A GOOD READ, AND A FAITHFUL DOG!
TWO THINGS THE GREAT BRITISH PUBLIC LOVE?
WELCOME TO THE BARKER BOOK AWARDS
/ about
The Barker Book Awards: Celebrating dogs in literature.
What could be better than settling down for a good read with your faithful friend at your feet?
The Barker Book Awards are the bark of excellence for dogs in literature. We have three main categories, plus our Classic Read in honour and support of a dog-based charity . With all mainstream Publishers on-board and a tasty Prize, the Barkers are ready to go WOOF WOOF!
Founded by Kayla Lichten, with a background in publishing; The Barkers aim to highlight good reads for a growing dog owning readership. We run regular Walking Dogs and Talking Books - featuring book and tasty treat give-aways (contact us if you'd like your products to feature).
We are inclusive, fun and even have our own Office Dog - Cherry AKA The Battersea Babe.
Thanks to our Judge for this year's Awards is - Actor & Animal Advocate Peter Egan.
Peter is perhaps best known for his work in Downton Abbey, Unforgotten, After Life and a vintage sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles.
He is proud to be an ethical vegan and is committed to Kindness, compassion and empathy and the many animal charities he supports. Most notably @AnimalsAsia
Meet our winners here.
A huge thank you to last year's wonderful judges Jo Good and Anna Webb!
Jo is a TV and radio presenter, a broadcast journalist, You Tuber, podcaster and actress. Anna is a dog behaviourist and nutritionist, writer, podcaster and broadcaster. Together they are The Barking Blondes! They've contributed to ITV's Titchmarsh Show as well co-hosting Radio London's The Barking Hour. Follow Jo on her fab YouTube channel @middleagedminx and reach out to Anna at anna@annawebb.co.uk
The Barker Book Awards popping up at:
'Dogs & Daffs' at Hatfield House on March 19th 9.30 am - 4.00 pm, in aid of the Riding for the Disabled Association.
Primrose Hill Dog Show on 11th June 10.00 am - 5.00 pm
Marylebone Summer Festival: Dog Show 19th June 11.00 am - 5.30 pm
Into the Park in Queen's Park W9 on July 1st- 12 noon -5 pm
Great Hampstead Bark Off on Hampstead Heath – Sunday 16th July 11.00 am - 4.00 pm, in aid All Dogs Matter
We'll also be running our popular Walking Dogs and Talking Books through the summer - dates TBC
Since winning last years Barker Book Award Bethany Cliff has had her second novel, Love And Other Human Errors, published by Hodder Books.
LAHOE is a futuristic romance about love in all its many chaotic and glorious forms and features an adorable dog again who is, once more, a favourite character for many readers. Bethany is busy writing her third book and is currently devising a way to shoehorn a dog into this novel too!
Since winning last years Barker Book Award for Moon Dog, Jane Elson has written a mini series The Digby and Marvel Detective Agency, tackling the subject of boys being bullied for dancing, and facilitated workshops for All Stories, a free mentorship and outreach programme for under-represented children’s book writers.
Since winning last years Barker Book Award, for London's No 1 Dog Walking Agency, Kate MacDougall is working on her second book, Good Things, which will be published by Bonnier in spring 2024.
London’s Number One Dog Walking Agency is also currently in development for a TV series!
/ why ENTER?
WHY THE BARKERS?
Why not? It’s fun and combines the Brits love of reading with their love of dogs!
HOW MUCH IS THE PRIZE MONEY?
The Prize Fund is £5,000 plus also the thrill, glamour and increased sales that our little blue dog sticker can bring to the winning books! Meet the 2021 winners here!
HOW DO THE BARKERS WORK?
The Award categories are: Fiction, Non-fiction, Children’s Fiction and a our Celebrity Judge will select their own favourite Classic dog based book in whose name we will donate to our dog charity of the year. Meet the 2021 winners here!
HOW DO I ENTER MY BOOK?
Entry is via your publisher. You should ask them to contact us for an entry form. Entries are now open for the 2022 Awards. The closing date is 31 May 2023.
is my book eligible?
Only books written by UK and Irish residents, submitted through their publishers are eligible.
Multiple entries are welcome but only one per author per category. The Barkers are awarded to physical books only and do not accept self-published, online, collections, poetry or short story entries. Books first published in the year preceding the Awards are eligible, i.e. January previous year to June of the Awards year
WHAT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
if you'd like more info drop us a line at: hello@thebarkerbookawards.com
/ why sponsor?
Brand awareness
POST COVID PLACEMENT
NICHE MARKETS AND SALES
CELEBS, DARLING
The Barkers attract entries in the categories of Fiction, Non-fiction, Children and Classic so can raise awareness of your brand.
Above all The Barkers are fun! And who wouldn't want to inject some fun and personality into their brand?
Pet ownership has soared during Covid and 10% of British households currently without pets intend to get one in the next six months.
A survey from the Reading Agency found that 31% of us were reading more since Lock-down began with a 45% rise among young people aged between 18 and 24.
The UK publisher sales of physical and digital books was worth £6.3bn in 2019. Markets associated with pet sales include the pet food, accessories, healthcare and insurance sectors.
A recent survey in The Telegraph reveals that the pet economy is worth nearly £6.2bn with one in 20 spending an astonishing £12,000 a year on weekly manicures, pedicures plus luxury shampoo and conditioning treatments for their pets. Further down the scale one in six owners spend at least £2,000 a year on grooming and combining this market with the expanding publishing market will be of benefit to both.
Many of our celebrity chums are famously dog friendly and are always happy to promote literacy!
/contact
Get in touch for more info, or a walk and a talk at: