In what has been a strange and challenging year for all, the prospect that it is already time to start Christmas shopping is enough to strike fear into the hearts of many. However, our friends at Books Are My Bag have launched a campaign to encourage people to begin their Christmas shopping early this year. With the tagline ‘November is the new December’, they hope to inspire readers to support their local businesses by beginning their shopping earlier than usual this year, and by choosing to shop local. With coronavirus restrictions changing on a seemingly daily basis and England going back into lockdown on Thursday, it can only be a good idea to start buying Christmas gifts early, not only for peace of mind but also to help support the small businesses who have been most affected by the pandemic.

Independent publishers like us at Birlinn rely hugely on sales over the Christmas period, and we would like to encourage you to shop directly if possible. We offer free P&P within the UK, run weekly discounts (sign up to our newsletter for more information!) and have a gift ideas section if you’re needing inspiration. We might be biased, but we think books make the perfect gift, and we have a huge variety to choose from. There is truly something for everybody!

We are also incredibly lucky to have an amazing selection of independent bookshops nearby, and we know they would appreciate your support immensely as well. Many of them offer delivery if you are unable to make it to the shop in person. From the charming Goldenhare Books in Stockbridge to the recently opened Portobello Bookshop, as well as Lighthouse Books which was this year named as Scotland’s Best Independent Bookshop, and the friendly Edinburgh Bookshop, a great supporter of Scottish publishing, Edinburgh is a treasure trove of brilliant bookshops.

If you are able to, please choose to shop early and local this year to support Scottish publishing and bookselling at a time when it is most needed.