Everything Bookish, December 2022

Hello, fellow Bookworms,

We hope you’re all looking after yourselves during these cold winter days. We know that times can get a little difficult in the run-up to Christmas, and the current low temperatures can make it a little harder for some. Nevertheless, we hope that wherever you are, you’re able to wrap up warm with a steaming mug of hot chocolate (or mulled wine) and a good book!

This week we celebrated a very important day of the year. The winter Solstice, also known as the hibernal solstice, also known as Yule, occurs every year on the 21st of December. For the northern hemisphere, this marks ‘the shortest day’ and ‘longest night’ of the year and has, for a long time, been seen as a symbolic period throughout history. For many, it is a time of rebirth whereby the sun ‘dies’ and is reborn. As well as this, the winter solstice is symbolic of new beginnings, transformation and creativity, so what better time is there to reflect on all of the experiences we’ve had over the past twelve months?

Here at The Book Shelf, we have had an exciting year of growth and new opportunities that we look forward to seeing continue into the new year. From launching our own LinkedIn Newsletter to releasing our own Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts to working with new clients, this year has been one of immense progress and new ventures. Hopefully, this has been the same for you and if not, the new year is just around the corner!

For aspiring writers, whether you celebrate Christmas or not, this could be a great time to find inspiration amongst all the festive joy and positive vibes. In fact, over on our TikTok page (@Thebookshelfltd) we asked 22-year-old self-published author Kitty Riggs for her top writing tips so be sure to check them out to take with you into the new year!

Some of you may have also treated yourselves to a festive book or two to delve into over the past month. In the spirit of last month’s non-fiction November, you can find an array of Christmas-themed non-fiction books from Roger Highfields’ The Physics of Christmas to Bruce Forbes’s Christmas: A Candid History. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a non-Christmas-related read, be sure to check out past editions of Out of Five Cats!?

Lastly, we would like to wish everyone a wonderful end to the new year, whether that’ll be filled with Christmas customs or your own fun traditions!

Love,

The Book Shelf