Quick Reads

Background
Quick Reads 2008
Quick Reads 2007
Quick Reads 2006

Background

Quick Reads was launched on World Book Day 2006, with the aim of reaching out to adults in the UK with reading difficulties and those who never pick up a book. They are written specially by bestselling authors and popular personalities for both reluctant readers and for those wanting a short, fast-paced read. They are priced at £1.99 each. Quick Reads is a partnership between the publishing and bookselling industries, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the BBC, Unionlearn, Arts Council and others.

Since 2006 over half and million Quick Reads titles have been distributed, in 2007 35,000 orders were made for promotional packs and over 9,000 organisations signed up to participate in the initiative. Quick Reads were available in over 800 workplaces, over 1,000 doctors' surgeries and in each of the 6,000 BBC RaW centres across the country.

Quick Reads 2008

Quick Reads 2008 will be published on World Book Day 2008 - 6 March - priced at £1.99 each. Titles will include:

Humble Pie Gordon Ramsey (adapted from his autbiography)
The Girl on the Platform Josephine Cox (fiction from the bestselling author)
One Good Turn Chris Ryan (an action thriller from the ex-SAS man)
Life's New Hurdles Colin Jackson (autobiography of the British Olympic medalist)
Happy Families Adele Parks (fiction from the bestselling author)
The Hardest Test Scott Quinnell (autobiography of the Welsh rugby player)
East End Tales Gilda O'Neill (a collection of childhood memories)
RaW Voices of Hardship and Hope edited by Vanessa Feltz (real life stories from people around the UK)
The Ten Keys to Success John Bird (advice on success from the founder of the Big Issue)
Doctor Who: Revenge of the Judoon Terrance Dicks (the original Dr Who author)

Quick Reads 2007

Retailers praised the selection of Quick Reads titles for 2007, saying that the move to replace voucher distribution with a universal lower price made it easier to support the books. The Vital Link provided interactive learning resources, Starting with Quick Reads, to accompany the titles. 2007's titles included:

Survive the Worst and Aim for the Best Kerry Katona (using the worst experiences of her life to learn positive lessons)
Burning Ambition Allen Carr (the world's leading quit-smoking expert writes about his own struggle to give up since being diagnosed with lung cancer)
Twenty Tales from the Warzone John Simpson (the BBC's World Affairs Editor shares some of the most high-octane moments of his career)
Reading My Arse! Ricky Tomlinson
Lily Adèle Geras (a modern ghost story)
A Dream Come True Maureen Lee (offers a fictional story of hope and self-discovery)
Made of Steel Doctor Who
The Sun Book of Short Stories (a collection of short stories written by Sun readers)

Quick Reads worked with NIACE, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, and the TUC on a massive outreach campaign, building on the work done in 2006. Promotional packs were sent out to colleges and other learner institutions across the UK with the aim of getting even more emergent readers and tutors signed up to Quick Reads and NIACE also focussed on a campaign targeted at major employers. Point of sale distributed by NIACE comprised of posters (A2, banner and empty belly posters), and mugs and pens.

Booksellers delighted by 2007 Quick Reads

Kathy Gale, Quick Reads project director told The Bookseller: "The £1 voucher hampered the supermarkets and online retailers. We have front-of-store commitment from all the major retailers, including Asda, Tesco, WHSmith, Waterstone's, and Borders, and Sainsbury's are going to include the books in their chart displays."

Asda books buyer Steph Bateson said: "The titles are more celebrity-based which is great as we need to target people who don't read much. Supermarkets can really appeal to those people."

Other retailers said the selection had broad appeal. Waterstone's spokesman Jon Howell's said: "The authors and subjects have been well chosen, are bang up to date, and should appeal to people new to reading. They also have good crossover potential."

A BBC1 daytime dramatisatioin of one of the titles is planned for the launch day. There will be bus and radio advertising and support from the Sun. Additional promotional activity will involve BBC RaW, TUC Union Learn and Business in the Community. The books will include a competition voucher, through which readers can win a holiday, Marks and Spencer vouchers, an evening in a limousine or books.

Copies of the Quick Reads titles first published, re-issued or reprinted in 2007 can be purchased at all main bookshops and supermarket chains. Bulk quantities can be ordered from the following suppliers:

Large print editions of all the 2006 Quick Reads titles are available from BBC Audiobooks Ltd – library.sales@bbc.co.uk 01225 335336 www.bbcauiodbooks.co.uk/libraries Large print editions of the 2007 Quick Reads will be available in June and a new imprint called Shortlist will include further titles appropriate for emergent readers.

As part of the initiative, Quick Reads is offering employers high-impact display bins, books, posters, pens and mugs for staff rest areas and canteens. Packs will include 60 books and are available at £100 each. For more information on the employers pack, contact the Quick Reads team at NIACE on quickreads@niace.org.uk or call 0116 204 7072.

The easiest way to access books is via the main bookshop chains, independent bookshops and supermarkets see list below. Libraries also have sets of the books for loan.

Members of the public can search for a local store that is stocking the Quick Reads - visit
www.quickreads.org.uk/stockists

Members of the public can also post reviews of any Quick Reads on the First Choice Books database. For a range of reviews from adult learners, literacy professionals and the press, click here.

World Book Day 2006 marked the launch of Quick Reads. Twelve of the biggest names in fiction and non-fiction published short, fast-paced new books (see book covers below) designed to encourage adult reluctant readers to get hooked on books.

The May 2006 authors were Andy McNab, Mike Phillips, Danny Wallace, Val McDermid, John Francome, Damien Lewis, Tom Holland, Courttia Newland, Hunter Davies and Gareth Roberts, with a Doctor Who story.

The Quick Reads books are now listed on the First Choice Books database. Literacy practitioners who are using Quick Reads can encourage students to put up a review.

Members of the public can also post reviews of any Quick Reads on the First Choice Books database.

For more information about Quick Reads see www.quickreads.org.uk