30:49
Great idea although such is my life in Covid times that I already have reviews ready to go for much of January and February. Fair number of independents amongst them, kicking off with one from Salt Publishing on Wednesday. Looking forward to an explosion of my TBR list in February!
Jan 04, 2021 @ 11:22:57
LOL! I know what you mean about planning ahead. But glad to see there are indies there for the next couple of months – wonderful! 😀
Jan 04, 2021 @ 12:02:27
Great idea! I’ll have a look through my TBR – I’m sure I’ve got plenty of books that would count.
Jan 04, 2021 @ 18:53:24
Excellent! It’s such a fun idea and there are books and publishers to suit all tastes!
Jan 04, 2021 @ 12:36:21
This is brilliant, Karen! Count me in! 🙂
Jan 04, 2021 @ 18:53:03
Hurrah! Look forward to seeing your choices!
Jan 04, 2021 @ 13:13:52
This is a lovely idea and goodness knows there’s a cornucopia of US independents to choose books from. This may just end up as one of my reading challenges this year.
Jan 04, 2021 @ 18:52:45
I hope you can join in! Lizzy and I both feel the indie presses need all the support they can get, and I’ll look forward to seeing what you read!
Jan 04, 2021 @ 13:21:12
Yes! Brilliant idea! I’ve got loads of unread indie gems so this is perfect ❤️
Jan 04, 2021 @ 18:52:11
Excellent! Look forward to seeing what you read!
Jan 04, 2021 @ 15:45:27
This sounds brilliant, definitely something that I will want to join in with. I have books by several independent presses on my tbr including, Peirene, Charco, Handheld, Persephone and NYRB. I think this is a great initiative to raise the profile of small independent publishers who must be finding these times quite a challenge.
Jan 04, 2021 @ 18:51:46
Agreed – small publishers really must be finding things difficult so anything that can help is good. And there are so many good books to read! Hope you can join in and look forward to seeing what you choose!
Jan 04, 2021 @ 15:58:31
Great idea, I really hope that I will have time to join!
Jan 04, 2021 @ 18:50:59
It’s a lovely event and I hope you can join in – so many choices!
Jan 04, 2021 @ 16:57:24
It’s a lovely idea, Karen, especially at a time when small presses need our support more than ever…
On the personal front, I’ve made a made a vow not to commit myself to any reading events or projects in advance for the foreseeable future – mostly because of the times we’re in. If happen to read something that fits, all well and good. But if not, or if I can’t for whatever reason, then that’s the way it is! X
Jan 04, 2021 @ 18:50:36
It is – when Lizzy suggested we expand our Fitzcarraldo Fortnight I thought it ws a brilliant idea. If the event fits in with you, I’ll look forward seeing what you read. But if not don’t worry – at least you may get some good ideas for future reads!
Jan 04, 2021 @ 22:13:14
Nice idea! have one new-to-me Fitzcarrlado and several Persephone!
Jan 05, 2021 @ 13:43:24
Excellent! Good choices both!
Jan 04, 2021 @ 23:40:35
What a wonderful idea and an exciting way for me to learn about more independent publishers (I’ve picked up several from your blog but see several unfamiliar ones on our badge). I’m sure that offerings from several of these have contributed to Mount TBR. I’m pretty disorganized and over-committed but will try to pull my act together for the February event!
Jan 05, 2021 @ 13:42:57
It’s a grand idea, and all credit to Lizzy for coming up with us. There are sooo many great indy presses, but so many that I haven’t explored yet. And as there is a whole month, hopefully that will allow people enough time to take part, even if only with one book!
Jan 05, 2021 @ 02:16:23
I’ll have a look and see what I have on the shelves…
Jan 05, 2021 @ 13:40:40
Excellent! Hope there’s something suitable!
Jan 05, 2021 @ 09:48:03
I like this announcement. Plenty on my bedside shelf that already fits in with this and other plans! Love it.
Jan 05, 2021 @ 13:38:57
Great! It should hopefully fit in with a lot of people’s plans, and if it helps indie presses during another lockdown, that has to be good!
Jan 05, 2021 @ 11:08:27
Jan 05, 2021 @ 12:03:13
What a great idea! I def have some books from Periene and Fitzcarraldo but I must have a look and see.
Jan 05, 2021 @ 13:38:22
It’s such a lovely idea, and definitely timely… Hope you can join in and look forward to see what you are reading! 😀
Jan 05, 2021 @ 19:03:00
This is a great idea, I’ve got a couple of Peirene’s sitting here looking at me!
Jan 05, 2021 @ 20:32:28
Excellent! Peirene are always reliable!
Jan 05, 2021 @ 23:14:58
What a great idea! And I think British Library would count 😀 But yes, I definitely have lots of unread Persephones, Fitzcarraldos, Pushkins, and doubtless others
Jan 06, 2021 @ 06:18:07
Excellent! Hope to see you reading along with something suitable, then! 😁😁
Jan 06, 2021 @ 22:12:39
What a great idea! I have a good few Dean Street Press and Persephones I could use for it, and I’m sure others if I poke around in the TBR!
Jan 07, 2021 @ 09:19:44
Fab – will be very interested in seeing what you read!
Jan 07, 2021 @ 07:24:33
What a wonderful idea! We have some amazing indie publications doing such amazing work. Let me have a look and decide what and how many!
Jan 07, 2021 @ 09:19:09
LOL! It really is going to be fun – look forward to seeing what you read!
Jan 07, 2021 @ 22:20:41
It’s a fabulous idea and I have plenty of choice for taking part. All I need is the time to read them but even more of an issue, is the time to write the reviews. I am getting slower and slower…….
Jan 08, 2021 @ 11:11:28
I know the feeling. I’m reading a *lot* at the moment, but it’s harder to keep up with the reviews…
Jan 09, 2021 @ 14:44:36
Jan 14, 2021 @ 23:12:39
Ooooo, wonderful idea, and right up my street. Love it! I’ve already got February blocked in but if nothing fits directly there, I’ll participate on Twitter instead.
Jan 15, 2021 @ 08:55:16
Hope you can join in somewhere – I think it was a wonderful idea of Lizzy’s, and I love the prospect of supporting indies!
Jan 16, 2021 @ 01:55:42
I’m working on a plan to participate, just have to iron out some details (and no, I’m not actually ironing during a pandemic).
Jan 16, 2021 @ 11:28:13
No, ironing is not my priority at the moment (unless a book gets bent…) But I do hope you can join in!
Jan 15, 2021 @ 00:13:18
I love this idea so much! And it looks as though I’m not the only one! 🙂
Jan 15, 2021 @ 08:51:42
It should be such fun, and anything which helps support indie presses has to be good! 😀
Jan 21, 2021 @ 16:31:53
A fabulous initiative, I’ll see what I have on the shelves, always a few from Europa Editions which I love and Charco, Peirene, likely to be more, I’ll enjoy checking.
Jan 21, 2021 @ 19:03:12
It’s something I’m so happy to be co-hosting! Just a cursory look at the shelves revealed how many indie press books I have. Look forward to seeing what you read! 😀
Jan 27, 2021 @ 08:01:25
What I'm Reading: Episode 31, January 2021 : BookerTalk
Jan 28, 2021 @ 18:12:10
Feb 01, 2021 @ 08:02:45
State of the TBR February 2021 and Book Confessions #AnneTyler2021 #ReadIndies | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
Feb 01, 2021 @ 09:01:26
The Pear Field – mini review – I read that in a book
Feb 01, 2021 @ 15:30:48
Feb 02, 2021 @ 21:08:02
Book review – Diana Pullein-Thompson – “I Wanted a Pony” #ReadIndies | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
Feb 16, 2021 @ 10:05:48
Book review – Don George (ed.) “The Kindness of Strangers” #ReadIndies | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
Feb 24, 2021 @ 09:08:47
Book review – Paul Magrs – “Hunky Dory” @paulmagrs #ReadIndies #LGBTHM21 | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
Feb 26, 2021 @ 08:00:14
Book review – Christine Burns (ed.) – “Trans Britain: Our Journey from the Shadows” #ReadIndies #LGBTHM21 | Adventures in reading, running and working from home
Mar 03, 2021 @ 09:00:59
Dec 31, 2021 @ 23:26:16