by Gudrun Bowers | 1, Apr 2020
The eagerly awaited sequel to the Costa Award winning Days Without End by one of Ireland’s greatest writers and current Irish Laureate.
A Thousand Moons extends the sequence of Barry’s eight novels, which touch each time on the worlds of two families – the Dunnes and the McNultys. In this novel, as in Days Without End, we meet with Thomas McNulty and John Cole, American Civil War soldiers, now a couple, living on a tobacco farm in Tennessee. Their adopted Sioux daughter Winona is the narrator this time, and we follow her journey as she deals with the consequences of a violent act against her. Full of memorable characters and written in Barry’s gorgeous lyrical prose, dreamy yet unflinching when confronted by the darker side of humanity, this is a wonderful book.
by Gudrun Bowers | 12, Nov 2018
Lucia Berlin’s collection of short stories, A Manual for Cleaning Women was published posthumously to great acclaim, and Evening in Paradise is a follow-up selection from Berlin’s remaining stories.
The stories are loosely autobiographical, arranged chronologically to follow the arc of Berlin’s life, and take us from a pair of seven year olds running a scam in El Paso, through the beauty and disillusionment of a young girl’s first romantic liaison, to young wives coping with kids, their husband’s addiction, abandonment, to a furious old woman on the roof of her own house while her family try to celebrate Christmas. Savage, funny, shocking and beautiful, they present some unforgettable images – the iridescent, sulphurous smoke of the smelter in a mining town, the yellow aromo blossom sticking to a couple’s skin – in concise writing that brings the reader up short with its power. The dark thread of alcoholism runs through many of the stories as well as the brighter threads of love, romantic and maternal, and of beauty found in the most unlikely places. Outstanding.
by Gudrun Bowers | 21, Aug 2017
We are thrilled to present a fantastic science event with science writer Dr Michael Brooks and TV presenter/writer Rick Edwards. This entertaining and informative show, based on their hit podcast and upcoming book Science(ish) examines the science behind the movies. Illustrating their theories with film clips from iconic movies, Michael and Rick will ponder whether it’s really possible to bring back an extinct species (Jurassic Park), whether we will ever be able to travel back in time and meet our parents (Back to the Future) and if it is possible that we are, in fact, already living in a computer simulation (The Matrix).
Dr Michael Brooks is an author, journalist and broadcaster, holds a PHD in Quantum Physics and is editor-at-large of the New Scientist, as well as writing a weekly column for the New Statesman. He is the author of At The Edge of Uncertainty, The Secret Anarchy of Science and the bestselling 13 Things That Don’t Make Sense.
Rick Edwards is a TV presenter and writer with a particular interest in mathematics and the natural sciences. As a broadcaster Rick has most recently made a foray in to the world of quizzing as the host of BBC1’s daytime show !mpossible which aired in January 2017 and will return for an extended second run in May this year. Amongst his other numerous presenting credits are: ITV2’s comedy roast Safeword, BBC Three’s live current affairs debate show Free Speech and Channel 4’s Paralympic Breakfast Show. He also writes a monthly fashion column for The Observer, and has made forays into stand-up comedy.
Advance booking highly recommended for this event, as it promises to be fantastic fun and very popular!
Start time is 7.30pm, wine and soft drinks will be on sale, and a reduced price of £7 is available for under 18’s.
Booking is available online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/FDFIGM
or by phoning us on 01903 812062.
by Gudrun Bowers | 26, May 2017
by Gudrun Bowers | 30, Jul 2025
Teetering on the outer reaches of late capitalism, we have a tendency to look at the past with a romantic lens. But could some of the structures that organised society have useful lessons for us? This is Annette Kehnel’s premise, and her book delves into medieval social structures such as Beguinages – almost monastic, women only communities; the principles of make do and mend (which occur in all cultures in all times except the last few decades in industrialised society); the poverty of Franciscan monks; the organisation of Alpine pastures and Alsatian forests, focussing on their long term conservancy of natural resources and community living.
While it would be impossible to return to medieval living in many ways, there are certainly lessons we can learn in long term planning and careful husbandry of resources that we would do well to learn. A fascinating read.
by Gudrun Bowers | 25, Jul 2025
Join best-selling thriller writer PETER JAMES as he introduces THE HAWK IS DEAD: A KILLER IN THE PALACE, which sees Roy Grace gain access to the heart of Buckingham Palace, when he is called upon to solve a murder and what looks to be a royal assassination attempt.
Roy Grace is Queen Camilla’s favourite fictional detective and now she plays a leading role in his latest thriller The Hawk is Dead! Combining Peter’s classic fast-paced action with extensive behind-the-scenes research at Buckingham Palace, The Hawk is Dead is the not-to-be-missed publishing event of the autumn and the perfect entry point into the world of Roy Grace for anyone yet to meet him.
We are delighted to welcome Peter back to Steyning on Wednesday 22nd October – the day after publication – for what is sure to be a highly entertaining evening! Peter will discuss how Queen Camilla and King Charles came to feature in the book and share his fascinating research into the inner workings of the Royal Household and Buckingham Palace.
Peter will be in conversation with an interviewer (TBC)
EVENT FORMAT
Doors open 7pm, Author interview starts at 7.30pm followed by audience Q and A and then book-signing / meet and greet.
There will be a licensed bar selling alcoholic and soft drinks.
Tickets: Single ticket: £22 INCLUDING a copy of The Hawk is Dead / Couples Ticket: £32 Admits 2 people with just 1 copy of the book included
Tickets available online via button below (small booking fee applies) or in person from the shop / by phone on 01903 812062
ABOUT PETER JAMES
Peter James is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author best known for his crime thrillers featuring Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, who Queen Camilla recently named as her favourite fictional
detective. Praised by critics and much-loved by crime and thriller fans for his fast-paced page-turners full of unexpected plot twists, sinister characters, and accurate portrayal of modern-day policing, he has won more than 40 awards for his work, including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award and the Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger. His books have sold over 23 million copies worldwide, achieved
21 Sunday Times No.1s, and have been translated into 38 languages.
His Roy Grace novels are currently filming their 6th season for the hit ITV drama, Grace, starring John Simm as the troubled Brighton copper and available to view on ITVX and on Britbox. Seven of his novels have been adapted into phenomenally successful stage plays, with his most recent, Picture You Dead, now on national tour in the UK. His plays have been named as the most successful stage franchise since Agatha Christie.
by Gudrun Bowers | 25, Jul 2025
Discover the Secrets of the Seasons with Tristan Gooley
Explore the seasons through the prism of nature’s clues and signs with the help of natural navigator and ‘Sherlock Holmes of Nature’, Tristan Gooley. The bestselling author of How to Read a Tree and The Walker’s Guide will reveal the little-known gems to look for each month in this richly illustrated talk.
The Hidden Seasons shows us how to read the clues most miss and inspires us to explore nature’s signs for ourselves, giving fascinating insights into our turning year.
🌸 Spring unveils a vibrant world of wildflower signs, unique cloud formations, and quirky animal behaviour.
🌞 Summer offers coastal secrets, astronomical marvels, and mysterious patterns in the grass.
🍂 Autumn invites us to interpret leaf changes, scent trails, and the fascinating language of fungi.
❄️ Winter deepens our understanding of snow, starlore, and unveils surprising clues – even indoors. The seasons will never look, sound or smell the same again!
The Hidden Seasons is published by Hodder & Stoughton in hardback on 18th September, so our event is extra special, marking publication day!
About Tristan Gooley
TRISTAN GOOLEY is the award-winning author of many best-selling books on natural navigation and the natural world, including The Natural Navigator, How to Read Water and How to Read a Tree. Through his journeys, teaching and writing, he has pioneered a renaissance in the art of natural navigation. Tristan is the only living person to have both flown solo and sailed singlehanded across the Atlantic.
Event Format:
Illustrated author talk followed by audience Q&A and book signing /meet and greet
Doors open 7pm, Talk begins 7.30pm, Unreserved seating. Teas & Coffees served by church volunteers
Tickets:
£6 Ticket Only (without book – entitles bearer to £5 off a purchase of The Hidden Seasons on the night – while stocks last!)
£20 (includes signed copy of The Hidden Seasons RRP £22)
Tickets available online via link below (small booking fee applies) or in person from the bookshop (no booking fee)
by Gudrun Bowers | 25, Jul 2025
Meet Helen Goh, who for 10 years developed the recipes at Ottolenghi, as she explores the ways baking brings meaning and joy to our lives. This will be a new format for us, taking place in the bookshop kitchen – with a cookery demo and a chance to sample some baked goodies!
When you roll up your sleeves and get out the mixing bowl, you do it for reasons far beyond the mere production of a piece of food. Few know this better than Helen Goh, who – alongside being a recipe developer with Ottolenghi for more than a decade, is, uniquely, a practising psychologist.
Helen will be discussing her first solo cookbook, Baking & the Meaning of Life, which draws on her upbringing in Malaysia and Australia, her acclaimed work with Ottolenghi and her psychology training to share her distinctive approach to baking with 100 delicious sweet and savoury bakes.
Helen has been a recipe developer with Yotam Ottolenghi for more than a decade, and is a food columnist for the Good Weekend, The Guardian and The Observer. A trained psychologist, she combines psychology practice with a cooking career. She was head pastry chef at a landmark restaurant in Melbourne, Australia, before moving to London to work with Ottolenghi.
EVENT FORMAT:
Author talk with cookery demo, nibbles & a complimentary drink upon entry, plus book signing.
£25 Ticket price includes a SIGNED copy of Baking & The Meaning of Life. Book tickets via the link below or in person from the bookshop, or by phone on 01903 812062.
Event starts at 7pm.
by Gudrun Bowers | 24, Jul 2025
The Steyning Bookshop is joining Julia Donaldson and Victoria Sandøy’s paper chase around independent bookshops to celebrate the launch of her new book PAPER CHASE. An amazing chance to meet the nation’s favourite children’s author JULIA DONALDSON along with the book’s illustrator, Victoria Sandoy, and be the first to get a collectable, double-signed first edition of PAPER CHASE, 3 days before its official publication date!
This tour will also feature twenty of Julia Donaldson’s favourite titles from across her career.
Julia and Victoria will be signing PAPER CHASE (with any of her other Top Twenty books) between 3.30 and 5.30pm on Monday 8th September, at the Steyning Bookshop.
We will provide free activities and refreshments to keep children occupied while you wait, and if the weather is fine we will hold the signing in the beautiful bookshop back garden.
To reduce queue times, the signing will be ticketed with four available time slots at 3.30pm, 4pm, 4.30pm or 5pm, with 20 families in each slot. Your ‘ticket’ for the signing costs £12.99 which pays for your copy of Paper Chase, and entitles the ticket bearer, plus up to 5 additional family members, entry to the signing.
Julia will be happy to sign any number of books that are bought from The Steyning Bookshop on the day only. We request that each family party be limited to 6 family members. The person booking the ticket is required to attend for the book signing. If you require multiple copies of Paper Chase please do NOT book multiple tickets – we will have PLENTY of extra copies for you to purchase on the day!
ABOUT PAPER CHASE
A captivating paper chase, and an unforgettable adventure . . .Two children meet under a tall tree. James has a book. Ginger has a paper plane. They become friends . . .but then they are parted. Will they ever meet again? But this isn’t just James and Ginger’s story: it’s a paper chase, in which Julia Donaldson cleverly weaves the children’s tale of friendship into the amazing story of how paper is made. Children will be fascinated to see the remarkable journey of one tall tree, as it’s turned into paper, and becomes all sorts of things that we use, from bags and boxes to letters, cards and books.
Julia Donaldson’s perfect, read-aloud rhymes are brought gorgeously to life with warm, richly atmospheric illustrations by acclaimed illustrator, Victoria Sandøy.
Paper Chase is published by Scholastic in hardback at £12.99. Julia Donaldson and Victoria Sandoy’s previous books together are The Christmas Pine and The Oak Tree.
Purchase your Family Entry Ticket via the link below which leads to ALL available ime slots (small booking fee applies) alternatively call the bookshop on 01903 812062 or purchase in store.
by Gudrun Bowers | 4, Jul 2025
Join author / Illustrator Vicky Woodgate for fun animal facts, crafts, and a curious creatures draw-along.
ABOUT THE EVENT
Crafty, creative fun for children aged 5+ based on Vicky’s lovely new ‘search and find’ activity book The Big Around The World Animal Adventure. Try your hand at drawing a Quokka, craft a snake decoration and learn how to draw the perfect penguin!
All materials will be provided. Child tickets £5 or £2 for extra siblings. Your £5 child ticket gives you £5 off your purchase of Vicky’s book. Accompanying adults do not need a ticket. Approx duration: 1 hour, starting at 2.30pm.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Join Leopold the fairy penguin on an awesome animal adventure to far-flung corners of the world. From ‘Cat Island’ in Japan to a cuteness overload of quokkas in Australia, readers will be amazed at the incredible animal kingdoms they’ve never seen before. It’s full of quirky facts and fun search-and-find activities, and is a paperback priced at £8.99.
ABOUT VICKY WOODGATE
Vicky Woodgate studied design and illustration at Chelsea Art School, and then worked in the TV, film and theme-park industry as a scenic artist before moving into book & magazine illustration.Vicky has always had a passion for wildlife, and loves travelling, writing and drawing maps. She is based in Brighton, UK
by Gudrun Bowers | 30, Jun 2025
Take a Trip to Happy Hills – drawing, doodling and fun with SOPHY HENN!
Join multi-talented author /illustrator SOPHY HENN as she celebrates the release of her latest graphic novel Happy Hills Book 3: Mr Big Fluff Rules with a madcap event for kids aged 5+. Learn to draw Mr Big Fluff the hamster and the rest of the Happy Hills crew, design your own comic character, and lots more fun – LOLS guaranteed!
About the HAPPY HILLS series
Hilariously funny full-colour graphic novels, filled with CUTE and NOT SO CUTE characters, perfect for fans of Bunny vs Monkey, Dogman and Donut Squad!
‘Delicious genius from Sophy Henn. If eating a load of fizzy sweets and then sticking your head into a bag of kittens could be turned into a book, it would be THIS BOOK’ Nadia Shireen
Child ticket £5 (gives £5 off a purchase of a Sophy Henn book!) Sibling ticket £2. Accompanying adults don’t need a ticket. Tix available via the link below or direct from the shop in person or by phone on 01903 812062.
EVENT STARTS 11am, approx duration 1 hour. If weather is fine we will be under a tent shelter in the bookshop back garden. If chilly / windy / rainy, we will be in the bookshop back kitchen room.
by Gudrun Bowers | 19, Jun 2025
Join the Blue Peter Book Award winning author of the Podkin One-Ear series, Kieran Larwood, for a fun, creative world-building workshop, as he introduces his extraordinary new adventure, Jed Greenleaf.
Create your own magical maps in a fantastic world-building interactive activity, test yourself with a fun history quiz, and explore the incredible fantasy world of Jed Greenleaf – think 1700’s London, an evil Oliver Cromwell, magical guilds and epic amphitheatre battles!
A fun, imaginative workshop for children aged 8+.
ABOUT KIERAN LARWOOD
Kieran was born in Kenya and moved to the UK when he was two and lived in various places before settling on the Isle of Wight, where he can still be found: exploring rockpools, climbing trees and writing. He taught reception class in a primary school for 15 years before finally escaping to become a full-time author.
ABOUT JED GREENLEAF
Skin of bark, soul of a hero . . .An astonishing standalone adventure. Albion city is governed by a puppet queen, secretly controlled by Lord Cromwell, and strange magic is afoot as six Guilds all compete to rule it. Although the Leaf Guild is the weakest, no one has reckoned with newcomer Jed Greenleaf’s extraordinary ability to transform into a half-tree, covered over with bark .. . he just needs to learn how to harness that power. Could he be the hero that the Guild needs to win at the Punchbowl tournament? It just might be that this year Jed can turn over a new leaf in the history books, and bring glory to the decaying Guild and peace to Albion.
EVENT DETAILS: START TIME: 2.30pm, Duration: 1 hour to 1.5 hours. Tickets £3 per child includes all materials & refreshments. Suitable for ages 8+. Tickets available from the shop or online via link below:
by Gudrun Bowers | 13, May 2025
To celebrate the release of their fascinating new book The Long Man & Friends: Sacred Sussex, authors David Bramwell and Philip Carr-Gomm invite you on a mystical pilgrimage to uncover the myths and magick behind our most ancient, sacred Sussex landmarks. Also joining us is Henri Brocklebank, Head of Conservation at Sussex Wildlife Trust, who’ll explore her thoughts on how we can protect and conserve our county’s sacred natural spaces. This slide-illustrated talk will be held in the beautiful ambience of the Church of St Andrew & St Cuthman, a 12th Century Norman Church in Steyning. There will be a bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks.
ABOUT THE LONG MAN & FRIENDS: SACRED SUSSEX
Wild, pagan, sacred Sussex. From the glorious goblin-haunted landscape of Devil’s Dyke to the magic circle of Chanctonbury Ring, from holy springs and revered yew trees to ancient burial mounds and iconic chalk figures, this book reveals a county criss-crossed with mysterious ‘lines of power’ linking one sacred place to another. Walk the old tracks with us, uncover the ancient mysteries and let them speak to you.
This petite hardback book contains a Gazetteer of sacred sites and nine magical walks, which will take you on an inspirational journey of magic, mystery and enlightenment.
About David Bramwell
David Bramwell is a British writer, musician, performer and broadcaster. For BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4, he has made programmes on diverse subjects, including Ivor Cutler, clapping, time travel, and the murmurations of starlings. He is the founder and host of Brighton’s spoken word night, the Catalyst Club.
About Philip Carr-Gomm
Philip Carr-Gomm is an English writer in the fields of psychology and Druidry, a psychologist, and one of the leaders and former Chosen Chief of The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids.
About Henri Brocklebank
Henri is the Director of Conservation at the Sussex Wildlife Trust. She has dedicated her career to restoring and protecting Sussex’s natural landscapes. She leads the Trust’s marine conservation work, chairs the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project and is Deputy Chair of the Sussex Local Nature Partnership.
EVENT DETAILS:
Slide illustrated talk, Q and A and book-signing.
Doors & bar open 7pm
Talk starts 7.30pm
Disabled access available.
Tickets – Online Tix via link below or in person from the bookshop, by phone on 01903 812062.
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