Faber Fiction Roadshow and Other Events

Life Below Stairs: True Lives of Edwardian Servants

Peterborough Central Library

Saturday 4th May, 2pm

£5 (£4 conc and heritage pass)

Book at any Peterborough Library, Waterstones Peterborough or Peterborough Museum

A fascinating talk about the true lives of Edwardian servants. Author and journalist Alison Maloney will be talking about her book Life Below Stairs. This intriguing book uncovers the real-life experiences and first-hand accounts of what life was really like working in a grand Edwardian house.

For further information, please visit:

http://www.vivacity-peterborough.com/event/life-below-stairs-true-lives-of-edwardian-servants

Faber Fiction Roadshow

Afternoon Tea with Three Authors

Saturday 11th May, 2-3pm

John Clare Theatre, Peterborough Central Library

£3 (£2 concessions, free tickets for reading groups)

Tickets from any Peterborough Library or Waterstones, Peterborough

Marcel Theroux, Susie Steiner and Nadeem Aslam will be presenting a panel event. Come along and hear a group of writers talking about their novels, and be inspired to try something different.

Afternoon Tea will also be provided enabling readers to chat individually with the authors afterwards.

Susie Steiner is a former Guardian journalist. Her novel “A Homecoming” is the story of a Yorkshire family. A warm, enjoyable and funny debut novel, reminiscent of Anne Tyler and Marina Lewycka.

Marcel Theroux is a screenwriter, a broadcaster, and an award-winning novelist.
“Far North” was a finalist for the U.S. National Book Award. He is currently working on a new novel “Strange Bodies”. Nicholas has been dead for months. So when a man claiming to be him turns up to visit an old girlfriend, deception seems the only possible motive. Yet nothing can make him change his story.

Nadeem Aslam is the author of three previous novels. Maps for Lost Lovers was longlisted for the Booker Prize. Born in Pakistan, he now lives in England. His new novel “The Blind Man’s Garden” is set in Pakistan and Afghanistan in the months following 9/11 – a story of war, of one family’s losses and of the simplest, most enduring human impulses.

Their books will be available for purchase and signing on the day.

For further information, please visit: 

http://www.vivacity-peterborough.com/event/faber-fiction-roadshow

Shortlist for Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2013 Announced

The shortlist for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, created to reward and champion new and emerging talent in children’s writing has been announced. Now in its ninth year, the Prize consists of three categories: picture books; fiction for ages 5-12; and teen books, to reflect the breadth of quality in children’s books. Six books will compete within each category to be crowned category winner, with the three category winners then vying for the overall title of Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year 2013.

James Daunt, Managing Director of Waterstones said: “Within these shortlists are books containing great beauty, humour, intrigue, imagination and important things to say, but most crucially all are fantastically good reads. Their diversity and quality, carrying with them the stamp of excellence as awarded by our expert booksellers, demonstrates that the world of children’s books is as exciting and innovative as ever.”

The 18 shortlisted titles competing for the coveted award this year are:

Picture Books:

• Lunchtime by Rebecca Cobb (Macmillan Children’s Books)
• Rabbityness by Jo Empson (Child’s Play)
• Oh No George! by Chris Haughton (Walker)
• The Worst Princess by Anna Kemp & Sara Ogilvie (Simon & Schuster)
• The Journey Home by Frann Preston-Gannon (Pavilion Children’s Books)
• Can You See Sassoon? by Sam Usher (Little Tiger Press)

Fiction 5-12

• The Wolf Princess by Cathryn Constable (Chicken House)
• Atticus Claw Breaks the Law by Jennifer Gray (Faber and Faber)
• Wonder by R.J. Palacio (Random House Children’s Books)
• The Secret Hen House Theatre by Helen Peters (Nosy Crow)
• The Chronicles of Egg: Deadweather and Sunrise by Geoff Rodkey (Puffin)
• Barry Loser: I Am Not A Loser by Jim Smith (Egmont)

Teen

• Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (Random House Children’s Books)
• Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt (Egmont)
• Insignia by S.J. Kincaid (Hot Key Books)
• Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (Bloomsbury Children’s)
• Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher (Indigo)
• Geekhood: Close Encounters of the Girl Kind by Andy Robb (Little Tiger Press)

The Waterstones Children’s Book Prize is unique in that it is voted for by booksellers across the country. Final judging is currently underway.

The winners will be announced on Thursday 21st March. The winner of each category will receive £2,000 with the overall winner picking up an additional £3,000.

You can find out further information here.

Pudsey the Dancing Dog's Book Tour

You may or may not be aware of Pudsey, the dancing dog, winner of 2011's Britain's Got Talent. A whirlwind year has ensued and Pudsey has very cleverly written his 'autobidography' for a reported 6-figure deal.

Now, some will say such books are a mockery and what about all the actual human writers struggling to get their big break, which I can understand. But on the other hand, if Pudsey's book sells - it's providing much-needed sales to book stores and sellers, and getting people reading and talking about books, which is great!

Pudsey (and Ashleigh his choreographer and owner) have been on a book tour across the UK in the last couple of weeks and on Friday 2nd November they visited Waterstones Peterborough. I went along accompanied by a unconvinced 'dogs don't dance' 4-year-old. Only 75 tickets were issued to see Pudsey and Ashleigh dance, which made for a comfortable-sized crowd. Surprisingly, although half term, most of the audience were middle-aged with only about 20 children there in total!

After a short wait Pudsey and Ashleigh greeted the very welcoming and enthusiastic crowd and performed a short dance routine. I'd researched Pudsey on You Tube and his moves were just as polished in real life. The unimpressed 4-year-old was now suitably impressed and wanted to know what other animals could dance. 

A decent-sized crowd had gathered for the book signing, in addition to the those who has tickets. There are always those that will push and scrum to get a book signed by a dog, but Waterstones staff were well organised and only a couple of people were let through to the desk where Pudsey and Ashleigh were at a time.

The book - well it's a pretty big hardback and Ashleigh personalised and signed it, before another lady stamped the official Pudsey pawprint on it. 

A big thanks to Waterstones Peterborough for inviting us, and for hosting an event like this - it will be viewed negatively by some - but having a bookshop, with a huge range of books, knowledgeable and friendly staff who offer events all year round that cater for all ages and reading interests is an asset to our city. We look forward to the next book signing!

Further news on the event from Peterborough Evening Telegraph.

Find out more about 'Pudsey, My Autobidography' at the Waterstones website.

Supporting Your Local Book Shop

We like to support local businesses as much as we can and Waterstones, Bridge Street, Peterborough is our local bookstore. It's a great store with friendly, knowledgeable staff and it holds a lot of signings, support both established and up and coming authors ...



Events (All free!)

Sat 27th October 2.30pm-4pm 
Meet John Challis (Boycie from Only Fools and Horses) during his book signing.

Fri 2nd November 1pm
Meet Pudsey the winner of 'Britain's Got Talent 2011' - Pudsey will be doing a dancing and signing copies of  his autobiography! This is a ticket only event, tickets are free but limited to 75.

Sat 10th November 11am-3pm
Meet John Nowell during his book signing.

Sat 24th November 11m-3pm
Meet Jon Beattiey during his book signing.

Thurs 29th November 5.30pm-7pm
Talk with Chloe Sims of TOWIE (The Only Way Is Essex) fame.

For further information, please contact:

	Waterstones Peterborough Bridge Street
	Address: 40 Bridge Street, Peterborough PE1 1DT Tel: 0843 290 8545 E-mail: manager@peterborough-bridgestreet.waterstones.com