Amanda Crowned Bookseller Of The Year

Amanda Dunne Fulmer with presenters Rhys Stephenson and Lauren Laverne MON13MAY24

iven the amount of awards Halfway Up The Stairs have been winning of late, even Meryl Streep would have rolled her eyes tonight as the little Greystones children’s bookshop received yet another major gong.

Held at The Grosvensor Hotel in London, The British Book Awards covers UK and Ireland, and they’ve decided that our own Amanda Dunne Fulmer is the best Individual Bookseller Of The Year all across these isles.

Be. The. J.R. Hartley.

The book lover behind Halfway Up The Stairs, Trish Hennessy told The Guide tonight, “I’m so proud of Amanda, who is an outstanding bookseller and such a passionate advocate of children’s books!”

She better be. The two Greystonians were actually sitting at separate tables in the Grosvenor, Trish in the Children’s Bookshop Of The Year running, which actually went to The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill in London.

Trish, Amanda, Sarah, Meriel and Kathleen

Known as The Nibbies because of the golden nib-shaped trophy given to the winners, in her acceptance speech, Amanda thanked Trish for “bravely opening an independent bookshop and giving me a chance as a bookseller” before going on to give a shout-out to co-workers Meriel, Kathleen and Sarah, her mum for introducing her to the joy of reading, and to her husband and kids for begrudgingly agreeing to a family book club.

Well done to everyone nominated on the night, but mostly to Halfway and the gang. Because, you know…