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.
Our Big News is that Gail Porter is this year's Judge!
Gail is a TV personality, presenter, actor, documentary film maker and animal lover.
She is also known for her championing for greater awareness of Alopecia; she is an active supporter of her charities.
Keep up to date with Gail, on Instagram @iamgailporter
A huge thank you to last year's wonderful judge, 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.
Thank you also to our 2021 judges Jo Good and Anna Webb.
The Barker Book Awards popping up at:
Marylebone - Sunday 9th June 11.00 - 17.30
Sunday 14th July 11.00 - 16.00
Knebworth House
Saturday 21st September 9.30 -17.00
Sunday September 22nd 11:00 - 16.15
8th September 11.00 - 16 00
Croxley Green Annual Charity Dog Show
Sunday 6th October 11:00 - 16.30
We'll also be running our popular Walking Dogs and Talking Books through the summer - dates TBC
Since winning last year's Barker Book Award for Fiction with The Dog Sitter Detective, Antony Johnston has published its sequel: The Dog Sitter Detective Takes the Lead and is hard at work writing more books in the series.
His innovative 'interactive novel' Can You Solve the Murder, will be published next year.
Since winning last year's Barker Book Award for Non-Fiction with Wonderdog, Jules Howard has published Infinite Life - A revolutionary story of eggs, evolution and life on earth.
It's a fascinating exploration of the world of eggs and their role in the evolution of life on earth, and a cracking good read.
Since winning last years Barker Book Award for Top Dogs: A British Love Affair, Georgina has taken the book on a successful tour around the United States, and continues to speak at dog events and judge dog shows.
She has several Top Dog sequels in the pipeline!
/ 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?
Our usual Prize Fund is £5,000 across 4 categories, however, this year we are only awarding in the Classic Read category. The prize is £1,000 plus the thrill, glamour and increased sales that our little blue dog sticker can bring to the winning books! Meet past winners here!
HOW DO THE BARKERS WORK?
Usually 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.
This year, as our founder's grandchild, Teddy, continues to battle Neuroblastoma, we we will only be awarding our annual Classic Read £1,000 Award. You can find out more about Teddy's story and campaign, here.
The winning book and designated charity will be announced in the autumn by Gail Porter.
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 2024 Awards. The closing date is TBC.
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: