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,...
Books
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...
Southampton-based author Yarrow Townsend shortlisted for national children’s book award
Southampton-based author Yarrow Townsend has been shortlisted for a prestigious children’s book award. The Branford Boase Award acknowledges particular talent among debut children’s writers alongside the hard work of their editors. Yarrow’s book, The Map of Leaves, has been shortlisted for the award, alongside six others. Yarrow said: “To be...
Under the Covers, June 2023: What the Dickens…?
Which Charles Dickens novel is your favourite? That’s the question which set In Common writer Nick Mabey on a two-year reading mission. Finding himself unable to answer because he hadn’t read any Dickens, Nick became aware of this gap in his literary knowledge and resolved there and then to...
Pay it forward with a book for Southampton school children
To celebrate the release of ‘City of Stolen Magic’ by Southampton’s own Nazneen Ahmed Pathak, independent book store October Books is organising apay it forward book scheme to gift copies of the book to local school children. An organiser of the scheme explained: “We’re super excited here at October...
Book review: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
by Carolyn Thomas. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookshop and get yourself a copy of Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. It’s just won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for fiction – and other literary awards surely won’t be far behind as the novel has already become a best-seller on...
Book review: Violeta by Isabel Allende
by Charlie Hislop. A new Isabel Allende novel is always something to look forward to, and Violeta is no exception. It is the life story of a 100 year old woman in Chile. Set against a century of the country’s turbulent history, carefully described, its impacts are woven directly...
April Under the Covers: World Book Night and more
by Carolyn Thomas. This month In Common books editor Carolyn Thomas celebrates World Book Night. It’s World Book Night on 23 April – an annual celebration of reading for pleasure, honouring books, and the difference they make to our wellbeing. Organised by The Reading Agency, a national charity...