Talking Murder With Stephanie Austin
For our final author event of the year we were delighted to welcome Devon crime writer Stephanie Austin to The Bookery, who was joined in conversation with veteran Devon historical crime author Michael Jecks. Together they provided a wonderful evening of insight and inspiring conversation. Stephanie has recently launched Death On Dartmoor Edge, the eighth in the ‘Devon Mystery’ series set in the Dartmoor town of Ashburton, featuring amateur sleuth and reluctant antique shop owner Juno Browne. In her introduction to … Read more
Read MoreLucy Holland At The Bookery!
Novelist and award-winning Podcaster Lucy Holland joined us last month, in conversation with The Bookery’s own interviewer Alison Sweatman for our first evening event of 2024. Her new novel, Song of the Huntress recasts the folklore behind the Wild Hunt into a dark, feminist fantasy set in West Country Britain, and features amongst its cast of characters a Christian priest, Winfred of Crediantun, who will be familiar to some as Crediton’s Saint Boniface. The Wild Hunt myth is an infamous … Read more
Read MoreScribner 10 for The Bookery’s 10th
We’ve partnered with Simon & Schuster to bring you a fabulous 2 for £10 shop offer on 10 of their excellent Scribner titles, featuring some classic books alongside the cutting edge of new and exciting publications.
Read MoreIndependent Bookshop Week 2023!
This year’s Independent Bookshop Week runs from 17th – 24th June, and it’s an extra special time as we’re also celebrating The Bookery’s 10th Birthday! We’ll be unveiling our great new extension and event space – so drop in any time, this happy event is as much about our loyal patrons and customers as it is about our brilliant, growing bookshop. Our special day of celebrations starts on Saturday 17th June from 10am. It will be a fun-packed morning of … Read more
Read MoreBologna Children’s Bookfair – The BolognaRagazzi Award
It was an honour and a privilege for Dee to be invited to represent The Bookery and join the BolognaRagazzi Award Jury last month, to spend time with passionate book advocates from across the world and make some tricky decisions about the very best 2023 submissions. A total of 2,349 titles were submitted by 644 publishers from 59 countries and regions around the world with books from Bangladesh, Cyprus, Macedonia, Malaysia, Puerto Rico and Venezuela arriving on the tables for … Read more
Read MoreChristmas at The Bookery
A massive thank you to everyone who has ordered from our website, emailed us, phoned us and visited us in the shop – we’re grateful to each and every one of you for your support. We’re currently knee-deep in orders and deliveries, but wanted to take this chance to keep you informed as to the last days we expect to get your books to you. Orders by post With widespread industrial action we’re saying the latest date to order for … Read more
Read MoreBuilding at The Bookery
If you’ve noticed large bags of sand and heard the noise of power tools coming from the back of the bookshop recently you may be wondering what’s afoot… We’re excited to share an update on our latest project, a hub for creative and well-being workshops, storytime, school sessions, and much more! In place of the storage sheds built by Peter Lee in 1971 to store stock for his legendary wine shop will be a building to join up … Read more
Read MoreAnnette’s Devon Bookshelf
Commando: The Inside Story of Britain’s Royal Marines by Monty Halls The first words of chapter one pretty much sum up what sets a Royal Marine apart: “99% need not apply.” Monty then adds, “This was an ill-judged, but statistically accurate, slogan for a 1990s Royal Marines recruiting campaign.” We’re talking an elite force here and South Devon based Monty, also a former Royal Marine officer who served for over a decade, is superbly placed to shine a light … Read more
Read MoreThe Best Opening Line Ever?
The Bookery’s Cliff waxes lyrical about the beginning of Javier Marias’ bestseller A Heart So White… Javier Marias died in September. Widely regarded as one of the best Spanish writers and translators ever, his prize-winning career was one of amazing novel after amazing novel, with no dip in quality. The publishing of a new Marias book was something to be looked forward to, and then celebrated. And, in my opinion, one of his novels contained the best opening line in … Read more
Read MoreWhy Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks Could Get Your Child Reading
One of the most successful run of children’s books in the 1980s were the Fighting Fantasy gamebook series. Heavily influenced by the Dungeons & Dragons craze at the time, these activity ‘novels’ allowed the reader to shape their own destiny and navigate their way through a story making decisions along the way (and usually fighting monsters!). Perfect for reluctant readers, this hybrid style of book and game was very fashionable and spawned many imitators. Like most crazes though, they gradually … Read more
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