By Erin Evett, Rosie Burgoyne and Michaela O’Callaghan
Galatea Launch Day
3 March, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
If you're a fan of Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles or Circe, don’t miss out on the launch of her new short story, Galatea, which focuses on the mythological story of Galatea and Pygmalion. The event will take place in Durham Waterstones and the book store will open half an hour early that morning. There will be cupcakes on arrival for any early birds, who wish to purchase Galatea. For more information, click here.
Meet Alex Gray
5 March, 12:00 p.m.
If you love reading crime, you won’t want to miss this free event. Best-selling crime novelist Alex Gray will be signing copies of her latest instalment of her DSI Lorimer series, Echo of the Dead, in the Glasgow Waterstones. The new instalment follows DSI Lorimer and his friend as they get wrapped up in a chase for a serial killer whilst on holiday in Glencoe. You can purchase a copy at the book signing. For more information, click here.
Farnham Literary Festival
5-13 March
Farnham Literary Festival promises a fantastic range of events, from workshops on writing to advice on getting published. Various authors and speakers include A.K. Blakemore, Alex Preston, Annie Garthwaite, and Julia Crouch. There will be workshops and events that focus on a range of genres, including historical fiction and crime. There will also be a poetry competition with prizes for the winners. For more information and ticket prices, click here.
Delia Smith - Live on Stage in London
8 March, 7:00-8:15 p.m.
Head on down to West London’s Conway Hall to hear Alistair Campbell in conversation with one of Britain’s most beloved cookery writers, Delia Smith. This in-person event, organised by How To Academy, invites audience members to think more deeply about themselves and the world around them as they listen to Delia speak about the writers that have inspired her to think big. Tickets range in price from £32.13 to £71.22 and can be purchased via Eventbrite here.
Historical Women and Women’s History
10 March, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Cambridge Waterstones are celebrating International Women’s Day 2022 with an event hosting Annie Garthwaite, author of Cecily, a novel about the Duchess of York, Cecily Neville, who was one of the women at the heart of the War of the Roses. Garthwaite will be in conversation with Dr Tory Young, a lecturer in modern and contemporary literature at Anglia Ruskin University. They will be discussing both Cecily Neville and other women in history. For more information and ticket prices, click here.
Onsite (Hybrid) – Latchkey Ladies Book Launch
15 March, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
In celebration of Handheld Press’ newly published edition of Canadian writer Marjorie Grant’s long-forgotten novel, Latchkey Ladies, Handheld Press founder, Kate Macdonald will be discussing the book with Scottish author and academic Sarah LeFanu. Set in 1921 at the end of the First World War, Latchkey Ladies is a powerful novel about women navigating their newfound freedoms whilst trying to maintain a balance between independence and disaster. The book’s launch will be a hybrid event, with free tickets for the in-person event at the Guildhall Library available here or free online access tickets available here.
BookBar Spring Sessions
Multiple dates throughout March
Independent bookshop, cafe and wine bar BookBar has announced a brilliant line-up of bookish events for their Spring Sessions events programme. All of the following events will be taking place in person at the North London-based bookshop. Each ticket will include a copy of the book.
15 March, 7:00 p.m. : 'What A Shame' with Abigail Bergstrom
16 March, 7:00 p.m. : 'Love Marriage' with Monica Ali
29 March, 7:00 p.m. : 'Our Wives Under the Sea' with Julia Armfield
Tickets for the BookBar Spring Sessions can be purchased directly from the bookshop’s website here.
Tamsin Rosewell: Illustration and the Bookshop
24 March, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Online event
Are you interested in gaining a bookseller’s perspective on publishing and illustrated books? Tamsin Rosewell has been a bookseller for 15 years and is renowned for her tremendous window displays at Kenilworth bookshop. In this event, Rosewell will explore the relationship between booksellers and publishers, and talk about how booksellers select which books to promote and stock. A bookseller’s passion for a book can transform sales, so this lecture is great if you are a budding author or have an interest in sales and the internal workings of the publishing industry. All tickets are £20 and are available to order here.
Coles Book Club: Annabel Abbs – The Language of Food
24 March, 7:00 p.m.
Bicester-based Coles Books is hosting a special evening in conversation with historical fiction writer Annabel Abbs to mark the publication of her latest novel, celebrating The Language of Food, the revolutionary cookery writer Eliza Acton. Tickets can be reserved by ordering a hardback copy of the book. The books are hand signed by the author, complete with intricately patterned edges, and are available on the Coles Books website here.