 ALISON CASE - NELLY DEAN
WEDNESDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER 7.00pm (for 7.30pm start) at Booka Join us for an evening with Alison Case as she talks about her enthralling debut novel, Nelly Dean. Nelly Dean is a gripping and heart-breaking novel that reimagines life at Wuthering Heights through the eyes of the Earnshaws' loyal servant, Nelly Dean. Young Nelly Dean has been Hindley's closest companion for as long as she can remember, living freely at the great house, Wuthering Heights. But when the benevolence of the master brings a wild child into the house, Nelly must follow in her mother's footsteps, be called servant and give herself to the family completely. But Nelly is not the only one who must serve. When a new heir is born, a reign of violence begins that will test Nelly's spirit as she finds out what it is to know true sacrifice The story of a woman fated to bear the pain of a family that she is unable to leave and unable to save, Nelly Dean is a wonderment of storytelling, and a clever, rich testament to Emily Bronte's work - perfect for fans of Tracy Chevalier, Jo Baker's Longbourn and Jessie Burton's The Miniaturist. Nelly Dean is published on 13th August and we are delighted to be welcoming Alison to Oswestry. Tickets: £5 (redeemable against a signed, personalised hardback copy of Nelly Dean) Includes a glass of wine / soft drink on arrival. Please book in advance. For tickets, call in at the shop or book online via our Eventbrite page. If you can't make the event, but would like a signed and personalised copy of Nelly Dean, please let us know. |  NEIL OLIVER - MASTER OF SHADOWS MONDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 7.00pm (for 7.30pm start) at The Dining Rooms, Welsh Walls, Oswestry Join us for an evening with archaeologist, historian, author and TV presenter, NEIL OLIVER, as he talks about his debut novel, MASTER OF SHADOWS – a sweeping epic adventure and a story of a man all but forgotten by history. In fifteenth-century Constantinople, Prince Constantine saves the life of a broken-hearted girl. But the price of his valour is high. John Grant is a young man on the edge of the world. His unique abilities carry him from his home in Scotland to the heart of the Byzantine Empire in search of a girl and the chance to fulfil a death-bed promise. Lena has remained hidden from the men who have been searching for her for many years. When she's hunted down, at last she knows what she must do. With an army amassing beyond the city's ancient walls, the fates of these three will intertwine. As the Siege of Constantinople reaches its climax, each must make a choice between head and heart, duty and destiny. Neil Oliver is perhaps best known as the distinctive and charismatic presenter of the award-winning BBC documentary series Coast. He has also presented the critically acclaimed A History of Scotland, Vikings and A History of Ancient Britain and written books to accompany each series. Master of Shadows is his first work of fiction. We are delighted to be welcoming Neil to Oswestry for what should be a great event. Tickets: £8 (£4 redeemable against a signed, personalised copy of Master of Shadows) Includes a glass of wine / soft drink on arrival. Please book in advance. For tickets, call in at the shop or book online via our Eventbrite page. If you can't make the event but would like a signed, personalised hardback copy of Master of Shadows, please let us know. |  ALEX PRESTON - IN LOVE & WAR (Book Signing) SATURDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 11.00am at Booka Join us for coffee, cake and chat with Alex Preston as he signs copies of his latest novel, In Love and War, at Booka on Saturday 26th September at 11.00am. A tale of love, heroism and resistance set against the stunning backdrop of 1930s Florence, In Love and War weaves fact and fiction to create a sweeping portrait of a city under siege. The novel is told through the eyes, letters and journals of Esmond Lowndes, who comes to Italy a lonely young man in the shadow of his politician father. On the cobbles of Florence's many-storied streets, he deepens his appreciation of art and literature, and falls in love. With the coming of war, Esmond finds himself drawn into the Tuscan Resistance, hunted by the malevolent Mario Carità , head of the Fascist secret police. With his lover, Ada, at his side, he is at the centre of assassination plots, shoot-outs and car chases, culminating in a final mission of extraordinary daring. Alex Preston is an award-winning author and journalist who appears regularly on BBC television and radio. He writes for GQ, Harper's Bazaar and Town & Country Magazine as well as for the Observer's New Review. He teaches Creative Writing at the University of Kent. In Love and War is his third novel and was published in paperback on 2nd July 2015. Tickets: FREE event - no ticket required, just come along! |  NEW VENTURE - BROOK HOUSE TRADING COMPANY In addition to Booka, we thrilled to be part of BROOK HOUSE TRADING, a new online gift and lifestyle business venture that will be launching this Autumn. The website holding page is now 'live' and you can subscribe to the mailing list for latest news and opening offers here | |  LUIS TROYANO - BAKE IT GREAT THURSDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 7.00pm (for 7.30pm start) at Booka Join us for a fun evening with 'Great British Bake Off' 2014 finalist, LUIS TROYANO, as he passes on tips and tricks to help transform your bakes from the everyday to the extraordinary. Bake it Great is the first book by the Manchester-based graphic designer who wowed the nation last year with his striking and ambitious creations. Luis became known for his ingenious designs and achieved 'some of the most stunning bakes to ever grace the 'Bake Off' tent. A self-taught cook, he has a passion for experimenting with new flavours and ingredients and now he wants to pass on his knowledge of how to make your bakes outstanding in this book of 100 recipes. Luis believes even the simplest of bakes can be show-stopping. His simple tips and meticulous instructions will appeal to any level of baker - novices will pick up vital tips to demystify the art of baking and more experienced bakers will find the range of recipes exciting and enlightening. We're delighted to be hosting this event with Luis, our favourite baker from last year's Bake Off - rest assured there will be treats! Tickets: £5 (redeemable against a signed, personalised copy of Bake it Great) Includes a glass of wine / soft drink on arrival. Please book in advance. For tickets, call in at the shop or book online via our Eventbrite page.
If you can't make the event, but would like a signed, personalised copy of Bake it Great, please let us know. |  CATHERINE CHANTER - THE WELL TUESDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 7.00pm (for 7.30pm start) at Booka Join us for an evening with Catherine Chanter as she talks about stunning debut novel, The Well. 'One summer was all it took before our dream started to curl at the edges and stain like picked primroses. One night is enough to swallow a lifetime of lives.' When Ruth Ardingly and her family first drive up from London and view The Well, they are enchanted by a jewel of a place, a farm that appears to offer everything the family are searching for. An opportunity for Ruth. An escape for Mark. A home for their grandson Lucien. But, The Well's unique glory comes at a terrible price. As The Well envelops them, Ruth's paradise becomes a prison, Mark's dream a recurring nightmare, and Lucien's playground a grave. Combining gripping mystery, psychological drama and striking prose, The Well is a powerful and compelling read that will cast you under its spell! First published to critical acclaim in March 2015, it is published in paperback on 3rd September. We are delighted to welcome Catherine to Oswestry for what should be a great event. Tickets: £5 (redeemable against book purchase) Includes a glass of wine/soft drink on arrival Please book in advance. For tickets, call in at the shop or book online via our Eventbrite page. |  PRE-ORDER The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness SIGNED, EXCLUSIVE, FIRST EDITION HARDBACK COPY CALLING ALL YOUNG ADULT FICTION FANS!
The Rest of Us Just Live Here is published on 27th August. You can pre-order a signed, indie bookshop exclusive first edition hardback copy from us Further Info Award-winning writer Patrick Ness's bold and irreverent novel powerfully asks what if you weren't the Chosen One? The one who's supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death? What if you were like Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again. Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week's end of the world and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life. Even if your best friend might just be the God of mountain lions... Price: £12.99 To Pre-Order: Call in at the shop, give us a call or purchase online via our website |  BOOKA ON THE ROAD! SHREWSBURY FLOWER SHOW 14TH & 15TH AUGUST 2015 We'll be at Shrewsbury Flower Show again this year to support the appearance of this year's celebrity chef, TOM KERRIDGE, in The Marches Food Hall. He'll be doing three cooking demo's on both Friday and Saturday, with a book signing after each demo.
For the first time at the Show, we'll also have our Pop-Up Bookshop in the adjoining Craft Hall. If you're going to the Show, pop by and say hello! | |
