SHOP WINS PATTERSON AWARD

Dartmouth Community Bookshop has been awarded a grant of £1500 by well-known international author James Patterson to create a new children’s space and new counter in the shop. This will be incorporated into the plans to expand the bookshop by roofing over the yard at the back, creating a bigger sales area, new staff facilities and storage. Work is due to start in January 2015.

Dartmouth Community Bookshop was one of 183 Independent bookshops to apply for a grant out of which 73 shops won awards for a total of £130,000 in what is the first tranche. Eligible bookshops were those with a dedicated children’s section.

 Pictured are from left, Kathy Stansfield (Secretary) Andrea Saunders (Manager) and Tony Fyson (Chairman) of the bookshop, at the exsiting counter, which willbecome the new children's area.

WAKE - A FIRST BOOK TRIUMPH

Anna Hope, whose first book, Wake, has made a real impact, was at Dartmouth library to talk about her book on July 3.Unusually it covers just five days after World War 1 when the Unknown Solider was being repatriated to an almost hysterical public traumatised by years of war. She focuses on the experiences of three women at this time, all of whom have experienced loss.

London-based Anne spent 6 months in Dartington while writing it and confesses that she is smitten with the area and will return. Published by Doubleday, the book was so popuar that it went to auction amongst publishers which was very exciting for Anna. The book costs £12.99 from the bookshop.

A DOCTOR IN DARTMOUTH

Deborah White Cooper was recently at Dartmouth Library talking about her book, Call the Doctor, about her grandfather, Dr Ronald White Cooper who was a GP in Dartmouth between the wars in the C20. She explained how she found stories he wrote in a chest in the attic and researched his life to produce the book. Local people responded to an appeal for their memories. She signed copies of her books provided by the bookshop after her talk. Call the Doctor is available in the bookshop.

LOCAL HISTORY IN FICTION

Felicity Fair Thompson's first book The Kid on Slapton Beach, is one of our best sellers. It is a fictional story of how a 12-year old boy is affected by the forced evacuation of his family during the American D-Day rehersals. Felicity came to the shop to sign copies of her book recently.

CRIME WRITER'S SECRETS

Crime writer Frances Brody gave a talk at Dartmouth Library on 20 March at which she revealed how she was inspired to create her 1920s series featuring genteel amateur detective, the widowed Kate Shackleton. The books are set in Yorkshire and there are five so far, with another due out in the atumn.