Sue Butterworth
Susan Ann Butterworth | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Llandudno, Wales |
| Died | July 26, 2004 (aged 53) Bank, Hampshire, England |
| Occupation(s) | Bookseller, publisher, editor, activist |
| Known for | Co-founder of Silver Moon Bookshop; editor of Silver Moon Quarterly |
Susan Ann Butterworth (10 September 1950 – 26 July 2004) was a prominent British bookseller and advocate, recognized for co-establishing Silver Moon Bookshop in 1984 and serving as the editor of its publication, Silver Moon Quarterly.
Early life
Butterworth was born in Llandudno, Wales, as the daughter of a proprietor of a furniture business. She pursued her education at Penrhos College until she was 16 years old. In 1973, she embarked on a car journey across South Africa.
Career
Her entry into publishing began with roles as a secretary and editorial assistant at Book Club Associates from 1977 to 1981. She became involved with Women in Publishing at the time of its founding in 1979. In 1982, together with Jane Cholmeley, she launched Silver Moon Bookshop and Silver Moon Books, a publishing enterprise. Situated on Charing Cross Road, the bookstore focused solely on literature authored by women and partnered with American publisher Barbara Grier of Naiad Press to bring lesbian-themed publications to the UK audience. Silver Moon evolved into a feminist cultural center in London, while its newsletter, Silver Moon Quarterly, garnered a global readership exceeding 10,000.
Due to escalating rental costs, Silver Moon ceased operations in 2001. Subsequently, Butterworth engaged in teaching, led the Society of Bookmen as chair from 2002 to 2003, and held the position of vice-chair at the Book Trade Benevolent Society. She also co-initiated Meerkat Books, a charitable marketing collective supporting independent British booksellers and publishers.
In recognition of their contributions, Butterworth and Cholmeley were honored with the Pandora Award by Women in Publishing in 1989 and received the Mike Rhodes Trust Award in 2001. Additionally, Butterworth served as a judge for the NCR Non-Fiction Prize in 1996 alongside distinguished personalities including Nick Hornby and Jeremy Paxman.
Personal life
Butterworth passed away from cancer in Bank, Hampshire in 2004 at age 53. She was survived by her partner, Irene Roele. The British Book Industry Awards commemorate her legacy through the Sue Butterworth Award for Young Bookseller of the Year, which is sponsored by HarperCollins.
External links
- Annie Roma Southern, Women in the Book Trade: Three Women Publishers of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries (2014); includes a profile on Butterworth.