World Book Night

Back in December I saw a trail on BBC Four asking for people to apply to be book givers for World Book Night.  I completed the application form and one of the questions asked was why should they pick me?  My answer was:

“I’m a wheelchair user.  An independent wheelchair user.  But sometimes I need help.  Sometimes I have to ask complete strangers in the supermarket to reach me something from a shelf I can’t reach.  Sometimes I have to ask a random stranger in the street to stop in the pouring rain to reach into my backpack to get my waterproof poncho out and help me get covered up to keep dry.  Sometimes I’ve no choice but to approach strangers and ask them for something.  This time I’d like to approach them and give them something in return.  This time I’d like to approach a stranger and offer them the gift of words.”

I didn’t think anything else of it.  Millions of people apply for these things.  I got an e-mail this morning confirming that I’ve been chosen.

Eek! I hadn’t given much thought to the logistics of having to carry 48 300 page novels about with me.  I hadn’t thought about where I’d go or how I’d go about the whole thing.  But World Book Night is on Saturday 5 March, this is the day I have to give the books out.  I think St Georges Market may be a good place to start.  It brings a wide selection of people together under one roof and if it’s raining then all the better as I’ll be able to stay somewhat dry, but I think it’ll be an interesting challenge either way.