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Vintage has revealed an extensive marketing and publicity campaign for its lead non-fiction début for 2020, You‚Äôre Not Listening by New York Times contributor Kate Murphy, including 'listening benches' in Waterstones stores and libraries.
The charity partnership with The Campaign to End Loneliness will see Penguin Random House volunteers staffing listening benches in Waterstones flagship Piccadilly (30th January) and Gower Street (23rd January) stores, and in Woolwich and Wimbledon libraries (on the 23rd and 30th respectively). Resources for people to run their own listening bench and copies of You‚Äôre Not Listening, which is Vintage‚Äôs lead non-fiction début for 2020, will be available to bookshops on request and to libraries via The Reading Agency.
Vintage said: "We‚Äôre asking Penguin Random House staff to volunteer an hour of their time on either the 23rd or 30th January to brighten someone‚Äôs day by striking up a conversation about books on one of our ‘Chatty Benches‚Äô, which will be popping up at the bookshops and libraries below.
"The Campaign to End Loneliness will be providing some material to help our volunteers to navigate these conversations and will be on hand for support on the day, plus everyone who takes part will receive a copy of You’re Not Listening as a thank you."
Murphy is also visiting the UK this week to coincide with publication day on Wednesday (23rd January) with a major focus on radio interviews and events to launch publication. Each interview will campaign "to show how listening can transform our conversations and our relationships", Vintage said. The book will be featured across the UK media, beginning with serial extracts earlier this month in the Sunday Times and slots in publications including the Guardian, Observer and Refinery29. Murphy will take part in broadcast interviews with BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 5Live, Chris Evans on Virgin Radio and Simon Mayo on Scala Radio, as well as event appearances at The Wing in central London, across the Bookomi platform and Snapchat.
The campaign will also coincide with PRH's audio focus on personal development in 2020. "You’re Not Listening is one of the key titles in the PRH audio team’s new year campaign, focusing on personal development titles," Vintage said. "A national visibility marketing strategy will focus on simple, practical steps to improve your listening, reaching those looking for self-improvement, smart thinking, professional development and parenting solutions."
Ellie Steel, senior editor at Harvill Secker, Vintage said: "You’re Not Listening is all about encouraging people to become better listeners. We’re so pleased that the Campaign to End Loneliness, Waterstones and the libraries have embraced Kate Murphy’s message and we’re excited to be launching this transformative book with them."
Kate Shurety, executive director at The Campaign to End Loneliness, hopes the publicity will encourage people to engage with each other more. "At the Campaign to End Loneliness, we believe that people of all ages need connections that matter. Part of the solution to loneliness is being more open to making those connections when you’re out and about. Taking the time to listen to a stranger is one of the kindest things you can do. The research shows that those small moments of connection can also improve your wellbeing, sense of community, and how you feel about yourself."
She added: "So whether it’s someone on the bus, or a neighbour in need, listening to the people around you is a powerful way to tackle loneliness, and to create meaningful connections that matter."
In the book, Murphy draws on a wide number conversations she has had with everyone from priests to CIA interrogators, focus group moderators to bartenders, and children "to show how only by listening well can we truly connect with others". The Bookseller’s Caroline Sanderson said it "looks to be to listening what Susan Cain's Quiet was to introversion".