by Gudrun Bowers | 18, Sep 2018
Come down to the bookshop on the evening of Thursday 4th October, and celebrate National Poetry Day with local poets Simon Zec, Marilyn Martin, and Judy Krolick.
Sit amongst the book-lined shelves, sip a glass or two of wine, and enjoy verses read by Simon, Marilyn and Judy, interspersed with musical accompaniment.
Simon Zec recently published his debut volume of poetry ‘Death of the Suburb’, which will be on sale on the night, alongside our special Poetry Day offer of 15% off all poetry books.
We would love audience members to bring along a favourite poem to share, too.
Tickets are £4, to include wine /soft drink and nibbles. Start time is 7.30pm.
by Gudrun Bowers | 30, Aug 2018
On Saturday 20th October at 2.30pm fans of Julia Donaldson will get another chance to meet her as she celebrates the release of not one, not two, but THREE new books – a delightful alphabet of animals: Animalphabet, a new story with the fabulous illustrator Lydia Monks: The Girl, the Bear and the Magic Shoes, and a beautiful new illustrated hardback edition of Julia’s play about the second World War: Bombs and Blackberries. The book-signing is an amazing chance to buy one of these wonderful new books in first-edition hardback, and get it personally signed and dedicated by Julia.
In order to make the signing an enjoyable experience for everyone
- Entry will be strictly by prior booking only, and limited to under 100 families.
- You can book your place by calling the shop on 01903 812062 and purchasing any of Julia’s new books (or her older titles!)
- Your pre-order allows entry of 1 family group (1/2 adults and up to 4 children).
- You may purchase additional books on the day – all Julia’s books will be available for purchase and signing.
- There is no way to host a Julia D signing without some queuing, but we will attempt to reduce the queue time by staggering the entry times: 2.30 pm for the first 30 families to book, 3.30 pm for the next, and 4.30 for the final group. You will be advised of your recommended signing time when you book.
- The signing will take place inside the shop /the back room of the shop, there will be refreshments and activities for children, but space is fairly limited.
- Please do not bring ‘books from home’ or books purchased elsewhere for signing.
- If you are unable to attend the signing but would like to order and pay for a book to be signed/dedicated by Julia, to pick up in person later, please call in/ phone the shop and we will be happy to arrange this for you.
- Don’t forget – for those who live further away – you can get a signed Julia Donaldson book anytime from our website store!
JULIA’S NEW BOOKS
Animalphabet is Julia’s delightful alphabet of animals with stunning illustrations by Sharon King-Chai.
Julia’s cleverly written, rhythmic text invites children to compare one animal to another, and ingenious hints and peep-through holes within the artwork make the book a hugely entertaining guessing game as well! Each intricately cut page draws you further into a beautifully vibrant world of huge elephants, slithery snakes and growling tigers, and the book will make a gorgeous gift. £14.99 in hardback.
The Girl, the Bear and the Magic Shoes is an exciting new story illustrated with glittery magic by Lydia Monks. When Josephine leaves the shoe shop after buying some new running shoes, she hears an unusual sound – Click-click! Click-click! A bear with a backpack is following her! Luckily for Josephine, her new shoes are anything but ordinary – these are magic shoes. But can they help her escape the bear when there’s a mountain, a bog and even a lake in her way? £12.99 in hardback.
Bombs and Blackberries is a dramatic and touching play which brings Manchester during the Second World War and its people to life.
World War Two has been declared and the Chivers children are sent to the safety of the countryside. They are delighted to be brought back home when it looks like the Germans aren’t going to invade after all. But the air-raid siren goes off and this time it’s frighteningly real. It is perfect for class reading as well as performance, also includes helpful tips on staging and costume. Beautifully illustrated by Thomas Docherty. £12.99 in hardback.
by Gudrun Bowers | 13, Aug 2018
Join the Gin Revolution!
Wednesday 19th September, 7 for 7.30pm at the Sussex Produce Cafe.
In association with Steyning Food and Drink Festival, and The Sussex Produce Cafe, we are excited to welcome Dave Broom, Glaswegian drinks writer and spirits expert extraordinaire, who will join us at the Sussex Produce Cafe for a dinner and gin-tasting evening. Dave has written over a dozen award-winning books on whisky, gin, rum, and the art of bartending, is a contributor to numerous whisky journals, and lectures widely on wine, spirits and distillery. Over a delicious 2 course dinner, Dave will lead us through tastings of a range of artisan gins, and will also share insights into the history and manufacture of gin, and how best to enjoy its subtle flavours.
Tickets £35 to include superb 2 course dinner, gin-tasting, and a copy of Dave’s new book ‘Gin:The Manual’.
by Gudrun Bowers | 16, Jul 2018
On Wednesday 22nd August at 2.30pm we are delighted to welcome back Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet! Sue and Paul are the dynamic duo behind a string of best-selling picture books – from Barry the Fish with Fingers, via Dave the Farting Cat, to the hit Supertato series, their books are full of colourful craziness and are guaranteed to raise a chuckle!
Sue and Paul will entertain children in the bookshop garden marquee with silly stories, awesome activities and maybe a song or two for good measure….suitable for ages 3 – 8, although this is just a guideline.
Advance booking recommended. Tickets £4 per child. Free refreshments included.
by Gudrun Bowers | 4, Jul 2018
ENTRY BY PRE-BOOKING ONLY! Call the bookshop on 01903 812062 to reserve your place.
On Saturday July 21st at 2.30pm Julia Donaldson will join us to celebrate her joyous new picture book ‘The Cook and the King’.
Just out in hardback at £11.99, this hilarious story tells the tale of a very fussy king and his search for a cook who can make just the right dish. With Julia’s signature rollicking, rhyming text and richly detailed illustrations by David Roberts (Tyrannosaurus Drip, The Troll) this is sure to become a firm family favourite!
How does the book signing work?
- Entry will be strictly by prior booking only, and limited to under 100 families.
- You can book your place by calling the shop on 01903 812062 and pre-ordering at least 1 copy of ‘The Cook and the King’ (or other Julia D title). Your pre-order allows entry of 1 family group (1/2 adults and up to 4 children).
- You may purchase additional books on the day – all Julia’s books will be available for purchase and signing.
- There is no way to host a Julia D signing without some queuing, but we will attempt to reduce the queue time by staggering the entry times: 2.30 pm for the first 30 families to book, 3.30 pm for the next, and 4.30 for the final group. You will be advised of your recommended signing time when you book.
- The signing will take place in the bookshop garden. There will be refreshments and activities for children, and as much shade and seating as we can muster.
- Please do not bring ‘books from home’ for signing.
- If you are unable to attend the signing but would like to order and pay for a book to be signed/dedicated by Julia, to pick up in person later, please call in/ phone the shop and we will be happy to arrange this for you.
- Don’t forget – you can get a signed Julia Donaldson book anytime from our website store!
by Gudrun Bowers | 19, Jun 2018
Thursday 28th June at 7.30pm – Rescheduled from the Steyning Festival event on June 8th. Original tickets still valid.
An amazing opportunity to meet Salley Vickers, author of the highly acclaimed Miss Garnett’s Angel, and The Cleaner of Chartres, in conversation about her wonderful new novel, The Librarian.
Salley Vickers’ writing is filled with subtle wit and lucid observations of human nature and has been compared to Penelope Fitzgerald and Barbara Pym. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a cleaner, a dancer, a teacher of children with special needs, a university lecturer specialising in Shakespeare, and a psychoanalyst.
Salley will be interviewed by Sara Bowers, the owner of The Steyning Bookshop.
The ticket price of £12 includes wine/soft drink, nibbles, and £5 voucher towards purchase of a book.
‘Salley Vickers sees with a clear eye and writes with a light hand. She’s a presence worth cherishing’ Philip Pullman.
‘Vickers is a novelist in the great English tradition of moral seriousness. Her characters suffer, they struggle to be true to both themselves and the promptings of the human heart. If you enjoy reading the work of Marilynne Robinson, Penelope Fitzgerald and James Salter you should be reading Vickers.’ MICHAEL DIRDA Washington Post
by Gudrun Bowers | 19, Jun 2018
‘Death of the Suburb” LAUNCH PARTY!
Come and join us for an evening of poetry, wine and song, as local performance poet Simon Zec launches his debut book of poetry, ‘Death of the Suburb’. By turns angry, tender, hilarious, and nostalgic, Simon’s verses capture the the complexities and contradictions of modern life and encroaching middle age.
The evening will feature some readings by Simon, some strummings and singings from local Razz-up musicians, and wine, soft drinks and nibbles.
Copies of ‘Death of the Suburb’ will be on sale at £8.99.
Entry is FREE but please, if you’d like to come RSVP to The Steyning Bookshop on 01903 812062, or by email to info@steyningbookshop.co.uk
More info on the book at www.therealpress.co.uk
by Gudrun Bowers | 4, May 2018
We are very lucky and super-excited to have bagged a visit from best-selling novelist Robert Goddard!
Robert Goddard, aka ‘The world’s greatest storyteller’ (The Guardian) will be introducing his 27th novel, Panic Room, a contemporary thriller set in Cornwall, which sees him at his nerve-shredding best. Robert will be in conversation with Sussex thriller writer William Shaw.
We are looking forward to hearing about the background to Panic Room, his research and inspiration, his array of past best-sellers, and just how he achieves such mastery in the art of suspense and plotting!
Tickets include a delicious 2 course meal, and a copy of ‘Panic Room’. Robert’s other novels will also be on sale for signing.
Robert Goddard is the author of 27 novels, many of which are Sunday Times Top Ten Best-sellers, including The Wide World Trilogy, Fault Line, and Past Caring.
He was born in Hampshire in 1954. He was educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge where he read History. He unsuccessfully pursued various career options, finally spending ten years as a local government officer. Frustrated with a lot of contemporary fiction, he set out to write a novel that did what he wanted more novels to do: tell a tightly constructed and densely plotted story engrossingly and satisfyingly. The result was Past Caring (1986) and when it became a success he realised that he had, in fact, always been a writer.
‘I was a writer, in the sense of being a storyteller – an avid elaborator and re-fashioner of events for my own and others’ entertainment – from my childhood on. I was also an eager student of history, spending every Saturday I could in the local reference library poring over history books in a bid to understand the world I grew up in. These two impulses – to alter reality and also to master it – are the foundations of my fiction. It’s become an addictive occupation and it’s not an addiction I
have any intention of trying to kick. I’m in it for life.’ – Robert Goddard
‘For 30 years Goddard has been my go-to guy for a certain kind of storytelling, full of
easy charm blended with sinister menace, propulsive pace with twisty plotting,
and likeable characters in bad situations. If you’ve read him, join the discussion: is
this his best yet? If you haven’t read him, start here and work backwards.’
– Lee Child
by Gudrun Bowers | 5, Apr 2018
7.30 pm on Tuesday 1st May at the Gluck Studio in Steyning.
Join us for a very special evening as American writer Justin Hopper is joined by folk musician Sharron Kraus and special guests Geraldine Mitchell and Peter Pick, to perform a collaborative composition inspired by Chanctonbury Ring and the Downs around Steyning.
The performance combines readings from Hopper’s book ‘The Old Weird Albion’, a haunting work of psycho-geography tracing myths, memories and forgotten histories from Winchester to Beachy Head, with new folk compositions written and performed by Kraus on recorders, voice, synths and percussion.
Besides performing collaboratively, there will be short performances from Hopper and Kraus individually, as well as pieces from Sussex musician Peter Pick, and the first-ever UK reading by Irish poet Geraldine Mitchell.
Tickets, priced £8, are available at the shop or can be reserved by phoning us on 01903 812062. Tickets include wine/soft drinks, nibbles, and a £3 off voucher towards a copy of ‘The Old Weird Albion’.
Justin Hopper is an American writer of landscape, memory and myth, whose childhood visits to his grandmother’s home in Steyning inspired his life-long love of the South Downs. His journalism, poetry, audio projects and curated exhibitions have appeared in both his native USA and adopted UK home. He now lives in Constable Country with his partner and their son. His book ‘The Old Weird Albion’ is a lyrical and beautifully-written psycho-geographical memoir, charting Justin’s journeys amongst the South Downs, meeting New Age eccentrics, scholars, artists and folk historians in his search for forgotten myths and overlooked histories along the South Downs Way.
Sharron Kraus is a singer of folk songs, a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose solo work and collaborations offer a dark and subversive take on traditional folk music. As well as drawing on the folk traditions of England and Appalachia, her music is influenced by gothic literature, surrealism, myth and magick. She has released 6 albums and has been featured in The Wire, fRoots, and Uncut. She has also appeared on Radio 3’s ‘The Verb’, and recorded sessions for BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Shropshire, and Freakzone on Radio 6.
by Gudrun Bowers | 7, Mar 2018
On Thursday April 19th at 7.30pm, join us for an intimate evening at the bookshop with novelist Catherine Chanter, who will be discussing her second novel The Half Sister.
Catherine visited us in Steyning to talk about her first novel The Well, which received widespread critical acclaim and was much enjoyed by all at the bookshop, and by our book groups. The Well was Winner of the Lucy Cavendish Prize in 2013, was a Richard and Judy Book Club Pick for Autumn 2015, and was long listed for the CWA John Creasy (New Blood) Dagger 2015.
So we are very pleased to welcome Catherine back to hear about The Half Sister, a compelling story of loss, grief, revenge and redemption. The novel follows estranged half sisters Diana and Valerie, who are reunited for their mother’s funeral but quarrel in bitter recrimination over past rivalries, setting off a tragic chain of events. It is a dark and finely nuanced study of moral uncertainties, and we are all looking forward to discussing it with her! Both novels are published by Canongate.
Catherine is a novelist and poet. She won a scholarship to read English Literature at Oxford and went on to work as a lobbyist, both in the UK and the USA. Somewhat disillusioned with the political process, she returned to England where she re-trained as a teacher and has since led education provision for vulnerable and excluded young people in a wide range of settings. She currently works for a charity which seeks to re-engage children with mental health problems with education.
Catherine has written for Radio 4 and had short stories and poetry published in many anthologies and publications. Her novella and short story collection Rooms of the Mind was published by Cinnamon Press in 2011. She has a Masters, with Distinction , in Creative Writing from Oxford Brookes University.
The event price is £8, which will include wine, nibbles, and a voucher towards purchasing the novel (£14.99 hardback)
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