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 | 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 | 27, Mar 2025
Start your day out at Steyning Country Fair on Whitsun Bank Holiday Monday with a yap, a bark and a snuffle!
Join Steyning’s second most famous author JIM BECKETT for an hour of hilariously silly sausage dog fun as he launches his adorable new book BUZZ SAUSAGE WOLF.
About BUZZ SAUSAGE WOLF
Meet Buzz: a scruffy little wire-haired sausage dog, as he settles in with his new family and works out the family hierarchy… Who is Pack Leader? Should he be Silly Sausage or Brave Wolf to win the family’s love, devotion and snacks? Buzz Sausage Wolf is a short chapter book with vibrant illustrations on every page, perfect for readers of 5+ just beginning to enjoy chapter books.
ABOUT JIM BECKETT
Jim Beckett is the author of the fast-paced middle-grade novels The Caravan at the Edge of Doom, and The Caravan at the Edge of Doom 2: Foul Prophecy, and has worked variously as an English teacher, a creative writing mentor, a stand up comedian, a Santa’s Elf and a dad, in between writing funny books and sketches and practicing his ukelele!
ABOUT THE EVENT
An hour of interactive, creative fun, with added sausage dogs and a sprinkle of silliness! This event will take place in the bookshop back garden marquee and is suitable for children aged 5-8. Each £7 ticket includes a copy of BUZZ SAUSAGE WOLF (RRP £7.99!!) and for families of more than one child, sibling tickets are just £2 extra.
Doors Open at 11:15AM, event runs from 11:30AM to 12:30PM
Tix online via link below (small booking fee applies) or in person from the shop.
Page 1 of 1212345...10...»Last »
