Sarah Hawkswood’s Boys: Bradecote & Catchpoll

Sunday 18th October, 2.30pm

We’re delighted to be joined by Sarah Hawkswood, author of the popular Bradecote & Catchpoll crime series, with titles set in and around Tewkesbury. Sarah will be talking about writing 12th century crime fiction, and you’ll be able to find out more about Bradecote & Catchpoll and their investigations.

Sarah’s looking forward to answering your questions during the event, and she will be signing books afterwards. We’ll have a selection of her latest titles available for purchase in store.

Booking is essential as places are limited — book your ticket online or in person in the shop.

Telling Tails: Midweek story time with Betty & Toff

Wednesday 28th October, 10.30am

Start your Wednesday morning with stories at alison’s bookshop, as author Siân Hughes reads from her Betty & Toff series for little ones. Tails optional.

Booking is essential as places are limited – book your child/ren’s tickets online or in store. The booking is for the child/ren attending – no need for grownups to book, but please do not leave children unattended in the shop. The £5 ticket price is redeemable against any book purchase in the shop during the event.

Halloweenies: Cat’s Halloween

Saturday 31st October, 9.30am

All black cats like Halloween, right? Not this one! Join us in the children’s section for a reading of Alison Murray’s story about a very grumpy cat and how much he enjoys Halloween (spoiler alert: not much!). Find all the cats you can in the shop, and win a prize if you find one we don’t know about.

Booking is essential as places are limited — book your child/ren’s ticket(s) online or in store. The booking is for the child/ren attending — no need to book a parent place, but please do not leave your children unattended in the shop. The £5 ticket price is redeemable against any book purchase in store during the event.

Ghost Stories at the Bookshop

Saturday 31st October, 7pm

We’re celebrating our first Halloween at alison’s bookshop in literary style, in the company of some classic ghostly tales. Join us for the telling of a creepy story or two, perfectly timed for the night of Hallowe’en. Is the bookshop haunted? We don’t know, but if there was ever an opportunity to find out…

The shop will be open to attendees from 6pm if you’d like to enjoy some private after-hours browsing – or ghost hunting!

Booking is essential as spaces are limited — book your ticket online or in person in the shop.

A Right Evil Place: The Battle of Tewkesbury with Steve Goodchild

Sunday 15th November, 2.45pm

Back by popular demand! Steve and Dilip’s talk a couple of months back attracted so much interest that we couldn’t fit everyone in — so Steve has kindly agreed to a return visit. We’re looking forward to hearing him talk about the process of researching the book, and he will be available afterwards for signings.

Booking is essential as places are limited — book your ticket online or in person in the shop. The cost of your ticket is redeemable against any purchase made in the shop during the event; copies of the latest book and Steve’s earlier work on the battle will be available on the day.

Jess Blatchley

Tuesday 29th September, 6.30pm

We’re excited to be hosting local author Jess Blatchley upstairs at the bookshop. Jess recently released her debut novel Roofboy  and is coming in to talk about the book and getting published later in life. Jess will also be answering some questions at the end of her talk, and signing copies of her book, which is available in the shop now.

“For a moment I am mesmerised by his fearlessness. But there’s another part of me, a darker part, that wonders what it would feel like to watch him fall.”

To the outside observer, Sasha Marsh is a dedicated single mum who goes above and beyond to ensure seven-year-old Gabriel lives a happy and healthy life in their sleepy Costwold village. Yet, beneath the facade of normality lies a darker reality, one where the doors and windows are always locked; where her son is never allowed to play outside and where Sasha lives in constant fear. With their violent past always at the forefront of her mind, and a family secret threatening to come to light, Sasha remains unflinching in her resolve to protect Gabriel from others, and from himself. The book asks the question — are murderers made, or born?

Booking is essential — please book your place here.

Steve Goodchild and Dilip Sarkar MBE FRHistS

Sunday 20th September, 2.30pm

For our first event we’re delighted to be hosting historians’ Steve Goodchild and Dilip Sarkar MBE FRHistS upstairs at the bookshop. Steve and Dilip’s recent book The Battle of Tewkesbury, 4 May 1471: ‘A Right Evil Place’  has been flying off our shelves since being published earlier this year. They will be talking about the process of researching the book, and will be available afterwards for signings.

Booking is essential — reserve your place by dropping us an email, giving us a call or popping into the shop.

THIS EVENT IS NOW AT CAPACITY AND WE HAVE STARTED A WAITING LIST – PLEASE CONTACT US TO BE ADDED. If you have a ticket you can no longer use please let us know asap so we can allocate it to someone who can. Please do not buy tickets from anyone, the tickets for this event are free and anyone offering you a ticket for money is a scammer – stay safe <3

Gruffalo Granny Storytime

Saturday 12th September, 9.30am

To celebrate the release of Gruffalo Granny, Julia Donaldson’s new book in the beloved series, alison’s bookshop is hosting a storytime event in the shop. We will have a reading of the book, stickers for listeners, and a ‘find the characters’ game! Copies of Gruffalo Granny will be available to purchase.

Booking essential as spaces are limited (the booking is for the child/ren attending, no need to book a parent space but parents please do not leave your children unattended in the shop). Tickets are £4, and the ticket cost is redeemable against any purchase in the shop during the event.

Book here