By Sophie Dickinson and Erin Evett
An Evening with Florence Given
23 June, 6:30–8 p.m.
Join Florence Given as she celebrates the launch of her debut novel, Girlcrush, in paperback. Wildly popular, this novel follows Eartha as she lives her life as an openly bisexual woman who becomes a viral sensation on a social media app that allows its users to project their dream selves. However, as Eartha continues to live a double life, she finds herself heading down a path of self-destruction and darkness to a place where she must choose between her two selves. For more information, ticket prices and to secure your copy of Girlcrush; click here.
SYP South West Summer Book Club: Red, White and Royal Blue
25 June, 7:30 p.m.
Join the SYP South West as they discuss their next book club pick especially for Pride Month, Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. The book club is held virtually, via zoom; where you will be able to explore your thoughts on the novel and meet like-minded publishing hopefuls. For more information, and to secure a free ticket, click here.
Bryan Moriarty and Laura Kay in Conversation at Waterstones Piccadilly
28 June, 6:30 p.m.
To celebrate Pride month, Waterstones Piccadilly are bringing together two extremely talented authors, Bryan Moriarty, and Laura Kay, for the Pride RomCom panel. Moriarty will be discussing his debut novel, Sounds Like Fun, which won the Irish Writers Centre’s First Novel Award in 2021 and tackles love and loneliness in the modern world’s technological landscape. Kay will be talking about her third novel, Wild Things, which follows El as she navigates life in the countryside with her chosen family and crush. Both books will have you in stitches of laughter, while also conveying important messages at the core of Pride month. For more information and ticket prices, click here.
Love is in the Air: An evening of laughs and LGBTQ+ Rom-coms with Freja Nicole Woolf, William Hussey, and Lex Croucher
28 June, 6:30 p.m.
YA authors Freja Nicole Woolf, Never Trust a Gemini, William Hussey, Broken Hearts Zombie Parts, and Lex Croucher, Gwen and Art are Not in Love, will be discussing the tropes behind their hilarious novels with fabulous LGBTQIA+ representation, how to write comedy and character development. For more information, click here.
History Days: Summer Programme
1 July, 10:00–1:00 p.m.
Join three national figures in Waterstones Cambridge for the Summer Programme as they talk about their favourite historical topics in their respective books. Nick Jubber, The Fairy Tellers, will be discussing the secret history of fairy tales; Roger Knight, Convoys, will be talking about British convoy ships; Mark David Baer, The Ottomans: Sultans, Khans, Caesars, will be describing the multiethnic, multilingual, and multireligious Ottoman Empire. If you are interested in historical fiction, this will be the perfect event to glean inspiration! For more information and ticket prices, click here.
Gower St Presents: Sarah Hart in Conversation with John Mullan
3 July, 6:30–7:45 p.m.
Most avid readers of literature prefer to see books as creative masterpieces rather than mathematically designed, but Sarah Hart will be in conversation with John Mullan to show exactly that. In her book, Once Upon a Prime, Hart demonstrates the fundamental link between literature and mathematics. Thought you knew the likes of Moby Dick, James Joyce, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Jurassic Park? Think again! All this literature and many more, are underscored by a fascination and interaction with mathematics that Hart seeks to uncover, one number at a time. There will be welcome drinks available and a book signing at the end of the event. Hart is a Professor of Mathematics at Birbeck College (University of London) and is the first woman to ever hold the prestigious Gresham Professorship of Geometry. For more information and ticket prices, click here.
Bookshops Online and on The High Street
3–4 July
London Road Campus, University of Reading
This event runs as part of the 2nd Annual Bookselling Research Network Conference, in association with the Centre for Book Cultures and Publishing, held the 3–4 July, at the University of Reading, UK.
Throughout the two days, there will be a selection of panel discussions, workshops, and lectures on the role of the bookshop within the publishing landscape of today. Talks come from independent booksellers, publishing academics and industry professionals. For more information on the proceedings of the conference, including a call for papers and ticket options, click here.
Frome Small Publishers Fair
8 July, 10–3:30 p.m.
Join Frome Writers’ Collective at Frome’s acclaimed Small Publishers’ Fair – a day for readers, writers, publishers, artists, illustrators, and visitors of all ages, with books and small press publications to interest, excite and buy. This fair is a must for all book lovers! Readers can browse amongst all the fabulous books for sale, and writers can speak to other authors about the publishing process. For free tickets and information on the day, click here.