Summer Voices: Storytime Saturday 29th June 11am - Victoria Agomo

We begin our Summer Voices series and  the national celebration of independent bookshops on Saturday 29th June at 11am with a special storytelling session.

Starting at 11am we welcome Victoria Agomo who will have just turned 10 and will read from her first novel, Silly Sarah. Victoria who was inspired to write the novel after a visit to the Roald Dahl museum will read from her book and talk about how she became a writer. During that week she will celebrate her 10th birthday and we will celebrate with cake and candles.

At 11.30am we follow on from Victoria with a further special storytelling sessions and then we will have activites.

Free entry, everyone is welcome and this is ideal for all children under 8.

More details here: http://victoriaagomo.authorsxpress.com/author/victoriaagomo/ and we urge you to come along to what will surely be a very special storytelling session.

Summer Voices: Saturday 29th June 7pm Ruth Ozeki in conversation

Ruth Ozeki's jewel of a novel explains our relationship to the universe and each other through Japanese teenager Nao's moving diary which is washed up on writer Ruth's beach on the Pacific north coast of the USA. Her search for the identity of Nao and her 104 year-old great-grandmother, a Zen nun, mixes fact with fiction and the "intimacy of not knowing".  A Tale for the Time Being is a beautiful and very special book.

Ruth will be in Dulwich Books at the start of her UK tour to celebrate Independent Bookshops and we are delighted to welcome her to the bookshop. Tickets are £5.00 and can be booked online here or in the bookshop.

Summer Voices: Monday 1st July 7pm Sarah Gillespie & Caroline Bird - Music & Poetry

We invite you for an evening of music & poetry in a relaxed surrounding on Monday 1st July which starts at 7pm. Tickets are £5.00 and wine is included in your ticket price. Book here to avoid missing out on this great event.

Sarah Gillespie is a renowned British-American singer songwriter and guitarist based in London. She is known for combining poetic lyrics with folk, blues and jazz and for writing songs that explore and satire numerous political themes.

Caroline Bird is one of the UK's major young poets and  has published three collections of poetry. Her first collection, Looking Through Letterboxes (published in 2002 when she was 15), is a collection of poems built on the traditions of fairy tale, fantasy and romance. Her second collection, Trouble Came to the Turnip, was published in September 2006 to critical acclaim. Her third collection, 'Watering Can,' received a 'Poetry Book Society Recommendation.'
In 2012 Caroline was one of the official poets of the 2012 London Olympics.
In July Caroline will release her latest poetry collection, The Hat-Stand Union.

We will have two sets of music from Sarah Gillespie with poetry readings from Caroline between the music. Tickets can be booked in the bookshop or online here.

Summer Voices: Tuesday 2nd July 12.30 - 1.30 Simon Mayo at Dulwich Books

Simon Mayo will be in Dulwich Books on Tuesday 2nd July between 12.30 & 1.30 talking to and serving customers, signing copies of his books Itch & Itch Rocks
More details of Simon Mayo & his books here: http://www.itchingham.co.uk/about.html

This will be a fantastic chance for you to meet Simon and talk to him about writing his awarding winning books and have your book signed by him.

This is a free event, everyone is welcome and we will be serving coffee and cake for everyone. We would like to thank Simon for coming down to Dulwich to show his support for independent bookshops.

Summer Voices: Tuesday 2nd July 7pm Antony Beevor "Talking History"

Multi-award-winning military historian Antony Beevor will talk on writing history and his research followed by a Q&A and book signing. Beevor is one of the most influential of contemporary historians and his visit to Dulwich Books confirms his generous support for independent bookshops.
The Second World War, Antony's latest book will be on offer that night as we sell the hardback at the paperback price of £16.99.

This event is a ticket only event which are on sale at £5.00 each. Tickets can be bought in the bookshop or online here.

Our events in March were sold out, so to avoid disappointment book early!

Summer Voices: Wednesday 3rd July 7pm Martin Bannister Book Launch

A Map of Nowhere is a novel about secrets, false starts and lost time. Funny, moving, tragic at times, it leaves us wondering just how it is possible to know others and, indeed, ourselves.

Come and celebrate the launch of Martin debut novel, A Map of Nowhere, £7.99

Free event, wine included, everyone is welcome, doors open at 6.40pm

Summer Voices: Thursday 4th July 11am Storytime Session with Angela Mitchell 11am

On Thursday 4th July at 11am we welcome Angela Mitchell who will read from her latest picture book, The Jelly That Wouldn't Wobble.  It is Princess Lolly's 89th birthday and the cook has made her a special birthday jelly. 

There is one problem...the jelly refuses to wobble! All the guests try to make it wobble but in the end it is the smallest guest that comes up with a tasty solution.

Join us at 11am for the book reading. It is a free event, everyone is welcome and the storytelling sessions are ideal for all children under 8 and we will be having jelly!

Summer Voices: Saturday 6th July 11am Storytime with Frann Preston-Gannon

Join Frann, a South London author, in Dulwich Books on Saturday 6th July at 11am when she will read from her latest picture book, Dinosaur Farm. 

This story is about Jack and his pet dino-dog who get up early each morning to tend to the duties on the dinosaur farm. First the pterodactyl eggs need collecting. Then the triceratops need to be let out to graze. Of course the diplodocus need a good scrub after their mud bath... find out what happens as the story progresses.

Free event, everyone welcome, ideal for all children under 8.

Summer Voices: Saturday 6th July Free cupcakes & Offer on Ms Cupcakes cookbook 2pm

We finish our Summer Voices Series and celebration of independent bookshops with a real treat for everyone. Ms Cupcakes, who is based in Brixton, has published her first cookbook, The Naughiest Vegan Cupcakes in Town.
On Saturday 6th July between 2pm & 4pm we are pleased to not only offer you a taste of the cupcakes when you visit the bookshop but also £4.00 off the r.r.p of £16.99 when you buy a copy of her cookbook on the day.
Decadent and delicious wheat-gluten & dairy-free, vegan baking for everyone, taste how good it can be and buy the cookbook to try baking yourself.

Kevin Powers and Daisy Hildyard in conversation

Kevin Powers & Daisy Hildyard in conversation

The Guardian voted The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers the best new novel of 2012 and on Tuesday 28^th May at 7pm he was in conversation with Daisy Hildyard, author of Hunters in the Snow.

Sheila has read The Yellow Birds and was deeply moved by it, rating it alongside Birdsong on her “you must read selection”. The likes of Colm Toibin, Ann Patchett and Tom Wolfe were bowled over by it. The Hay Festival says “The poet and Iraq veteran Kevin Powers has composed an unforgettable account of friendship and loss. It vividly captures the desperation and brutality of war, and its terrible after-effects. But it is also a story of love, of great courage, and of extraordinary human survival”.

Daisy Hildyard’s first novel, Hunters in the Snow, is published on 4th July and sees the debut of a remarkable young writer. Sheila is currently reading Daisy’s book and it is a true delight. The Guardian says “A dazzling literary novel in which a young woman discovers her grandfather’s book, a strange history which links four journeys of four great men, separated by the centuries. ”.

Kevin and Daisy talked about and read extracts from their debut novels. 

There are so many reviews of The Yellow Birds that it would be impossible for me to include them, you can read the full selection here (http://www.kevincpowers.com/the_yellow_birds_114142.htm). However to give you a flavour I have selected two:

The Guardian’s review of The Yellow Birds

“a novel that can stand beside All Quiet on the Western Front or The Red Badge of Courage…essential…a must read…the mark of an artist of the first order“

The New York Times Book Review

“Kevin Powers has something to say, something deeply moving about the frailty of man and the brutality of war, and we should all lean closer and listen.”

Jeremy Page Book Launch

Dulwich Books was delighted to host the book launch for Jeremy Page's new novel, The Collector of Lost Things.

On Thursday 25th April at 7.30pm we celebrated the launch of Jeremy's third novel. This historical novel is the story of a young researcher Eliot Saxby is paid to go on an expedition to the Arctic in the hope of finding remains of the by now extinct Great Auk.

"I am reading it as my holiday read and am loving it" says Sheila

Jeremy Page is the author of Salt, which was shortlisted for the Jelf First Novel Award and the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book. His second novel, The Wake, was published by Penguin in 2009. He grew up in North Norfolk and has worked as a scriptwriter and also as an editor for FilmFour and the BBC. He lives in London with his wife and three children.

This was a fantastic event, a packed bookshop heard Jeremy talk about how he came to write The Collector of Lost Things and why. It was a pleasure to host his book launch with such great friends and not least to have sold so many copies of  his book:)

Upcoming event at the bookshop

Sarwat Chadda Book Launch

Sarwat Chadda celebrated the publication of the second book in the Ash Mistry Chronciles series by local author Sarwat Chadda. 

Sarwat is writing a trilogy aimed at 9+ readers set in Dulwich and India and on Friday we celebrate the publication of the second book, Ash Mistry and The City of Death.  If you like your adventure stories fast paced and terrifying with elements of James Bond and Indiana Jones, then these are the books for you!

Spring Voices March 2013

Spring Voices is a series of events to celebrate all things literary and books. Your chance to listen to authors and without having to travel to central London. You can test your knowledge at a culture pub quiz, hear Andrew Simms tell us that things are not as bad as they seem, listen  to some of London’s best poets, hear Nick Coleman talk about his award winning biography or find out “why your five year old could not draw that” 

Our finale on Saturday 9th is devoted to entertaining children and introducing them to new authors and old favourites.

We are sure that we'll have an event that will interest you. So scroll down the page to find out more details about everything we have planned for the first week of March.

Children’s Events at Dulwich Books

Storytelling every Thursday & Saturday at 11am.
It’s free, everyone is welcome and we have activities afterwards. 

World Book Day: Thursday 7th March 11am

We welcome Bridget Strevens-Marzo to a special storytelling to celebrate World Book Day. Beginning at 11am, Bridget will read from her book: Mini Racer and we will have activities afterwards.

Spring Voices: Saturday 9th March 11am – 1pm

11am - 11.40am Nicolas Allan author of many books though probably best known for The Queen's Knickers will be in the bookshop reading from it as well as The Giant's Loo Roll.  This event will be ideal for children up to the age of 7.

11.40am - 12.20pm Sara Grant will be reading from her new book: The Witching Hour. Her new series is perfect for readers of 6 - 9 years of age. 

12.20pm - 1pm Margaret Bateson-Hill is a very popular author and we are delighted she has said yes to coming back to the bookshop. This time Margaret will read from her book: This Little Piggy which is ideal for all children up to the age of 6.

These events are free, we will have reserved seating. Only a few places remain so please call the bookshop to check availability on 020 8670 1920.

Spring Voices:  Saturday 9th March 3pm - 4.30pm
In celebration of children's books and a grand finale to our week long Spring Voices events we will have a host of activities in the bookshop. We will have:

• Competitions.
• Where's Wally search within the bookshop.
• Activities for all ages.
• Captain Underpants Lucky Dip.
• And gift bags for the first 20 children who turn up.

All welcome, it's free and fun should be had by all

Spring Voices: Culture Quiz in Crown & Greyhound in aid of Dulwich Helpline

Culture Quiz at the Crown & Greyhound in aid of Dulwich Helpline 

65 people took part in the quiz last night and helped raise £460 for Dulwich Helpline. Thank you to everyone.

Hosted by Marcus Berkmann, author of A Shed of One’s Own the teams will have fun testing their knowledge of all things cultural. Entry to the quiz costs £10.00; a minimum of £5.00 going to Dulwich Helpline. There will be eight teams of ten people and you can either enter as a team of ten or individually and be allocated you to a team.  

Marcus is a well known journalist, compiling the "Dumb Britain" column in Private Eye, writes pop culture articles for The Spectator and in his latest book: A Shed of One's Own muses over birth, death and all the messy stuff in between, he concludes that however dreadful you look in the mirror today, it will be much worse in ten years' time. His brutally candid despatches are not for the faint-hearted, which is to say anyone under thirty-five.
 

All profits from this event will be donated to Dulwich Helpline of which will be a minimum of £5.00 from each ticket.
Thanks to the following companies for donations:
Hope and Greenwood

The Dulwich Bakery & Little Brown Publishers