April 23 is World Book Night, with one thousand Quick Read books handed out to the public for free in the UK and many thousands more available for just £1.
I mention this because it’s the brainchild of The Reading Agency, which has a mission close to the hearts of several author friends of mine.
Evidence shows that regular reading has far-reaching social impacts – improving health, wellbeing, life chances and social connections. Quick Reads are short, accessible books written by bestselling authors, designed to not only support under-confident readers but also those who don’t feel that they have the time or the drive to pick up a book.
Adults who read for just 30 minutes a week are 20% more likely to report greater life satisfaction. However, only half (50%) of adults now read regularly, down from 58% in 2015, and one in 10 find reading difficult.
So what’s the connection with a group of 10 authors who meet regularly online to discuss all things writerly? Well, we got together to write an anthology of short stories with all proceeds going to The Reading Agency charity, and it’s out now.
Entitled ‘The Ring’, the book recounts the stories of those who possess a gold ‘Fortuna’ ring through the ages from ancient Roman times up to the modern day.
With its subtitle, ‘Fortuna is a harsh mistress’, the capricious nature of the goddess of luck is brought to bear in unexpected ways for all who come to possess the ring.
The book is dedicated to librarians everywhere. This chimes with our decision to work with The Reading Agency, which partners with public libraries to run initiatives such as the Summer Reading Challenge for children and Reading Ahead for adults. These programmes encourage reading for pleasure, helping to build confidence, develop literacy skills, and foster lifelong reading habits.
Karen Napier MBE, CEO of The Reading Agency, says in the book’s foreword:
“This anthology resonates with our mission. Just as the gold ring in these stories is passed down and shared through generations, so too should the joy of reading. The support of all the authors who have contributed to this helps us to reach and connect with even more people across our communities.”
The authors, in chronological order of their story’s setting, are myself, Fiona Forsyth, Jacquie Rogers, Alistair Tosh, Graham Brack, Eleanor Swift-Hook, Mark Turnbull, Maggie Richell-Davies, Robert Bordas and Val Penny. Cover illustration is by Ian Bristow.
Publication date for The Ring is May 1st and it’s available to preorder now.
Studies have shown that reading for pleasure enhances empathy and understanding. Those who read for pleasure also have higher levels of self-esteem, better sleeping patterns and more resilience. Non-readers are 28% more likely to report feelings of depression.
To date, Quick Reads has collaborated with over 30 publishers and produced over 140 titles since 2006, with over 5 million copies distributed, and over 6 million library loans.
Each year for World Book Night, thousands of Quick Reads are handed out for free through libraries to community organisations across the UK, including food banks, homeless shelters, prisons, and workplaces. They are also available in April for just £1 at retailers such as supermarkets.
Sounds like such fun. I pre-ordered.
Seeing you, Fiona, and Jacquie atop the list is exciting!