Winter is almost upon us and although May has been full of sunny days, it is cold in the shop. So over the next few months, some of the events we hold will be at the lovely, warm and yummy Yazzbar. I am so looking forward to some bookish events in front of their fire, with a snack and maybe a glass of wine... Check the list below and RSVP!
Local artist Akka Ballenger Constantin will be running a series of workshops for children in the shop with a focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and maths). She uses our children's books as inspiration for the workshops and so far we have seen a focus on bees and the latest, on magnets. Kids love these workshops, learn heaps and get to take their amazing artworks home. Keep an eye on our social media or follow Akka on Eventbrite to find out about her workshops.
Thanks very much to the Yass Valley Council tourism team for including us in the new promotional clip for the Yass Valley Gift Card. It was a lot of fun.
Events
Sat 3rd June - Robyn Cadwallader - The Fire and The Rose
Sat 10th June - Nathan Luff will read from and sign copies of Crash Landing, the first book in his new series Family Holidays Disasters. He'll be in the shop from 10.30. No need to RSVP, just come along!
Sat 8th July - Deirdre Macken (Gounyan WInes) - Growing Grapes Might Be Fun: How We Made a Vineyard Out of a Junkyard at Cockatoo Hill
I have been to 2 author events at Goulburn Library recently, selling books. The first author was Kim E Anderson who has written a novel based on the events and people involved in the 1957 Archibald Prize controversy, The Prize. I am looking forward to reading this one.
Last week I headed back to Goulburn to sells books by Lucy Bloom, author of Get the Girls Out, a memoir and her recent release, a novel The Manuscript. The Manuscript is darkly funny and both books look to be a good read. I have signed copies in the shop.
What's new?
Atlas: the Story of Pa Salt is out this month. It is a follow on, or conclusion, to the Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley. Many of you have enjoyed this series and it is on my 'to read' list.
Lauren Searson-Patrick recently released the second book in her fantasy duology. If you have read Amber Wolf, you'll want to grab a copy of Blue Pointed Star. Look at those beautiful covers!!
Best sellers - April
The best selling books in April were, as usual, the ones sold at author events.
Sally Warriner - Not Just the Wife of the General Manager
Kim E Anderson - The Prize
and The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams of course!
Best sellers by volume are always cards and Jubly-Umph pins :-)
Jo's news
I have just finished reading Painting the Light by Ned Manning, teacher, actor and author. I really enjoyed this story, perfect for time spent in bed with a cold over the past few weeks.
Set at a very interesting time in Australia, both in Sydney and on the land and explores the affects of war, politics and society on women in particular and the drive to pursue what you love or believe in.
This edition could have done with a good 'spellcheck', but if you can overlook the typos, it is well worth a read.
I am now getting stuck into Voss by Patrick White, this months book club read and am still in bed as I write this with my second round of cold/flu.
Yass Rural Australians for Refugees (YRAR) had a successful Book Fair last weekend raising much needed funds for refugees and asylum seekers. Thank you to everyone who donated, or bought books and to Rotary and YRAR members for volunteering their time. It may be something we do twice a year, I know many of us appreciate the opportunity to move some of our books on, to make room for more :-) Left over books will go to Lifeline in Canberra.
Stay warm and well!!
Jo
xx
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