A fascinating evening with two Sussex crime writers: Graham Bartlett and Lesley Thomson.
Graham Bartlett will introduce his new novel Bad for Good – a gripping, gritty and authentic thriller set in Brighton. Graham Bartlett was a Sussex policeman for over 30 years, rising to become Chief Superintendent and police commander of Brighton & Hove, and now works as a crime consultant, advising writers such as Peter James, Mark Billingham, Elly Griffiths, as well as running courses and seminars. He is the author of 2 best-selling ‘True Crime’ books; Babes in the Wood, and Death Comes Knocking.
Lesley Thomson will introduce her new novel The Companion, a gothic thriller set in the heart of Sussex, with echoes of Agatha Christie and Barbara Vine. Lesley is a seasoned, award-winning crime writer, the author of the Detective’s Daughter series, which feature a feisty, methodical cleaner as their heroine, as well as many standalone novels. Lesley teaches creative writing at West Dean College and runs her own crime writing course. Lesley and Graham will be in conversation with Gudrun from the Steyning Bookshop, who’ll be teasing out all their most grisly research stories! A glass of wine / soft drink will be served on arrival.
Welcome to the World is Julia Donaldson’s beautiful new book – a magical, lyrical celebration of babies’ first experiences, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. To celebrate the book’s publication, Julia will sign copies of Welcome to the World, plus her latest paperback Counting Creatures, andall her other books purchased on the day or pre-ordered, at The Steyning Bookshop on Saturday 7th May from 10.30am.
To attend this signing you MUST book a place. Each booking admits 1 family (of up to 5 people). There are 2 family ticket prices: the £12.99 price includes 1 copy of Welcome to the World in hardback, the £10.99 price includes 1 copy of Counting Creatures in paperback. Additional copies of these and Julia’s other books may be purchased from us on the day. Julia will sign all books purchased at our shop, but we are afraid that customers may not bring their own copies from home to be signed.
There are 3 signing sessions: 10.30am, 11.15am and 12 midday. Each session lasts 40 minutes and 20 families will meet Julia during this time, so there will be time to have a little chat!
Have you ever wondered what it takes to run an ultramarathon? Find out more at this sociable evening at Steyning Athletic Club with writer and runner Matt Whyman, whose new book ‘Failure is an Option’ is the story of an average runner who sets out to discover just how far he can go. With the support (and misgivings) of his family, and aware that his quickest years are behind him, Matt Whyman leaves the Saturday morning 5K to push towards 100-mile ultramarathons and beyond. By slowing things down to run a very long way, he joins a growing number of men and women from all walks of life striving to do something extraordinary. Warm, witty, entertaining and at times, deeply moving, Matt’s story will have you rooting for him, as he travels far beyond his comfort zone and sets his sights on a six-day mountain ultra that even hardened veterans consider to be the most formidable on earth: the Dragon’s Back Race. Copies of ‘Failure is an Option’ will be on sale for the ticket-holders bonus price of £10 (RRP £12.99). EVENING FORMAT: Doors open 7.30pm, refreshments (wine/ soft drinks & nibbles) will be served, interview with Matt from 7.45pm followed by Q & A, then book signing. Tickets: Steyning Athletic Club members £3 / general admission £5
It’s AGES since we’ve had a kids holiday activity, because of you-know-what! So, we are excited to announce that we’ll be celebrating all things SPRING with stories, games and a craft activity for children aged 4-7, on Wednesday 20th April at 11am.
Space is limited so 15 children is the max!
There will be an indoor and outdoor element, if the weather is fine, so dress accordingly. Free refreshments for hens & chicks! £3 per child, gives discount against book purchase.
Come and meet Julia Donaldson at the Steyning Bookshop on Saturday 5th March, from 2pm onwards, to celebrate the release of her 2 wonderful new books A Pocketful of Songs and Mole’s Spectacles. For COVID safety, this event will be organised in timed slots, each 40 minutes long, admitting 20 families per 40 minutes. Your ticket booking entitles entry to the signing for 1 family group of up to 5 people, and includes a copy of either Pocketful of Songs (£14.99 ticket) Mole’s Spectacles (£6.99 ticket) , or both books (£21.98 ticket)
Additional Julia D books for signing can be purchased at the bookshop on the day – we will have a huge selection of ALL Julia’s books on display for customers to browse, buy and get signed, but if there is a particular book that you really want, you can add it to your ticket order by phoning the shop on 01903 812062 or shopping via our website here, selecting LOCAL PICKUP as your delivery option, and adding in the ORDER NOTES that you’ll be collecting it at the signing.
We are sorry, but we cannot allow customers to bring books from home for signing by Julia.
There will be activities for children while they wait to meet Julia!
Pocketful of Songs is the latest collection of Julia’s songs, including family favourites from Stick Man and Superworm to Tiddler and The Highway Rat, collected in a beautiful hardback gift edition, richly illustrated by Axel Scheffler and accompanied by a CD featuring Julia Donaldson herself performing the songs, which will have the whole family singing and clapping along. The book also includes music scores for piano and guitar.
Mole’s Spectacles is the 7th book in Julia and Axel’s beloved Acorn Wood series, perfect for pre-schoolers, produced in sturdy board book format with fun flaps to lift on every page…. Mole has lost his spectacles. He searches all around his house, in the garden and even in Weasel’s sweetshop, but he can’t find them anywhere! Where could they be? Lift the flaps to help him find them!
We are delighted that our favourite thriller writer, Elly Griffiths, will join us live on Zoom, to discuss The Locked Room – the 14th novel in her bestselling ‘Ruth Galloway’ series. Proceedings will be ably managed by fellow crime writer, William Shaw.
Wednesday 9th February, 7.30pm, Online via Zoom.
Tickets are £5, and ticket-holders are entitled to £5 off a SIGNED copy of The Locked Room – please pop in or call the bookshop to arrange your signed (and name-dedicated, if you wish!) copy. Ticket holders will receive an email with the Zoom link after booking. Click HERE to book! Or the button below!
The Locked Room sees Ruth and her daughter return to their Norfolk cottage, only for COVID to strike. While Ruth struggles with home schooling, she and her daughter strike up a friendship with the new next door neighbour, Zoe. Meanwhile, Nelson is investigating a series of mysterious deaths, women who may, or may not have died by suicide. An archaeological discovery unearthed during the investigation leads Nelson to Ruth’s door – breaking curfew – where Nelson finds Ruth chatting to her neighbour …a woman Nelson recalls from a long ago case….
What better way to mark the start of the Festive Season? Come and meet Julia Donaldson as she celebrates the release of two magical, Christmassy new books …
In 2020, Julia was commissioned to write a poem in honour of the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree, an annual gift to the UK from Norway. Now, this delightful, rhyming poem, which follows the journey of a little pine tree from the deep Norwegian forest to the sparkling bright centre of London, is released as a beautiful hardback book, with gorgeous, atmospheric illustrations by Norwegian artist Victoria Sandøy. The Christmas Pine is a modern Christmas classic!
‘Squirrel’s Snowman‘ is a brand new addition to Julia Donaldson’s well-loved Acorn Wood series, with charming illustrations by Axel Scheffler. In chunky board-book format, with flaps to lift on every page and a darling rhyming story which follows Squirrel and her friends as they try to collect all they need to build a snowman, this is a festive, snowy treat for toddlers!
How does the book-signing work?
The signing is organised in timed slots, from 10am onwards, ending at 1.45pm, to limit queues and crowding.
1 ticket booking admits 1 family group of up to 5 people (1/2 adults and up to 3 children).
Each ticket includes either 1 copy of The Christmas Pine (£12.99) or 1 copy of Squirrel’s Snowman (£6.99)
Additional books can be purchased at the Steyning Bookshop on the day of the signing.
Free refreshments and activities for children are included.
We are sorry, but only these pre-ordered books plus books purchased on the day at the Steyning Bookshop will be signed by Julia.
An exciting chance to meet the man behind the famous name – Alastair Sawday is most famous for his ‘Special Places to Stay’ series of hotel guides, but he has also created a very successful publishing firm, with a popular online presence, and is a passionate environmental activist. Alastair will speak about his travels, his writing & publishing work, his activism & involvement with the Soil Association, and his commitment to an eco-friendly way of life. The evening will include drinks & a finger buffet. The Steyning Bookshop will be on hand selling copies of Alastair’s books.
We are thrilled to announce a very special performance by legendary Punk Poet Attila the Stockbroker, celebrating National Poetry Day on Thursday October 7th. Attila will perform pieces from ‘Heart on his Sleeve‘, his newly published anthology of writings from the last 40 years. If we are lucky, and in keeping with the ancient church venue, Attila may also whip out his crumhorn or pluck his mandocello, for a couple of numbers from his band Barnstormer 1649‘s 2018 album, ‘Restoration Tragedy‘ – where Early Music meets punk! Attila will be ably supported by Steyning wordsmith Simon Zec. Copies of ‘Heart on his Sleeve‘ as well as Attila’s albums and merchandise will be on sale and Attila will be happy to sign & dedicate the books. Tasty local beers by RIVERSIDE BREWERY (& soft drinks) will be on sale, card or cash payments will be accepted.
About Attila the Stockbroker Irrepressible, energetic and impassioned, Son of Southwick Attila the Stockbroker is both a local, and a global, legend! He is a poet, musician, journalist and political activist, who has spent forty years touring the world performing his unique brand of spoken word, poetry and music. Having played almost four thousand gigs in twenty four countries, releasing countless books and records along the way, Attila’s Collected Works has just been published by Cherry Red Books, the book arm of the celebrated independent record label which released his early 80s albums and his 2015 autobiography ‘Arguments Yard.’ A stalwart of the international spoken word circuit, an established Glastonbury regular, much loved at Brighton And Hove Albion Football Club, co-organiser of Glastonwick beer and music festival, Attila The Stockbroker remains as focused and active as ever, and continues to perform to audiences across the world, including a run of successful recent online lockdown shows.
COVID precautions St Andrews Church is a spacious, well-ventilated venue, which we selected especially in order to be COVID-safe. Seating is not numbered or allocated, you may choose where to sit. Please be mindful of others and space yourselves sensibly.
Essential reading for anyone feeling full of despair in these difficult times, Dutch historian Rutger Bregman’s fresh take on human nature is heartening and optimistic.
From Machiavelli to Hobbes, Freud to Dawkins, in religion, fiction, science, psychology and sociology, we have been taught that human beings are by nature selfish and governed by self-interest. In ‘Humankind’, Rutger Bregman makes a revolutionary new argument: People are essentially GOOD, and their actions naturally tend towards kindness and altruism.
Chapter by chapter, going back through 200,000 years of human history, Bregman re-evaluates and re-examines some of the most famously pessimistic events and case-studies; from the real-life Lord of the Flies to the Blitz, a Siberian fox farm to an infamous New York murder, Stanley Milgram’s Yale shock machine to the Stanford prison experiments, he finds persuasive new evidence for humanity’s essential decency. If we begin to believe in fundamental human kindness and altruism, we may be able to achieve true change in society.
