The Bermuda Book Store received a welcome boost from the American Booksellers Association website and newsletter last week after the store was featured in an article, "Bookstore in only Bermuda City Changes Hands".

The Bookstore's new manager and part-owner Hannah Wilmott said it was great to get some foreign coverage and explained that a part of the American Booksellers Organisation was dedicated to independent booksellers such as the Bermuda Bookstore.

She explained that the organisation helps the independent stores get some of the benefits some of the big bookstores get and help them compete against the big stores such as Barnes& Noble, Amazon and so forth.

"They have allowed me to become a member over here in Bermuda. I think we are the first non-American bookstore member. What that does mean is that we will be having gift certificates which will be accepted at certain independent bookstores in the United States, so you will be able to buy a gift certificate here and use them in the United States."

Ms Wilmott said: "It is going very well. We've got loads of new books in and people are very nice when they come in, everybody seems to like the way we are doing business."

Ms Wilmott said the trade from visitors was going very well and added: "I think everybody off of that cruise ship goes home with a Bermuda book."