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The scheme helping new authors get into bookshops

Galya Dimitrova
BBC News
Colin Wade Colin Wade (fourth from left to right, holding a book) and Laury Conn (sixth from left to right wearing a blue shirt) on the launch of their 1in200 initiative at the Cotswold Lodge Hotel on Banbury Road in Oxford. They are surrounded by other people holding books and flowers. There is a white banner with the scheme's name, logo and QD code in the middle of the group. Everyone is smiling for the camera.Colin Wade
The 1in200 scheme was launched at the the Cotswold Lodge Hotel in Oxford

The founders of a scheme to help new authors get their work into bookshops have said they want "to keep people's passion for writing going".

Writers Colin Wade, from Headington in Oxford, and Laury Conn, from Abingdon, launched 1in200 on 1 April.

Mr Wade said they chose the title after Mr Conn had been told he had "only a one in 200 chance" of getting a literary agent.

The pair said they wanted to act as a "conduit" into participating independent bookshops, which would display new writers' books on branded 1in200 shelf space.

Colin Wade Scheme founders Colin Wade and Laury Conn smiling for the camera in front of a book shelf in the Mostly Books shop in Abingdon.Colin Wade
Mr Conn and Mr Wade (left to right) have rolled out the 2in100 scheme to three Oxfordshire bookshops

Mr Wade writes crime and murder mystery thrillers and said he ended up having to self-publish when he could not find an agent.

He said he met Mr Conn after a community group talk, adding: "I was just really talking about my author career and some of the frustrations that I had, for example trying to find an agent when I first started writing."

His story "resonated" with Mr Conn, who told him about his idea of a service to help new authors get their books into local independent bookshops.

Mr Wade said he suggested the service to "pretty much every independent book store" in the county, and Mostly Books in Abingdon, The Wallingford Bookshop and Madhatter Bookshop in Burford had signed up.

Amanda Roberts A headshot of author Amanda Roberts looking straight at the camera. She is smiling slightly.Amanda Roberts
Islip author Amanda Roberts said having her work displayed in bookshops "makes more of an impact"

One of the authors they are supporting is Amanda Roberts, from Islip, whose book The Woman in the Painting is in the scheme.

She said she hoped more independents stores saw "the potential of supporting Oxfordshire authors" and the project would continue to grow.

"It's a really exciting time for independent authors," she said.

"Because you really can take control of what you're doing yourself.

"It's really difficult to sell books, it's difficult to reach readers when you're on your own, which is another reason why the 1in200 scheme is so good.

"If you're on a table in a bookshop with another dozen books from local authors, it makes more of an impact than just your book sitting there on a shelf."

Colin Wade The 1in200 scheme banner in front of a book shelf in the Burford's Madhatter bookshop. There are also plush toys nearby. The sign reads "Discovering local independent authors".Colin Wade
Mr Wade said 1in200 provided "prominent shelf space" in the shops for the books it supported

Mr Wade said he had also spoken to the owner of the Il Botanico coffee shop in Headington, who thought it was "a great idea".

He said: "We hope to expand in across Oxfordshire into other bookstores and maybe other coffee shops."

He said there were "lots and lots of talented authors out there" who faced "a lot of hurdles" such as getting into majors chains.

"I felt that the scheme was just a way of trying to keep people's passion for writing going," he added. "It's certainly what drives me on."

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