by Gudrun Bowers | 10, Jan 2026
Join geographer David Riviere for an illustrated talk on dew ponds, a neglected feature of the country’s landscape heritage. The talk will touch on his survey work for the South Downs National Park Authority, as well as the history, construction and recent revival of dew ponds.
David is the author of the book DEW PONDS, published by Amberley Publishing in 2025. Copies will be on sale on the night – your £5 ticket purchase entitles you to £5 off the RRP of the book.
Talk starts at 7.30pm, venue is the Steyning Bookshop – we will be squeezing into the bookshop rear kitchen/diner – it might be a squash and a squeeze!
Tickets £5 per person, online below (small booking fee applies to online tix) or in person from the bookshop.
by Gudrun Bowers | 7, Nov 2025
The return of this popular festive workshop for Xmas 2025! Join Gudrun & Alice for a relaxing evening of crafting, and learn how to upcycle old books into various charming handmade decorations.
Over the years, many customers have admired the paper tree garlands that hang over our tables in December, and the various paper creations that we craft for our shop windows, so now’s your chance to make some yourself!
There will be a chance to try your hand at one, two or even three different upcycled decorations, depending on how speedy you are with the scissors! All materials will be supplied and there will be festive snacks and beverages.
This crafting evening is for adults and older teens (13+) only, as the projects are fairly fiddly.
Only 10 spaces, so we can all fit around the table! Tickets are £7
by Gudrun Bowers | 7, Nov 2025
The return of this popular workshop for Xmas 2025! Join our relaxed and informal evening workshop and learn to make a simple linocut Christmas card!
The workshop will be led by (current and ex!) bookshop part-timers Alice and Sarah, who in their ‘real jobs’ run Patternmakers, a fabric block-printing company – so they know their cutting tools!
This workshop is for adults or older teens (sharp tools!) and is suitable for beginners. It will take place around the big kitchen table in the bookshop back kitchen. All materials are provided, but it’s a good idea to come with some simple design ideas in your mind (or on paper!). There will be drinks and Christmassy nibbles too!
Start time: 7pm. Ends by 9pm. Tickets £25 via link below (booking fee applies) or direct from the shop in person!
by Gudrun Bowers | 24, Oct 2025
Ring the bells and round up the reindeer… It’s the return of our FESTIVE DRAW-OFF DING DONG, a fun family illustration show! Watch as our star cast of authors & illustrators SOPHY HENN, STEVEN LENTON, NICK SHARRATT and ADAM STOWER pit their wits and their pencils against the fiendish festive drawing challenges dished up by our M.C, children’s author JIM BECKETT. YOU, the audience, will be the judge and decide WHO will be our DING DONG winner!
This is a HILARIOUS illustration show for kids age 5-11 and their parents, with LOTS of audience participation! The show will last for approx 1 hour and afterwards you’ll have the chance to buy books at our pop-up bookstall, and get them signed and doodled in, by the authors.
We have a bit more space this year as the event venue is THE PENFOLD HALL in Church Street, Steyning.
Child ticket £5, Accompanying Adult ticket £3, Extra sibling Tickets £3. Under 2’s on laps – no charge. If you have little babies and toddlers it’s fine to bring them, they don’t need a ticket if they are sitting on an adult’s lap, but please take them outside if they are disrupting things!
Start time: 2pm
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATORS
SOPHY HENN is the incredibly talented author AND illustrator behind the new HAPPY HILLS series of graphic novels, the PIZAZZ series, the BAD NANA series, and also has heaps of gorgeous picture books to her name.
STEVEN LENTON is the wonderful illustrator behind the festive new picture book HOW TO GROW A REINDEER, and illustrated the other lovely books in this lovely series by Rachel Morrisoe. Steven also illustrates the Dino-Dad series, by Andy Day, the Shifty McGifty series, by Tracey Corderoy, and has also written his own cute chapter book series.
NICK SHARRATT is the beloved illustrator of Jacqueline Wilson’s Tracy Beaker series, and has written / illustrated countless bright, colourful, jolly picture books, including the best-selling YOU CHOOSE series. His latest book MULLETS is a hilarious celebration of the iconic MULLET hairstyle!
ADAM STOWER is best known for creating the vibrant, lively illustrations for David Walliams’ recent books, including SANTA & SON, a funny festive chapter book, just out in hardback. Adam has also written and illustrated his own adorable chapter book series MURRAY AND BUN – the latest book is Murray the Ghosthunter, and the KING COO series – the latest book is King Coo: The Secret in the Woods.
Our M.C JIM BECKETT is the author of the hilarious BUZZ SAUSAGE WOLF, a cute illustrated chapter book, as well as the fast-paced middle-grade novels THE CARAVAN AT THE EDGE OF DOOM, and FOUL PROPHECY.
TICKETS ONLINE VIA LINK BELOW OR DIRECT FROM THE BOOKSHOP ON 01903 812062
by Gudrun Bowers | 6, Oct 2025
We are super-stoked to be teaming up with the good folk at Chanctonbury Wines for an evening with cheese expert & food writer PATRICK MCGUIGAN. Patrick will be sharing highlights from his epic hunt to identify the World’s Best Cheeses, celebrating the launch of his new book ‘One Cheese to Rule Them All’, and giving us a guided tasting of a few of the (more accessible!) cheeses he encountered. This boutique evening will take place at Chanctonbury Wines in Steyning, and will include a fascinating talk, cheese and wine tasting, and a copy of this splendid new book!
ABOUT THE BOOK
100 cheeses from around the world. Decades of prize-winners. Two World Cheese Awards judges to guide you. Which is the ONE CHEESE TO RULE THEM ALL? You decide…. Are you a Comté connoisseur or does your heart belong to Rogue River Blue? Can you tell your Brie from your Camembert? Can you name an award-winning Indian cheese and would you recognise a cheese iron? Expect fascinating stories and stats, and an odyssey through the delicious world of cheese to discover the ONE cheese to rule them all. A wonderful gift for the turophiles (cheese lovers!) in your life!
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
World Cheese Awards judges Patrick McGuigan and Carlos Yescas have a wealth of knowledge garnered from years of travelling and tasting. Patrick McGuigan is a UK-based cheese writer and teacher, who has travelled from the Swiss Alps to the pastures of Vermont to interview the world’s best cheesemakers, maturers and cheesemongers. He writes extensively on the subject for national newspapers and magazines, such as The Telegraph and delicious, and has appeared on BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme. Carlos Yescas is a cheese scholar and author. For the past 10 years, he has worked promoting artisanal and raw milk cheeses and protecting traditional cheesemaking practices. He is a judge in various international cheese competitions, including the World Cheese Awards.
ABOUT THE EVENT
This boutique event will take place at Chanctonbury Wines. Your ticket includes a tasting plate of 4/5 cheeses and a wine to match each – carefully selected by Rob at Chanctonbury Wines, AND a copy of ‘One Cheese To Rule Them All’ (hardback, RRP £20) as well as the fascinating talk -all for the amazing price of £30!
Additional drinks & books can of course be purchased on the night.
Doors Open at 6:40PM, Starts at 7:00PM, Finish time…. 9pm ish??
by Gudrun Bowers | 29, Sep 2025
Join author / illustrator STUART DOUCH for a fun history event celebrating the launch of his graphic novel 1066 The Battle of Hastings.
This is a 2 hour interactive event packed with interesting activities, perfect for kids aged 9+, teenagers, families and history / comic book fans!
ABOUT THE EVENT
Learn about the history behind the Battle of Hastings with Stuart Douch, writer and artist of 1066 The Battle of Hastings- the Graphic Novel
Discover the armour and weapons used in the Battle of Hastings, including an amazing interactive demo from fully qualified re-enactor Mike Everest from Portals to the Past
Join a comic drawing workshop with Stuart
‘TASTE-OFF’ Sample some authentic Norman and Anglo-Saxon recipes!
Audience Q and A
Book-signing – get your copy of 1066 signed by Stuart!
VENUE: THE PENFOLD HALL, CHURCH STREET, STEYNING
DATE/TIME: 1.30pm to 3.30pm, Saturday 8th November
TICKETS: £4 child / £5 adult £16 Family: 2 adults 2 child or 1 adult 3 children – Purchase via button below (small booking fee applies) or in person at the Steyning Bookshop
ABOUT 1066 The Graphic Novel
1066 is one of the most famous dates in the history of the nation: the year of the Battle of Hastings. It was a key turning point in the nation’s history, marking the end of the Anglo-Saxon era and the start of the Norman period. This graphic novel tells the story of what happened before, during and after this iconic battle.
Discover all the details surrounding the story, from the mistakes and decisions that meant William of Normandy became the first Norman king of England to how Harold was killed – was it REALLY by an arrow in the eye? See the action as it unfolds, in exciting comic-strip panels, and learn not only about the events and the key participants on both sides, but also the tactics and weapons the armies employed, and some of the different languages of the time.
ABOUT STUART DOUCH
Stuart Douch is a well-known and well-loved local educator, teacher and historian who also happens to be an artist, cartoonist, caricaturist, and illustrator of historical graphic novels! His graphic novel, 1066: The Battle of Hastings, is published by GMC Publications in October 2025. Stuart served as Headmaster of Sompting Abbotts Preparatory School from 2013 to 2023. He is also a private tutor of English and History for students from Year 5 to Year 13. 1066 is his first published book and we are delighted to help launch it!
Stuart Douch
by Gudrun Bowers | 19, Sep 2025
Don your cloaks and sharpen your fangs as we welcome talented author /illustrator HOLLY SWAIN to the bookshop for a fun Hallowe’eny kids event!
Holly Swain will be introducing her 2 hilarious picture books COLIN’S CASTLE and COLIN’S GRANDMA, starring Colin the Vegetarian Vampire (and his friend Duck) There will be stories, drawing and a ‘Colin the Vampire’ – themed craft activity.
Also we’ll be giving out sweet treat rewards for anyone who dresses up – think CLOAKS, vampires, ghosts, monsters, witches and more!
Tickets
Child tickets are £4 – fully redeemable against the purchase of one of Holly’s books. Extra siblings are just £2. Accompanying adults do not need to pay!
Age guide: This event is suitable for children aged 3-8.
WEDNESDAY 29th OCTOBER at 11am at the STEYNING BOOKSHOP
Tickets Available via link below or direct from the bookshop
ABOUT HOLLY SWAIN
Holly Swain is a children’s book illustrator, living in Hove with her husband Matt and their two daughters. As a kid she always loved to draw, making up characters and their worlds. She used to have a huge roll of paper under her bed that she constantly drew on which gradually got smaller and smaller, by which time she was big enough to go to college. She studied Illustration at UWE Bristol and then did an MA in Brighton. She is the author of Colin’s Castle and Colin’s Grandma, both published by Harper Farshore.
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 fellow thriller writer GRAHAM BARTLETT
Graham is a former detective and now a crime fiction and police advisor to authors and TV writers as well as being the best selling author of the Brighton-set crime novels Bad for Good, Force of Hate and City of Fire. Graham’s excellent novels will be available to purchase at the event.
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.
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