By Carolyn Thomas Woolston-based author Ali Sparkes has written a new play for Radio 4, inspired by the tales of tollbooth workers on Southampton’s Itchen Bridge. Billed as a ‘festive romcom’ starring comedian Shaparak Khorsandi (pictured top with Ali), Tess of the Tollbooth explores the developing relationship between tollbooth...
Books
Under the Covers books section December: Thriving by surviving separation
By Carolyn Thomas. Southampton-based drama teacher Daisy Harris-Reid, known to her 13.6k Instagram followers as ‘Mum about Town’, has written her first book, a self-help manual for women coping with separation and solo-parenting. The pocket-sized ‘Separation Survival Guide – How to Press the Reset Button’ is based on her...
Under the Covers books section: short stories big on thrills
By Carolyn Thomas. Those who find the lead up to Christmas all rather too saccharine may be delighted to lose themselves in the latest collection of creepy tales of terror and paranoia by local author Oli Jacobs. His newest nine short horror stories, wrapped up in a volume called...
Meet authors Kathryn Malcolm and Connor Irving in Southampton on Saturday
Perry’s Art Supplies, Southampton, hosts a book signing event featuring two notable local authors, Kathryn Malcolm, author of “The Shadow of the Scholar,” and Connor Irving, author of “The Salt of Angels Book 1: Pillars of Cloud” on Saturday (November 4). The event promises an engaging Q&A session, book...
Book launch: The Same Country, October Books
This autumn you can join author Carole Burns at Southampton independent book shop, October Books in Portswood, for the launch of her debut novel, The Same Country, about race and racism in America.‘The Same Country is an electric, emotionally charged novel: it seethes with its own energy. Pick it...
Under the Covers – August: Meet prize-winning Totton-born author/illustrator Kim Hillyard
By books editor Carolyn Thomas. Images by Jasmine Joynson. In just a few years Totton-born children’s author and illustrator Kim Hillyard has cornered the market in life-enhancing stories featuring quirky animal heroes. So far she’s featured a fly, a hamster, and a mammoth in her beautifully illustrated stories for...
Book Launch: Own Your Story at October Books
by Anita Foxall. Author Nicola Paull launched her book Own Your Story at October Books in Portswood, Southampton, last night (July 29) in a cozy inviting event, where all attending were encouraged to mingle and chat. I had the pleasure of meeting Nicola, who was incredibly friendly and warm,...
Prize-winning author Ali Sparkes to go on mini Hampshire library tour
Prize-winning writer Ali Sparkes, author of the celebrated Shapeshifter series, as well as other popular children’s and young people’s books including Frozen in Time, Wishful Thinking and Destination Earth, is going on a tour of Hampshire Libraries. The Southampton born and based writer, who has written more than 50...
Southampton author to launch new book
Southampton author Nicola Paull launches her self-empowerment book ‘Own Your Story’, written to inspire and encourage anyone who is looking for a fresh holistic approach in their lives next weekend. It’s packed with tools and techniques to help people change their habits and lose negative beliefs to become the...
Under the Covers July 2023: Meet local prize-winning children’s author Ali Sparkes
By books editor Carolyn Thomas. As the long summer holidays approach, parents all over Southampton will be juggling jobs and other commitments while keeping their children entertained. So it seems a good time for some reading recommendations! Not only is time with a book immensely enjoyable – when it’s...