Cliff

The Bookery was delighted to welcome author and freelance writer Lucy Brazier for our most recent author event. We had hoped that Lucy was to be joined in conversation by her good friend, novelist, TV scriptwriter and journalist Veronica Henry but she (understandably) had to withdraw due to her son having an operation on his ankle that afternoon. We all, of course, wish him a speedy recovery. Stepping in at late notice to replace Veronica was our very own Bookshop … Read more

Five years on from the start of the pandemic, The Bookery marked this somewhat melancholy anniversary by welcoming author and environmental journalist Marianne Brown, who’s recently launched book The Shetland Way was conceived in the first months of lockdown. Marianne arrived in Voe, Shetland with her partner and daughter in February 2020 to attend her father’s funeral having packed only enough clothes to last a short trip, but as COVID19 swept through the UK they would be unable to leave … Read more

For the first session of our Spring sessions of Afternoon Author events we were delighted to welcome local poet and friend of The Bookery Michael Hartland, who opened his talk inviting the audience to recall a memorable experience from the natural world and to think of a word or phrase to describe this experience. Before proceeding to read extracts from acclaimed poets that have inspired his own poetry Michael explained that he would be building in some moments of silence … Read more

For the final session of our winter Afternoon Author events we were delighted to welcome local author Jonathan Crofts, who was joined by Monica, his wife and editor of The Portsmouth Connection. Jonathan provided us with some fascinating insights and stories that he unearthed during his time researching the history of the Eggesford Estate and the Earls of Portsmouth. Jonathan began by introducing Monica, describing a little bit about her 40-year career as an editor. He then went on to … Read more

To welcome in the joys of spring with glorious sunshine we were delighted to welcome on World Book Day award-winning author and university lecturer Dr Michael Malay, who was joined in conversation by the Bookery’s ‘resident’ interviewer Alison Sweatman. From Alison’s carefully prepared questions we learnt the importance to Michael of relationships and connections. It was fascinating to hear about his childhood growing up in Jakarta, before moving to Australia where he experienced a completely different culture with his first … Read more

For the second of our winter Afternoon Author events, we were delighted to welcome local historian Tony Gale who provided our audience with a fascinating audio visual presentation based on his book Crediton & the Great Fire 1743. Tony took us through the period before, during and after the fire revealing many intriguing stories about life in the 18th century in Crediton. Using a unusually detailed map of the town that was drawn up for the Lord of the manor, … Read more

For our first evening author event of the year we were delighted to welcome the award-winning crime author and journalist Holly Watt, who was joined in conversation with The Bookery’s own interviewer Alison Sweatman. The Last Truths We Told was published on the 16th of January 2025 and having been reviewed in the Sunday Times last weekend, we were privileged to have Holly with us so close to the launch of the book. Holly Watt is an award-winning investigative journalist … Read more

In the first of our Afternoon Author events that we have launched for the start of the year, we were delighted to welcome author, sound artist and scholar Ellen Wiles to The Bookery who was joined in conversation with Mary Morris the Director of Arvon, the UK’s home of creative writing. Arvon have creative writing houses in Devon (where Mary is based) , Shropshire, Yorkshire, and a virtual house – Arvon at Home. Recognising that during the long, dark and … Read more