Dear Friend of Gay?s The Word....
RichardP
I received the below, which I thought was important and would benefit
from posting on the SJP LGBT google group. If you agree, could you put
this through?
See you soon,
Lisa
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Dear Friend of Gay?s The Word,
We've got some good news, and we?ve got some bad news. Some time ago
we asked for your vote to nominate us for the Independent Bookshop of
the Year 2007 Competition. Your wonderful response resulted in us
getting longlisted, and we're delighted to announce that we?ve now
reached the Regional Shortlist. It's a fantastic achievement and we?re
really thrilled. A huge 'thank you' to everybody who voted for us.
It's somewhat ironic that this news comes through as we are finding it
an increasing struggle to cope financially. The bad news is that after
28 years of trading, we?re looking at possible closure in the next few
months. Some of you may have seen the excellent recent article in The
Times which highlighted the problem: http://entertainment.timesonline.
co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article1462206.ee
A combination of pressures including the Internet, rising rents, and
the availability of some LGBT books in mainstream bookshops have all
played their part. Fundamentally, it comes down to the fact that just
not enough people are buying their books here anymore. Independent
bookstores across the UK are having a difficult time but there isn?t a
bookstore in the country that has our unique range of titles. We think
it would be a real pity if Gay's The Word, the oldest and only
surviving independent gay and lesbian bookstore in the whole country,
had to close.
We are, of course, much more than just a bookstore and also function
as a community resource. Hundreds of people visit the shop every week
to collect free papers, look at our notice board and pick up leaflets
of interest. A number of discussion and support groups also have free
use of the space for their meetings. We?re often the first point of
contact for lesbians and gays new to London or coming to terms with
their sexuality. It is perhaps this somewhat invisible aspect of what
we do that we are saddest to see in jeopardy. We have tried to create
a
safe, non-threatening, non-judgemental space where people can come and
browse, ask questions and get help and advice or just buy a book or
card.
To survive in the 21st century we need to adapt and change. We have
lots of ideas of how we might face these new challenges. These range
from changing our structure so that we can access funding for some of
our work, acquiring charity status, updating our computer systems so
that we can establish a strong web presence to renovating the shop and
developing our downstairs space as a resource for community events.
But
to implement these longer-term ideas and initiatives we have to
survive
our present crisis. So how can you help?
Most important is that we get word out about our predicament. We ask
you to forward this e-mail on to ten people, or anyone you know who
you
think should know (i.e. influential or well-heeled investors). It
would
be a tragedy if Gay's The Word closed down due to the fact that people
are simply unaware of our existence or the difficulties we are
experiencing. So we ask you to spread the word: by e-mail, by phone,
at
the water-cooler, in the bars, clubs, cottages, saunas, wherever.
Support us! Five ways you can help support Gay?s The Word:
1.. You can come into the shop and buy one (or two, or three) of our
fabulous books.
2.. You can pick one (or as many as you like) of one of our current
top-ten titles, listed below, and order it.
3.. You can send us a donation (cheques payable to GTW), or call up
with your card details.
4.. You can sponsor a shelf for £100. You will become an official
'Friend of Gay's The Word' and your name will be officially listed as
such in-store. We are calling this our 'Cash For Honours' promotion.
5.. You can order a copy of the Gay's The Word documentary film, which
screened at last year?s London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival at the NFT,
for £10. We believe in our importance, relevance and future. We
believe
many people do. If you're one of them, then lend us your support. Help
save Gay's The Word. Where there's a will, there's a way'
Our Current Top Ten Recommended Books:
a.. Queer London by Matt Houlbrook - The award-winning social history
of the gay metropolis, 1918-1957. £13
b.. Bitter Eden by Tatamkhulu Afrika - An extraordinary novel set in a
WWII prisoner-of-war camp that explores the themes of masculinity and
desire. £11.99
c.. My Undoing by Aiden Shaw - The hugely frank memoir about life and
love in the thick of sex, drugs, pornography and prostitution. £8.99
d.. The Night Watch by Sarah Waters - An astonishing novel set against
the turbulent backdrop of wartime Britain from our favourite lesbian
author. £7.99
e.. Unspeakable Love by Brian Whitaker - A powerful and compelling
insight into gay and lesbian life in today's Middle East. £14.99
f.. When Dreams Tremble by Radclyffe - Another gripping and seductive
lesbian romance set in upstate New-York from the prolific and hugely
popular award-winning author. £11.99
g.. Swimming in the Monsoon Sea by Shyam Selvadurai - the tale of the
first love of a 14 year-old boy, set in 1980's Sri Lanka during the
monsoon season. From the best-selling author of 'Funny Boy'. £8.95
h.. Skin Lane by Neil Bartlett - His first novel for a decade,
Bartlett has devised 'a fiendishly taut little psycho-shocker' about a
quiet man who is pushed over the edge. £10.99
i.. Biceps of Death by David Stukas - A sexy, catty and downright
hilarious gay detective novel. If you like Armistead Maupin, you'll
love Stukas. £9.99
j.. Drag King Dreams by Leslie Feinberg - The long-awaited novel about
love and struggle in post-9/11 New York from the Trans activist and
author of 'Stone Butch Blues'. £10.99 Orders can be made by phone,
post
or e-mail. Contact details below
Many thanks
Jim & Uli
Gay's The Word
Lesbian & Gay Bookshop
66 Marchmont Street
London WC1N 1AB
Russell Square Underground
Tel; +44-020-7278 7654
email; sa...@gaystheword.co.uk www.gaystheword.co.uk