Join the fabulous Sophy Henn for an afternoon of DEADLY fun, as we peek inside an alligator’s jaws, investigate why a lion’s tongue is so dangerous, and learn about the world’s ONLY poisonous primate! *With animal draw-along at the end! This fun, interactive event is based on Sophy’s brand new bookLIFESIZE DEADLY ANIMALS,a fact-filled picture book that’s FULL of the world’s DEADLIEST creatures! Ticket gives £4 off one of Sophy Henn’s LIFESIZE books. AGE GUIDE: for children aged 5-9. FAQS: This event will take place in the bookshop back kitchen, so space in limited, therefore we are only issuing 20 tickets. Accompanying adults do not need to purchase a ticket, but as space is very tight, please keep number of adults / baby siblings to a minimum! Parents of children over 7yrs are welcome to drop n go. The event will last 1 hour.
We are delighted to welcome veteran broadcaster Edward Stourton back to Steyning, for an enlightening evening in conversation with guest interviewer Richard Burge, discussing Ed’s new memoir Confessions.
Edward Stourton has worked in broadcasting for over forty years, and regularly presents BBC Radio Four programmes such as The World at One, The World This Weekend, Sunday and Analysis. He has been a foreign correspondent for Channel Four, ITN and the BBC, and for ten years he was one of the main presenters of the Today programme.
Confessions is a fascinating read, describing the “awokening”, as Stourton puts it, of someone born to privilege who has begun to question the assumptions of his class. Ed was born to wealthy, upper-class expat parents, in colonial Nigeria. He was sent back to Britain to be educated first at Ampleforth, and then at Cambridge University. As a young journalist he reported first from party conferences and picket lines and then from war zones, witnessing international headline-making events, from Haiti to Hong Kong, before returning home to present the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
During this time, the Empire has given way to the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, men-only clubs have been replaced by Me Too, and instead of a choice selection of voices on a handful of radio and television channels, we have millions of voices on YouTube, Instagram, Tik Tok. The world has changed, and so has Ed.
We know that guest interviewer Richard Burge (ex Head of Wilton Park, now CE of London Chamber of Commerce) will do a marvellous job of drawing out the most thrilling anecdotes from Ed’s remarkable life.
Wine & soft drinks will be served. The historic Brotherhood Hall venue is accessed by a staircase, we regret there is no disabled access.
Join us for a convivial, cosy evening at the Bookshop, celebrating the launch of local historian Chris Hare’s new book Hilaire Belloc – The Politics of Living, on Thursday 8th December at 7.30pm. Wine & nibbles will be served, and Chris will give a talk about his insights into the life and work of the controversial figure.
Hilaire Belloc was a Franco-English writer and historian of the early twentieth century, who grew up in Slindon in West Sussex, and is buried in the Catholic church at West Grinstead. He is famous for his poetry and song celebrating the Sussex countryside, but was also an orator, sailor, satirist, writer of letters, soldier, and political activist. Chris Hare – a lifelong Belloc reader – takes a fresh look at Belloc’s career and his attitudes towards religion, politics, war, nature, and mortality, as well as examining claims made alleging Belloc to be anti-Semitic.
Chris Hare runs his own heritage consultancy, History People, and has written extensively on the history of Sussex, its folk music, and Worthing, his home town, in particular. Chris has an MA in Life History from the University of Sussex.
Join us for an evening with GREG MOSSE as he discusses his debut novel The Coming Darkness – in conversation with his wife, best-selling novelist KATE MOSSE. The Coming Darkness is a gripping eco-thriller, set in an eerily prescient, not-too-distant future, which is already being hailed as a successor to Terry Hayes’ I Am Pilgrim. About the Evening We are thrilled that Kate Mosse, best-selling author of Labyrinth, Citadel, City of Tears and many more, will be interviewing Greg. There will also be an audience Q & A and both Greg and Kate will sign books at the end. Tickets are £16.00 (admits one, includes signed hardback copy of The Coming Darkness) or £7 (admits one, no book – but ticket can be redeemed against a purchase of The Coming Darkness on the night). Copies of Kate Mosse’s recent books will also be on sale. This will be a ‘book-group’ style event where members of the public are warmly invited to join our 3 book groups, who will have read the book, but we promise – no spoilers! About Greg Mosse Greg Mosse is a creative writing tutor, playwright, and the founder and leader of the Criterion New Writing script development programme at the Criterion Theatre, London. Since 2015, he has written and produced 25 plays and musicals, often in collaboration. He created the Southbank Centre Creative Writing School – an open access program of evening classes, delivering MA level workshops, and also wrote and validated the MA Creative Writing that he taught for four years for the University of Sussex at West Dean College. The Coming Darkness is his first published novel. About The Coming Darkness Paris, 2037. Global warming and pandemics have torn through the fabric of society. Alexandre Lamarque of the French external security service has lost faith in his job – hunting eco-terrorists, and is ready to give up. But he is drawn back in by an ominous sequence of events: a theft from a Norwegian genetics lab; a string of gory child murders; his mother’s illness; a chaotic coup in a breakaway North African republic… He rapidly finds himself in a heart-thumping race against chaos and destruction, the one man with the ability to see through to the deranged intelligence that is plunging the world headlong into ..the coming darkness.
Join us on Sunday 20th November, from 2pm, for a very special book-signing with Julia Donaldson as she celebrates TWO lovely new picture books; the stunning Colours, Colours Everywhere, beautifully illustrated by Sharon King-Chai, and the long awaited return of everyone’s favourite little ladybird in What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas, charmingly illustrated by Lydia Monks.
How it Works The book-signing will be split into 40-minute time-slots to reduce queue times. Each single ‘ticket’ admits ONE FAMILY GROUP of up to 5 persons (please specify how many adults / children). A £12.99 ticket includes a copy of What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas, a £14.99 ticket includes a copy of Colours, Colours Everywhere, and a £27.98 ticket includes both books. You can buy additional copies at the bookshop on the day. If you want to purchase multiple copies – don’t buy multiple tickets please! You’ll have plenty of chance to buy more books on the day of the signing, and Julia will sign AND name-dedicate ALL books either pre-ordered or purchased at The Steyning Bookshop that day! We will provide fun activities and free biscuits / juice for children while you wait to meet Julia. We are sorry, but Julia will not sign books purchased elsewhere or brought from home.
About the Books Colours, Colours Everywhere is Julia’s third book with the talented illustrator Sharon King-Chai, following the stunning Animalphabet and Counting Creatures. In lyrical rhyme, follow the adventures of a little girl and her tree frog friend as they discover a world of colours, sumptuously illustrated with fold-out pages and peep-through cut-outs. What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas is the fifth book in Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks’ best-selling What the Ladybird Heard series, and sees the plucky little ladybird once again foiling the dastardly plans of those baddies, Hefty Hugh and Lofty Len as they plot to steal the children’s Christmas presents from their stockings! A lively rhyming story with vibrant illustrations.
To celebrate release of the book The Repair Shop: Life in the Barn, Kirsten Ramsay,ceramics expert from the smash hit BBC TV show will be joining us for a very special event. Hear how Kirsten developed her craft and her most memorable restorations to date, and dive behind the scenes of the show to reveal the inside stories from guests and presenters. Also – you may bring interesting / unusual ceramic items for Kirsten to examine – but not repair! Evening format: Interview ‘in conversation’ with Kirsten Ramsay, Audience Q and A, book-signing. Complimentary tea, cake and soft drinks will be served.
Join us for an evening with best-selling thriller writer Peter James, as he celebrates the release of his latest thriller, Picture You Dead – the 19th book in his well-loved DS Roy Grace series – now a hit ITV series starring John Simms as Grace. Picture You Dead finds Roy Grace plunging into the rarified world of fine art, pitting his wits against a deadly collector who’ll stop at nothing to get his hands on the rare landscape painting that Harry and Freya Kipling discovered hidden beneath a drab portrait they purchased at a car boot sale. Beneath the gentlemanly veneer, this is a world of greed, deception and violence… We are so excited to welcome Peter James back to Steyning, and can’t wait to hear all his intriguing research and inspiration from the cloak-and-dagger world of international art dealing! Event tickets are £20 per person which includes a hardback copy of Picture You Dead, or £27 for a couple, to include one copy of the book. Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine / soft drink upon arrival, and of course, the chance to get your copy personally signed & dedicated by Peter after his talk! Peter’s backlist titles will also be on sale and available for signing at the event, payment by cash / card will be accepted.Peter will not have time to sign books purchased elsewhere or brought from home.
A mesmerising, hard-hitting and heart-wrenching historical novel, based on a real shipwreck in 1629, which interweaves the parallel stories of two unforgettable child narrators, 350 years apart. The Night Ship of the title is the Dutch merchant vessel Batavia, which set sail to the Spice Islands (present-day Indonesia) in 1628. Aboard are over 300 souls: sailors, soldiers, merchants, wives & children, including our narrator, 9-year-old Mayken, travelling with her beloved nurse-maid Imke to join her father on his Batavian estate, following the death of her mother in Holland. Feisty Mayken soon wins the hearts of all on board, both above and below deck. As the months of gruelling sailing tick by, conditions deteriorate in the sweltering heat, and Imke becomes gravely ill. Mayken becomes convinced that a monster, the Bullebak, has bitten Imke, and is still lurking aboard, and her investigations below deck also reveal simmering tensions and mutinous intentions amongst the crew. When the Batavia runs aground and is wrecked on a coral reef, Mayken is amongst the survivors who eke out a living on a tiny island, but the horror is just beginning… 350 years later, in 1989, this same island has become the home of a small community of Australian crayfisherman, living roughly in beachfront shacks. 9-year-old Gil has just arrived on the island, sent to stay with his reclusive grandfather Joss, after the death of his mother. Gil becomes fascinated by local folklore about the little ghost-girl May, and ancient Aboriginal legends about the monster Bunyip, and here lie the stitches that weave the two stories delicately together. Gil’s unconventional ways and dark past do not endear him to the islanders, who already have a bitter feud against his surly grandfather, and tensions begin to escalate, until the island erupts in violence, echoing the horrors of its history. The Night Ship is a jaw-dropping story about the beauty and horror of human nature, rendered in exquisite prose, and Gil and Mayken will stay with you forever!
Come and meet Julia Donaldson at a special book-signing to celebrate the release of her 2 brilliant new books, The Baddies and Rock a Bye Rumpus, with special guest THE GRUFFALO!
Saturday 17th September, timed slots from 2pm. How it Works:
Your ticket to the signing admits 1 FAMILY GROUP of up to 5 people, and includes EITHER: 1 copy of The Baddies (£12.99 ticket), 1 copy of Rock a Bye Rumpus (£14.99 ticket) or BOTH books (£27.98 ticket).
You will receive your book/s when you arrive at your allotted time, and will have the opportunity to buy additional books before you go to meet Julia. Julia will sign all books purchased at the Steyning Bookshop.
Each family will have a couple of minutes with Julia. Photographs are permitted.
There will be free refreshments and activities for children while you wait.
You do NOT need to book more than one ticket if you want multiple copies.
You will be able to purchase additional copies of both new books AND all Julia’s other books from the Steyning Bookshop on the day of the signing, or if you prefer to pre-order additional books please phone the shop on 01903 812062 or shop 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.
The signing may take place in the bookshop garden if the weather is fine.
THE SIGNING IS NOW SOLD OUT. PLEASE CALL US ON 01903 812062 IF YOU WISH TO CHANGE YOUR BOOKING OR ASK ABOUT A PLACE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR TICKET RETURNS.
We are delighted to welcome best-selling author Jess Kidd back to Steyning to talk about her astonishing new novel The Night Ship. Jess has many fans amongst our staff and book group members for her previous books Things in Jars, The Hoarder, and Himself, which all share a certain gothic sensibility, quirky humour, and supremely inventive writing. The Night Ship, published on 11th August, is inspired by the infamous shipwreck of the Dutch merchant vessel The Batavia, in 1629, and interweaves the stories of two compelling child narrators, 350 years apart, who both find themselves stranded on the remote atoll where the Batavia met her end. The book is an incredible feat of imagination: bold, visceral, haunting, and unforgettable – we can’t wait to hear more! EVENT FORMAT: Author talk ‘in conversation’ followed by audience Q&A and book signing. A complimentary glass of wine / soft drink will be served upon arrival. This is to be an ‘open book group’ style evening – we encourage audience members to purchase our ‘book with ticket’ option and pop in to the shop to claim your book and read it prior to the event, where you’ll be joining our 3 book groups, who will have read the book. But we will try to guarantee no spoilers on the night for those who prefer to wait!
Click HERE to book via Ticketsource (NOT Steyning Bookshop book group members)
About Jess Kidd
Jess Kidd was brought up in London as part of a large family from county Mayo and has a PhD in Creative Writing from St. Mary’s University. Her debut, Himself, was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards in 2016. She won the Costa Short Story Award the same year. Her second novel, The Hoarder was shortlisted for the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year 2019. Both books were BBC Radio 2 Book Club Picks. Her next book, the Victorian detective tale Things in Jars, attracted widespread critical acclaim. Jess’s work has been described as ‘Gabriel García Márquez meets The Pogues.’ She is also currently developing her own original TV projects with leading UK and international TV producers.
The Book of Form and Emptiness is award winning Ruth Ozeki’s fourth novel, following the sucess of My Year of Meats, All Over Creation and A Tale for the Time Being. It was longlsited for the women’s prize for fiction 2022.
After the death of his musician father, thirteen-year-old Benny Oh begins hearing voices, each holding a range of emotions. He must seek refuge in a public library, meeting a wonderful cast of characters and his very own book. Narrations from a variety of characters give a fly on the wall style feeling, through Benny’s journey of listening to what truly matters in life.
Combining a vast and unforgettable blend of characters, with important and varied themes, The Book of Form stands out as an important and exciting read, which is deeply moving and greatly imaginative.
Yaa Gyasi’s debut novel, and the Sunday Times bestseller and a BBC Top 100 Novels that Shaped Our World
Homegoing follows two sisters, one is sold into salvery, while the other is a slave trader’s wife. The lives and experiences of these characters shape the generations that follow. The generational impact of two people’s lives echoes the important messages and themes of the novel. The settings ground the characters into their bleak or wonderful lives. The novel explores important ideas head on, and is an important read.
Homegoing is rich with symbolism and homes a vivid cast of characters. The novel is a page turning masterpiece, which is gripping from the opening page; a vital read for all.
A fascinating dive into the world we inhabit every day, Helen Gordons newest book, ‘Notes from Deep Time’, is an extensive look at the layers of the earth, giving unique ideas with a personal style of writing. Seeking a fresh perspective on her own life, Gordon set out to read that narrative. Her expedition takes her across the world, discovering something new at every corner; at every step, she finds that the ground beneath our feet isn’t always as it seems.
The book encompasses ideas as large as fossils hidden deep within London, to more overlooked geology such as chalk. Through it all, Gordon places a unique view into the world. Every chapter is unique, and an easily digestable read.
A greatly enjoyable and informative book. It is a love letter to travel and endulges in every corner of geology, creating a must read.
The captivating second novel from Elizabeth Macneal, author of the best-selling The Doll Factory, set in the colourful circus world of London’s 19th Century pleasure gardens.
Country girl Nell picks violets for a living, in a quiet coastal village. Set apart from her community by the birthmarks that speckle her skin, she finds solace in the sea. But when Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders arrives in the village, Nell is kidnapped – her father has sold her, promising Jasper Jupiter his very own ‘leopard girl’. It is an agonizing betrayal, but as her fame grows, and she finds friendship with the other performers,she begins to wonder if joining the show is the best thing that has ever happened to her. But what happens when her fame threatens to eclipse that of the showman who bought her? And as she falls in love with Jasper’s gentle brother Toby, can he detach himself from the terrible secret that binds him to his tyrannical brother?
A really enjoyable novel, which vividly evokes 19th Century London, and captivating look into circus life. The novel is at once a tender love story, an exploration of difference & disability, and a rip-roaring good read! For fans of Jessie Burton’s The Miniaturist & Stacy Halls’ The Familiars.
This latest novel by Damon Galgut, shortlisted for the Booker Prize, charts the decline of a white family during South Africa’s transition out of apartheid. The Swarts are gathering for Ma’s funeral. The younger generation, Anton and Amor, detest everything the family stand for — not least the failed promise to the Black woman who has worked for them her whole life. After years of service, Salome was promised her own house, her own land… yet somehow, as each decade passes, that promise remains unfulfilled.
Promise pushes the titular word to its limits, creating a powerful and moving story, which makes use of it’s third person narrative to switch between characters suddenly yet elegantly, emphasising the conflict between them and the resentment they hold.
Encompassing the years 1986 – 20128 in the lives of the Swart family, the omniscient narrator abruptly darts from one character’s consciousness to another shifting from the third to second to first person – creating a challenging but always absorbing read.
A warm-hearted, joyful story about the power of hope and imagination and believing in the impossible.
Marty doesn’t have new white trainers or a games console. He doesn’t have much of his own at all, unlike his mum, who has billions of things: newspapers, holey shoes, rusty lawnmowers, broken picture frames – she keeps EVERYTHING! Marty does his best to look after her and finds solace hanging about with his spritely grandfather, on his allotment. On Marty’s birthday, Grandad, with a glint in his eye, gifts Marty a very special seed. Grandad hasn’t been this excited since he invented the bum scratcher 2000 or thought he’d brewed wonder fuel from rhubarb leaves! The seed grows bigger and bigger, and launches Grandad, Marty and his best friend Gracie on an impossible, wondrous plan fuelled by love, hopes and dreams….
With a touch of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ magic, this sweet story will appeal to 8-11 year-old readers who like Jenny Pearson and Lisa Thompson. Fun fact – this is Caryl Lewis’ first English-language book – she is a multi-award-winning Welsh language novelist and scriptwriter who also wrote the brilliant BBC Wales detective series, Hinterland.
Now out in paperback, this latest novel by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, author of Millions, Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth, and many more award-winning children’s books, is complete comedy gold, wrapped up in an exciting story full of mystery and suspense.
Eleven-year-old pipsqueak Noah is famed in his family for making gadgets malfunction. When he accidentally stows away on his older sister’s Geography field trip, the minibus Satnav goes haywire and the kids find themselves marooned on an uninhabited island. 6 kids. 1 remote island. No adults (their teacher has vanished!) They’re hungry. Their phones don’t work – they CAN’T LOOK ANYTHING UP! – and, somehow … Noah has broken the entire internet!! There’s no way of contacting home …. Disaster!
The story is exciting and genuinely believable, the interplay & dialogues between the different teenage characters are pure comic genius, and the recurring theme of our reliance on technology is thought-provoking, and will hopefully spark family discussions. 100% HILARIOUS!
Lively illustrations by Steven Lenton add to the charm. Perfect for readers of 8-11 years.
Since its publication in 1789, Gilbert White’s Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne has never been out of print. Throughout the intervening 233 years, White’s text has inspired the many and varied artists who have illustrated different editions of his classic account of his observations of the wildlife of his home in Selborne, Hampshire.
Simon Martin, director of Pallant House Gallery in Chichester has brought together many of these illustrators in this gorgeously produced and illustrated book. From Samuel Hieronymous Grimm, whose detailed engravings adorned the first edition, to Thomas Bewick, whose famous bird engravings were used without permission in a later one, to twentieth century artists such as Claire Leighton, Agnes Miller Parker, Eric Ravilious, John Nash and John Piper, right through to talented contemporary artists such as Mark Hearld, Alice Patullo and Emily Sutton.
A spellbinding historical novel set near Strasbourg in the 16th Century – inspired by the real events of the so-called ‘Dancing Plague’. In the midst of a blisteringly hot, pestilent summer, pregnant Lisbet tends the bees on her husband’s farm, until the peace is disturbed by the return of Agnethe, her sister-in-law, from seven years’ penance in a nunnery for a crime no one will name. Lisbet is moved by the stoic young woman and becomes determined to discover her secret. Meanwhile, both women are intrigued by rumours of a frenzy of women dancing for days in Strasbourg’s market square, and against a backdrop of mounting religious hysteria and superstition, passions are ignited and dangerous deceptions are uncovered. Simply perfect writing; raw, immersive and compelling, this story will haunt you for days. Review by Gudrun.
A gripping, gritty and absorbing crime novel set in Brighton. Graham Bartlett spent 30 years in the police, as a detective, firearms commander, and city police chief in Brighton & Hove, and now works as a crime-consultant for writers including Peter James, Elly Griffiths and Dorothy Koomson. Bad for Good is his first crime fiction novel, following 2 best-selling ‘true crime’ books.
Detective Superintendent Joanne Howe has a complex and sensitive case on her hands: the murder of a promising young footballer, who just happens to be the son of her colleague, D.I Phil Cooke. Against the backdrop of a city wrought by violence and crime, and a police force hamstrung by government cuts, Joanne must contend with blackmail, a disturbingly brutal gang of vigilantes, and deep-rooted police corruption as she tracks down Harry’s killer. As you might expect, the plotting, characters and local details are grainy and authentic – and Graham isn’t shy about packing a political punch amongst the intrigue.
For fans of Peter James!Graham Bartlett will be talking about BAD FOR GOOD with fellow crime-writer Lesley Thomson at the Steyning Centre on Friday 24th June. Tix from the Steyning Bookshop.
Join fabulous author / illustrator SOPHY HENN for some fact-filled, fascinating LIFESIZE fun in the bookshop garden! Sophy’s LIFESIZE books are ingenious, interactive non-fiction picture books which invite children to see how they measure up against some of the world’s biggest and smallest creatures. Discover a wealth of fascinating facts, from how fast a hummingbird can flap its’ wings, to just HOW giant is a giant squid, at this fun, interactive event, which will finish with a spot of animal DRAW-ALONG, in classic Sophy style!
This event is for children aged 4-10, accompanying adults do not need a ticket but are welcome to hang around and watch! Your ticket price of £5 will knock a fiver off any LIFESIZE book purchase, and Sophy will be happy to sign all books purchased.
Mehar and her new sisters-in-law are married to three brothers, but as the men come to them in darkness and their days are veiled, they don’t know which sister has which husband. In their small, claustrophobic world, filled with sweeping and pounding and kneading and baking, a mistake and a deception ignite a passion that has far reaching consequences. 60 years later, Mehar’s great grandson, escaping demons of his own, seeks sanctuary on the family’s old farm. Spare and atmospheric, a haunting tale of forbidden love.
Ask a child to name their senses, and they will probably come up with the same five as you. Smell, taste, sight, hearing, and touch were first described as the five senses by Aristotle over two thousand years ago. However, with the advent of modern neuroscience, these senses have been joined by the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth senses, and many more. Jackie Higgins takes us on a fascinating journey around the ways in which we perceive the world, using the extraordinary perceptive powers of animals as our guide. From the incredible colour vision of the mantis shrimp to the extraordinarily sensitive nose of the star-nosed mole, and the ability of the barn owl to locate prey in darkness, and the cheetah’s sense of balance, to a spider’s body clock, these incredible animal studies illuminate our own sentience.
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.
