We have a smile on our face just posting this to tell you that the wonderful Pam Ayres is coming to Hayling Island as part of her national book tour to coincide with the publication of her new collection, YOU MADE ME LATE AGAIN!, her first new collection since 2006.

Tickets will include a copy of the new book and after her Talk on stage, you will be able to meet Pam and have your book signed and dedicated by her.

Pam Ayres has been a writer, broadcaster, and entertainer for almost 40 years since winning the TV talent show Opportunity Knocks in 1975, and she has become an audience favourite for her sharp perception of the comic detail of everyday life.  She is one of the biggest selling female comedians in the UK, selling out virtually every theatre that she plays. Pam is a regular on TV and Radio, recently on programmes such as Just A Minute, Ayres On The Air, QI, Gardeners’ World, Countdown, and The Paul O’Grady Show.

The event with Pam Ayres is taking place at Hayling Community Centre Theatre on Thursday October 17^th and will start at 6pm.

Tickets from The Hayling Island Bookshop or call us on 02392 466 620 for tickets.

Poetry lovers will be delighted to hear that The Hayling Island Bookshop is organising a visit by a prestigious national tour to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the T S Eliot Prize for Poetry. Three of the poets who have been shortlisted in recent years will be reading their work.  The poets appearing are George Szirtes (2005 winner), Penelope Shuttle and Tim Liardet (both 2006 shortlisted) they will be joined by local poet Maggie Sawkins a founder member of Tongues and Grooves, Portsmouth’s popular poetry and music club

The event is being jointly staged by Portsmouth BookFest and The Portsmouth Festivities and will be held on Tuesday September 17^th at The David Russell Theatre in The Portsmouth Grammar School. The pre event drinks reception starts at 7pm and the first reading starts at 7.30pm. Copies of the participating poets work will be on sale for signing during the evening.

The event is part of a national tour organised by The Poetry Book Society to celebrate 20 years of the prize.

Tickets are on Sale Now from The Hayling Island Bookshop on 02392 466620.

We are delighted to announce a special evening with Michael Morpurgo on Saturday 28th September at 7pm in the Portsmouth Guildhall as part of Portsmouth BookFest. This event is being held in advance of the main Festival due to Michael’s diary commitments.

Michael Morpurgo is an English author, poet, playwright and librettist, best known for his work in children’s literature. He has been awarded 11 literary awards and prizes and shortlisted for 9 awards. Some of his well known works include: Private Peaceful, The Butterfly Lion, Why the Whales Came and War Horse, the latter has been adapted as a radio broadcast, a stage play and a British film directed by Steven Spielberg.

Portsmouth BookFest is jointly run each autumn by Portsmouth City Library service and The Hayling Island Bookshop.

Michael will be talking about his latest books A Medal For Leroy and Pinocchio which will be on sale at the event along with many of his other titles. Ticket holders will receive £1 off books purchased at the event and will be able to meet Michael and receive a pre-signed book plate for books purchased at the Bookshop which we will be running at the venue.

Tickets are on sale now from the Box Office on line via the web page at http://www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk/events/michael-morpurgo or in person at the Portsmouth Guildhall Box Office or by calling 0844 847 2362 (note that some delays can be expected at peak periods if using this number).

The Sunday Times Number One Bestselling Etymologicon springs from Mark Forsyth’s Inky Fool blog on the strange connections between words. It’s an occasionally ribald, frequently witty and unerringly erudite guided tour of the secret labyrinth that lurks beneath the English language, taking in monks and monkeys, film buffs and buffaloes, and explaining precisely what the Rolling Stones have to do with gardening. Join this acclaimed writer on June 26th for a circular stroll through the hidden connections of the words we use every day. Mark’s latest book, The Horologicon, was BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. Your ticket price includes a signed paperback copy of The Etymologicon, with copies of The Horologicon also available to buy for signing on the night. Tickets from The Portsmouth Festivities Box Office http://www.portsmouthfestivities.co.uk/whats-on/item/the-etymologicon-with-mark-forsyth

A not to be missed event on June 27th which will take place in the wonderfully atmospheric Tudor Square Tower decorated with the Shields of The Governors of Portsmouth since 1483 to mark the paperback release of Citadel. International best selling author and founder of the Prize for Women’s Literature, Kate Mosse will talk in detail about her latest book in the fittingly historic surroundings. Citadel is set in Carcassone and the Aude during World War II and tells the story of a female resistance unit, fighting against the occupation of their country. It’s the concluding part of the Languedoc Trilogy, which also includes international best-sellers Labyrinth and Sepulchre. Your ticket price includes a signed paperback copy of Citadel. Copies of Labyrinth and Sepulchre will also be available to buy for signing on the night. Tickets from The Portsmouth Festivities Box Office http://www.portsmouthfestivities.co.uk/whats-on/item/citadel-in-the-tower-with-kate-mosse

We are delighted to announce that one of the best loved stars from Strictly Come Dancing, Ann Widdecombe will visit Hayling Island in June as part of her national tour to launch her autobiography Strictly Ann.

Ann will be giving a Talk on stage then signing copies of her book at an event organised by The Hayling Island bookshop on Monday June 10^th at the Community Centre in Hayling Park.

Tickets for the event are on sale now for the Talk and Q&A and each ticket will include a signed copy of the new autobiography (in Hardback rrp £20). There will also be the opportunity to meet her and have the book personally dedicated by Ann.

Bookshop Owner Marie Telford says “Frank, fearless and engaging, Ann’s autobiography will delight her admirers and win her yet more fans. From her early family life in Singapore and her convent school days to her student ambitions at Birmingham and Oxford, and her long-serving years as an MP. This is the life story of one of our most outspoken and celebrated politicians. Offering unique insight into her time as a Minister in three Departments and the Shadow Cabinet in the 1990s it contains Ann’s trenchant views on the Coalition, MPs’ expenses and the state of the nation, this is a provocative and entertaining read”.

Hayling Island: In Old Photographs including line drawings and sketches is a fascinating pictorial record of the island from 1820 right up to 1967. Each image is accompanied by a detailed caption that explains the scene and the history of its development over the years, as well as shedding light on some important events in Hayling history.

Author John Rowlands will be giving an illustrated talk about the new book including some archive film clips dating back to the 1960’s. Tickets for his talk are £2 which is fully redeemable off a copy of the new book purchased on the night for signing by John. A glass of wine/juice is included in the ticket price.

The Talk starts at 7pm on Thursday April 11^th, Small Hall URC Church, Hollow Lane PO11 9EY.

We are pleased to announce that in 2012 The Hayling Island Bookshop ran or supported an amazing 107 events with 91 different authors at 87 venues for over 18,700 people. Audience numbers were up by 42% over 2011 which was itself a record year.

We would like to thank everyone who came to our events which were held in so many different venues including schools, theatres, libraries and historic buildings.

The ninety one different authors included Sir David Attenborough, Sir Max Hastings, Lord Hattersley, James Herbert, Anthony Horowitz, Ben Fogle and George Alagiah.

In 2012, we were delighted to be asked to help run events with two new partners – Hampshire School Library Service and Southampton School Library Service as well as with our existing partners Portsmouth School Library Service, Portsmouth BookFest, Havant Literary Festival, The New Theatre Royal and The Portsmouth Festivities.

Books signed by the author make great gifts and we still have some signed copies available including:

The New Recruit by Andy McNab, Dead To Me by Cath Staincliffe, A Passage to Africa by George Alagiah, Citadel by Kate Mosse (and Labyrinth and Sepulchre), Once by James Herbert, The Rose Petal Beach and The Woman He Loved Before by Dorothy Koomson, Silent Voices  by Anne Cleeves and A Force To Be Reckoned With (A History of the Women’s Institute) by Jane Robinson. We also have a signed editions of My Story by Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli.

Call us on 02392 466 620 to check availability of these signed books. Our 2013 programme has already started in schools and we have signed editions of many children’s books in stock including books signed by Anthony Horowitz, Ali Sparkes, Andy Briggs, Darren Shan and many more.

We are planning lots of events for 2013 and will keep you informed as details emerge.

Sara Starbuck, author of the Dread Pirate Fleur series, will be in the Hayling Island Bookshop on Friday December 7^th during the Late Night Shopping Festival.

This summer Sara helped to launch Reading Force, the reading scheme for Forces families and friends. At the launch on HMS Warrior Sara talked to the senior representatives of each of the Armed Forces about the importance of reading and made them all swear a solemn oath to read more books! She was subsequently invited to give a talk about her books to navy families on board HMS Diamond, one of the navy’s newest vessels.

In May 2013 Sara will be launching a new series of books published by Templar Publishing called Fairythorn Tales under the pseudonym, Lara Faraway. Parents and shoppers with younger children can hear more about the new series and get free sticklers whilst children between 8 and 12 can buy the Dread Pirate Fleur books at 25% off if they mention the secret password to Sara. The not so secret password is “Aye Aye Captain”. Sara will be signing and dedicating her books bought in the Bookshop during the event.

Sara is also a freelance editor specialising in commercial fiction and children’s books and has also worked for literary agents. She will be pleased to talk to budding children”s authors about the publishing industry.

Entry to this book signing is free and Sara will be with us between 5pm and 7pm.

Kate Mosse, the bestselling author of Labyrinth closes her trilogy with a heart-stopping adventure exploring the incredible history, legends and hidden secrets of Carcassonne and the Languedoc. Set during World War II in the far south of France, Citadel is a powerful, action-packed mystery that reveals the secrets of the resistance under Nazi occupation. Meet Kate at Southsea Library on Sunday 4th November when she closes this year’s Portsmouth BookFest by talking about her newest book. Books on sale for signing after the event. Call the Festival Box Office on 02392 688037 or The Hayling Island Bookshop on 02392 466620.