Blog

Interview: Patrick Gale

23 Feb 2018

Patrick Gale’s sixteenth novel, A Place Called Winter was a Radio 2 Book Club selection, was shortlisted for the Costa Novel Prize, the Walter Scott Prize and the Green Carnation Award and and is now being developed as a BBC serial. His two part film, Man in an Orange Shirt will be on BBC 1 this summer. He is a … Read more

Valentines Selection Cover page

Books you’ll love this Valentine’s Day

08 Feb 2018

It’s fast approaching Valentine’s Day and, while we may declare we don’t like the commercial nature of the holiday, a gift for a loved one certainly wouldn’t go amiss. To be honest, even if you just want a treat for yourself for the cold February nights Crediton High Street shops will have something for you! Here are some suggestions that … Read more

Review: Inside the Wave

31 Jan 2018

On 30th January at the Costa Book Awards, Helen Dunmore’s collection Inside the Wave posthumously won Book of the Year 2017. As only the second person to posthumously receive this prize, the award was received by Helen’s husband Frank Charnley and their two children Patrick and Tess. Inside the Wave reflects on the poet’s cancer diagnosis and looming death with immense … Read more

Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong Front Cover

T. S. Eliot Prize Winner Announcement

27 Jan 2018

On 14th January 2018, the T. S. Eliot Prize Winner was announced. Ocean Vuong’s astounding debut collection, Night Sky with Exit Wounds, traces the aftermath of war across generations. In a video about his collection he says “a lot of the poems in the collection attempt to navigate history through a rewriting, or rather a recasting, of history into a … Read more

Claire Barker Head Shot

Interview: Claire Barker

12 Jan 2018

Claire is author of the Knitbone Pepper books, a series about a funny, friendly family of ghost animals who reside at crumbling Starcross Hall. Claire and Knitbone recently won the Simply Books X Factor award, voted for by 2,000 children, and were shortlisted for the Sainsburys Children’s Fiction Award in 2017.  We’ve recently been visiting schools with Claire, who read to … Read more

Costa Book Award Category Winners

Costa Book Awards 2017

05 Jan 2018

Book-world always begins the year promptly, as on the 2nd of January the Costa Book Awards 2017 category winners are announced. There are awards for five categories; First Novel, Novel, Children’s Book, Poetry and Biography. The Costa Book Awards have been running since 1971 and in 1985 an overall winners award was introduced. Last years winner, Sebastian Barry, was the … Read more

St Martin's Island by Todd Gray & Sue Jackson Cover

Review: St Martin’s Island

18 Dec 2017

The disastrous fire which destroyed the Royal Clarence Hotel in October 2016 shocked Exeter and received widespread dramatic coverage. The historic hotel made up one corner of the block of buildings between St Martin’s Lane and Broadgate, many of which are ancient constructions and for which still exist rich historical documentation. Todd Gray and Sue Jackson have mined this rare … Read more

Blue Planet II photography.

Review: Blue Planet II

08 Dec 2017

Written by two BBC producers of the show, this book contains varied content across the series alongside stunning photography. Each chapter brings to life a different habitat in the ocean and explores creatures from the disturbing bobbit worm to the unbelievable pod of spinner dolphins. Captivating images and interesting information make this a lovely Christmas gift to any fan of … Read more

In Our Hands Blog Image

Review: In Our Hands

01 Dec 2017

The business dictionary defines community businesses as ‘self-organised networks of people with common agenda, cause, or interest, who collaborate by sharing ideas, information, and other resources.’ In Our Hands by Steve Wyler explores the history and early origins of community business, delving into the creation of medieval guilds, seventeenth century radicalism, friendly societies and early co-operatives to the present day. … Read more