Devon Book Club discussion

Not sure if this is the right section, but as it was an'event', am putting it here!
It said in the Times yesterday that the first unrecorded stone circle has been discovered on Dartmoor for more than a century. 'The ring of 30 fallen stones is the missing link in a chain of 8 stone circles that forms a ten-mile crescent across the north-east of the moor. All the stones, except for one, are where they fell about 4,000 years ago.

Hi everyone

A last call for tomorrows Indie Book Shop and Cake crawl event at Totnes Book Shop. Should be a good afternoon - I am anticpating 10-12 of us, plus the local library and its "friends" and some of the local reading groups. Cliff, the manager, is also going to give us some proof copies of books - not sure of what. Look forward to seeing you there if you can make it. If not, and if it goes well, look out for a future event near you.

Totnes Bookshop is on the lower corner of the Market Square. It's on the left if you've walked all the way up the hill. It is pretty near the top, where it flattens out.

There is another bookshop 'Arcturus' a lot lower down the hill but also on the left, it sells mainly alternative/health/mindfulness etc works. Plus there is a second-hand/reduced bookshop on the main street, pretty much opposite the Mkt Sq, called 'Harlequin books' and another 2nd hand one, down a side street off to the right a bit further up the main street from Harlequin.

I thought it was a very successful event yesterday at the Totnes Book Shop.It was lovely talking to people who were interested in books and poetry. I have never done anything like it before and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Well done, Ian, and also Angela, for having arranged it and driven from North Devon to attend. LOL. Carol.

Carol wrote: "I thought it was a very successful event yesterday at the Totnes Book Shop.It was lovely talking to people who were interested in books and poetry. I have never done anything like it before and tho..."

Thanks Carol. It was a great success - a pleasure to meet everyone but also some great contacts made between the book shop, local library and reading groups that will lead to other developments. I am also hatching plans for World Book Night 2016, which Clive at the Book Shop was keen to be a part of. More of that later. Am looking at pictures (I didn't take many actually; Clive took some too so once we have a few more I'll post them.

Carol wrote: "Isn't Totnes a lovely place? I always forget how very special it is. It is ancient and on a beautiful site, and it seemed so busy with people, many dressed very tastefully and unusually."

It is a lovely town and it was great to spend a bit of time there aside from the book shop event. We also went to Dartmouth afterwards for the evening and found ourselves amidst the Dart Music Festival - which was wonderful. A great day in South Devon.

Really enjoyed our day trip to Totnes - it was great to meet everybody face to face. Here's to the next bookshop event!

I'm not sure whether this goes under "Events" or "Books set in Devon" but Kate Ellis, whose Wesley Peterson crime novels are set in Dartmouth (cunningly disguised as "Tradmouth") will be around in June. Kate is very approachable and I'm sure she'd be delighted to see any members of the group who can make it to one of these:

20 June 2015 7.30pm Kate will be speaking at the East Budleigh Literary Weekend, The Salem Chapel, East Budleigh, Devon

23 June 2015 11.00am Kate will be signing copies of The Death Season at Torbay Books, 7 Torquay Rd. Paignton, Devon TQ3 3DU

25 June 2015 7.00pm Kate will be talking about her latest book, The Death Season at the Totnes Bookshop, 42 High St. Totnes, Devon TQ9 5RY

More info on her website - http://www.kateellis.co.uk/

And while I'm at it, there's Tiverton Literary Festival coming up, 3-7 June - http://www.tivlitfest.co.uk/

Hi everyone;

After the success of our Totnes event, I am now planning one for the north - in Bideford. I know it is quite a way for many of you but I do want to try to travel around Devon a bit (and it is a lovely drive up here) - and if any of you can get up to Barnstaple Station by rail I can always pick you up and drop you back there later in the day.

So Walter Henrys Bookshop is the venue - format the same (it worked well last time, so might as well follow on from that). I want to test 11th and 18th July with you as possible dates - so that we get in before the school summer holidays. Could you let me know your interest and availability?

I might be able to come, but I won't know til nearer the time.

Carol wrote: "I might be able to come, but I won't know til nearer the time."

Understood - it would be great to see you again Carol and I know you come to the north quite a lot so mayeb will tie in with something else

Thanks for arranging, Ian. Bideford would be good. So far the 11th is OK but I can't do the 18th.

Thanks Ruth. 11tg emerging as an early front runne. I'll keep you posted.

I am pleased to announce that two of our members, Liz Shakespeare and Ruth Downie, will be joining our event at Walter Henry's on 11th July and will be pleased to talk with us all about their work as well as joining other book and cake lovers for an enthusiastic afternoon of bookchat.

Hi everyone
I know we havent had the Bideford event yet but, just to let you know that I am in touch with the good people who run the Crediton Community Bookshop. The community, faced with losing their local bookshop, got together, bought it and now run it themselves. I feel a venue for an Indie Book Shop and Cake Crawl visit in September coming on.

Check out the bookshop here

http://www.creditoncommunitybookshop....

Hi Ian, I live in Crediton so would love to be involved with a crawl to the bookshop here. I'm happy to organise. However, I work all day most Saturdays and only get one Sat off a month. I don't have a free Saturday in September but am free on August 15th. Does anyone fancy an August indie crawl instalment then? I can go and ask if they are interested!

I would be interested in a get-together in Crediton some time, but unfortunately will be travelling back from Belgium around Aug.15th and then will be away again for 3 weeks in September.

Hi. That's a generous offer Ellen. Thank you. My concern about August was that it's very much in the middle of summer holidays but would certainly want you to be there. I'm away from 23/9, hence thinking earlier in the month. Which Saturday will you be off?

Lets see what others think. I'm in contact with them already but, as we start to firm up I'm very happy ti hand over to you. It will need to be Saturday morning as they close at 1pm

Hi Ian, I'll have to give it a miss my Saturday off in Sept and Oct is already booked out! I'll have to see if I can get along to one of the other indie bookshops with you another time!
On the theme of indie bookshops- I went along to Mr B's in Bath for one of their famous book spas - v enjoyable. Got a lovely stack of books to take home and add to my growing to-read pile (choosing was difficult!!) ;-)

Ellen wrote: "Hi Ian, I'll have to give it a miss my Saturday off in Sept and Oct is already booked out! I'll have to see if I can get along to one of the other indie bookshops with you another time!
On the them..."

So pleased that you enjoyed Mr B's - such a great shop and great fun - thougth I recognise thre problem about choosing. I got round that by blowing my budget and choosing more! Lets keep talking about the Crediton visit - I know it is a long way off but when is your November free saturday?

Ian wrote: "Hi everyone
I know we havent had the Bideford event yet but, just to let you know that I am in touch with the good people who run the Crediton Community Bookshop. The community, faced with losing t..."

I'd be up for a Crediton CB Crawl sometime. I've helped out with their 'pop-up' bookshop at events a couple of times.

Wendy wrote: "Ian wrote: "Hi everyone
I know we havent had the Bideford event yet but, just to let you know that I am in touch with the good people who run the Crediton Community Bookshop. The community, faced w..."

Thanks Wendy that's excellent. I will talk with Crediton once we have been to Bideford next weekend and see what we can arrange.

Hi everyone. As promised, just finalising details for Saturday's event at Walter Henry's Book Shop, Bideford. The afternoon (2-4PM) will be very informal - the main thing is to enjoy the company of other book enthusiasts - and support another of Devon's Independent Book Shops

Fiona, the manager of the Book Shop, will make us all very welcome and will say a few words about the shop and its activities; then I will ask the four Devon authors who will be joining us (all of whom are Devon Book Club members) to say a bit about their work. Just to remind you, they are:

Liz Shakespeare - http://www.lizshakespeare.co.uk/
Wendy Percival - http://www.wendypercival.co.uk/
Ruth Downie - http://ruthdownie.com/
Carol Ann Dobson - https://www.goodreads.com/author/…/68...

I have two books to give away in a prize draw - one is a signed copy of Burial Rites by Hannah Kent; the other is The Girl With The Red Ribbon by Linda Finlay

Oh - and there will, of course, be cake!

Looking forward to seeing those of you who can come

Hope you all have a great time - sure you will! Sorry I'm not able to join you. :)

Looking forward to being there tomorrow. By the way, Ian, my name has an 'e' on the Anne, but not on the Carol, unlike our other Carole!

Carol wrote: "Looking forward to being there tomorrow. By the way, Ian, my name has an 'e' on the Anne, but not on the Carol, unlike our other Carole!"

Sorry Carol - I must focus better! and thanks Kathy - it is shaping up to be a great afternoon. We may have Tanya Landman there as well if she gets back from London in time.

Hi everyone, have had to cancel plans to attend the gathering in Bideford today as husband is ill and I don't wish to give any germs to 93 year old Mum when I visit. Have sent you a message on Facebook, Ian, and also one to the Facebook page of Devon Book Club, giving apologies.
Have a lovely time there everyone who is attending, and will be thinking of you tonight enjoying the delights of Barricane Beach.

Carol wrote: "Hi everyone, have had to cancel plans to attend the gathering in Bideford today as husband is ill and I don't wish to give any germs to 93 year old Mum when I visit. Have sent you a message on Face..."
That's a shame, Carol. Hope your husband is better soon (and you don't go down with it).

Thanks Kathy.

Carol wrote: "Thanks Kathy."

The event went off very well so was pleased with that. We had about 25 people there so was a good turnout and we will get a few new members I think. Author talks were brief but interesting and, more importantly, lots of informal chat followed.

Definitely a good recipe - on to Crediton next - will canvas dates once I've drawn breath.

Glad it went well. It all takes a lot of organising I am sure, but is a very good advert for the Devon Book Club. Did you invite the North Devon Journal? I expect they would be interested. You could send them some photos and a bit about it.

Carol wrote: "Glad it went well. It all takes a lot of organising I am sure, but is a very good advert for the Devon Book Club. Did you invite the North Devon Journal? I expect they would be interested. You coul..."

I didn't - should have done I guess. I have posted on ther FB page this morning

OK everyone - Bideford was great - so starting to plan next venues.

Ellen - you were keen to organise Crediton but couldn't do it early Autumn cos of work - how about November?

Meanwhile, Im talking to Winstones Book Shop in Sidmouth who are keen to host us in September. So - I'd love to know whether 5/12/19 September would suit people?

Cant manage Sept 5th as will be in the US.

5th definitely out (family wedding) and 19th I may be away. Other than that, completely free! Ha!

Wendy wrote: "5th definitely out (family wedding) and 19th I may be away. Other than that, completely free! Ha!"

OK - early front runner is 12th - any advances?

I had a wonderful day at the North Devon Diversity Festival yesterday. Nearly lost my voice, so many people came to talk to me. I am hoping that a number of those will join us, Ray beign the first yesterday evening (welcome again Ray).

I had small children delighting me with the stories they love, older people and people in wheelchairs, a wide range of nationalities (including a particularly enthusiastic group of young Serbians).

Just proved how literature crosses cultures and can strengthen and bind us. An inspiring and very enjoyable day. Must do more of them - so if anyone knows of any suitable festivals where we can be present, let me know. I've uploaded a few pictures.

I can do October.

Carol wrote: "I can do October."

Hmm - I'm lining up Crediton for November so am ideally looking for a September date. I know you said you are away on 5th September - are you not back for 12 or 19th then?

I think Sidmouth in September will be difficult for me but I'll look forward to Crediton in November.

Sorry, as things stand atm, I can do the 5th September but not the others... :(

Kathy wrote: "Sorry, as things stand atm, I can do the 5th September but not the others... :("

Oh dear - dates dates.

Keep telling me what you can do folks and I'll see what is best

Ian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Sorry, as things stand atm, I can do the 5th September but not the others... :("

Oh dear - dates dates.

Keep telling me what you can do folks and I'll see what is best"

Be good to have you there Kathy so I'm going to see if we can manage 5th (there is no best date emerging and a couple of others have said 5th looks OK so I'll test that)

Ian wrote: "Ian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Sorry, as things stand atm, I can do the 5th September but not the others... :("

Oh dear - dates dates.

Keep telling me what you can do folks and I'll see what is best"..."

And I'd love to meet up with you all too, Ian, but please go with the majority preference - I can always catch up again...eventually! :) As you know, we have a close relative in fragile health which makes it difficult to plan too much for definite atm.

Kathy wrote: "Ian wrote: "Ian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Sorry, as things stand atm, I can do the 5th September but not the others... :("

Oh dear - dates dates.

Keep telling me what you can do folks and I'll see w..."

I do understand. No opbvious prefernce for dates so I'll just haev to plum for one - am talking to Sidmouth library and book shop in a minute hopefully so date may emerge from that

One of our newest members is R.L.Weeks (Facebook name Rebecca Lucy), a young author who lives in Exeter. You can find details of her work at http://rlweeks.blogspot.co.uk/

Rebecca's second book "Into the Myth", a young adult urban fantasy, the first in a series of four, is set to be released on the 27th August 2015 by CHBB publishing. Rebecca has just posted an invitation to Devon Book Club members to attend the launch at Exeter Castle (see her post further down this page). It sounds like it will be a great evening and Rebecca asks that you let her know if you would like to attend. Please note - formal attire.

Devon Book Club is delighted to welcome young writing talent like Rebecca to its growing community

As well as writing full time, Rebecca works part time as a support worker with young people.

Apologies if this is elsewhere.Have just seen the line up for the Budleigh lit fest. They have some amazing people. Stand outs for me are Xinran, Sarah Waters and Patrick Gale to name but 3. Is anyone going?

Sue wrote: "Apologies if this is elsewhere.Have just seen the line up for the Budleigh lit fest. They have some amazing people. Stand outs for me are Xinran, Sarah Waters and [..."

Hi Sue - yes, we have tickets for Hilary Mantel on Saturday afternoon so far. An excellent line-up!

Sue wrote: "Apologies if this is elsewhere.Have just seen the line up for the Budleigh lit fest. They have some amazing people. Stand outs for me are Xinran, Sarah Waters and [..."

What are you going to see Sue - if you are there on the Saturday afternoon, maybe we can catch up?