Northampton TikTok bookseller launches first indie author festival after viral success
A Northampton book lover who turned a side hustle into a full-time business through TikTok is preparing to host her first live event celebrating independent authors.
Tamsin Shawe, 39, founder of Scribe and Sign, has announced ScribeFest, an indie author and book lovers festival set to take place at The Barns at Hunsbury Hill, following the rapid growth of her business driven by the rise of BookTok.
Based in Northampton, Tamsin spent most of her working life in the construction industry, running her own construction business for over five years. In late 2024, she decided to pursue a long-held passion for books, launching Scribe and Sign initially as a side hustle.
“I reached a point where I asked myself what do I really love, and the answer was books,” she said. “Blind Date With A Book started in my house with my own books. I did my first TikTok live with a handful of titles and I was terrified.”
As her audience grew, Tamsin began to focus on independent authors, recognising the challenges they face in getting their work noticed.
“I realised indie authors struggle with the same questions I had at the beginning. How do people find you? How do you get the word out? Marketing can feel like a minefield,” she said.
Tamsin began featuring their books during her live sessions, discussing them with her audience and encouraging readers to support independent publishing.
“The response was incredible and the momentum just kept growing,” she added. “That’s when the idea for ScribeFest was born.”
ScribeFest will bring together indie authors and readers for a dedicated festival focused entirely on independent books.
Tamsin said supporting indie authors is central to her mission. “Their books are every bit as good as the big names you see everywhere, if not better. This isn’t a trend for me. I genuinely want to help in any way I can.”
ScribeFest will take place on Sunday, 28th June. Tickets are available via Eventbrite.