00:00I'm Chloe and I work here at the bookshop on the square as assistant manager.
00:05Bookshop on the square is based in Otley, the market town, and we are just positioned right on the market
00:11square, right in the centre of Otley.
00:14I've always enjoyed reading, loved it from a young age, and I actually started working here as just a Saturday
00:21girl while I was doing my A-levels.
00:23And then, yeah, the rest is history there, and I've just carried on working with Sarah here at the bookshop.
00:31And recently we've been doing more and more events here, and I've taken on more of a role of organising
00:37those and leading those events.
00:39Bookfest came about, we were chatting, it's a group of us in Otley, different businesses, so us at the bookshop
00:47on the square,
00:48and then someone round at Upco as well, as well as some other creatives in Otley, really wanted to put
00:54on a festival all about books,
00:57because we just think there's a lot of creative people in Otley, and a lot of people that love reading
01:04in Otley,
01:04wanted to put something on that was more than just some talks.
01:09So there's going to be panels and discussions, children's events, workshops, musicians and artists.
01:17And this is going to be taking place at the end of November, 27th to the 29th.
01:22And we're also having a fundraiser to raise some money to put it on, and it's very exciting.
01:30There's going to be seven themes, so there's YA, young adult themes, there's fiction, non-fiction, translation,
01:41even authentic writing in Africa as well.
01:44So there's all sorts, for all sorts of ages.
01:47The Bookfest is not actually taking place at the bookshop.
01:51We are holding all of our events at Otley Common, which is a recent rebuilding strategy that's just around the
01:59corner from us.
02:00And it's a beautiful venue space, really exciting.
02:04They've got so many events going on now, and we're just really looking forward to being in partnership with Otley
02:09Common,
02:10to be running Bookfest with them.
02:12I think the local aspect of Otley is so nice, and the amenities that we have.
02:16We have independents, that's what it's really about in Otley.
02:19We're an independent bookshop here, there's independent bakeries, florists, the fruit and veg shop is an independent.
02:27So you really get a sense of community.
02:30We have so many book clubs, and it's the sharing of reading stories that I think is the most important
02:36thing,
02:36and we pass books on to each other.
02:38And with a physical book, you can do that.
02:40And I just think it's lovely to just talk about books, and with our customers, it's so nice to chat
02:47about what we've loved reading.
02:49And yeah, I think it's just the whole aspect of sharing stories with each other,
02:54authors sharing their stories, and then us as readers reacting to those stories as well.
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