Summer is here

Well at last!

we seem actually to be warmer and mainly dry and somewhat busier!


I have a few good books to recommend..there will be reviews later tonight..
It was my 46th on Friday 20th July and the actual date of our first year in existence as a 'www' and as a 'Real Independent Bookshop', well that was just a few weeks later..

I popped to see my mates @IronMenCrosby from Twitter and warned them about a few authors who have been and will return and a few new ones due..


We have lots due to happen so go see the Newsletters tab and read all about it


Please encourage anyone you know to view these blogs and even register and comment too

Also more importantly register at www.formbybooks.co.uk for the weekly news


We have a few images for you to view enjoy!

Anne Watts and her Save the Children Lit Lunch

Anne Watts deserves an award

Firstly just for her writing, secondly for her work with 'Save the Children Fund' raising
 and thirdly and most importantly for what she has done..she never set out to be extraordinary, but she IS!


She was a normal local lass born in Liverpool, raised in North Wales and trained as a nurse in Manchester in the 1950s. She had a father who had travelled far and wide as a merchant seaman and made sure she knew her world map like an a-z of life.


She volunteered to 'Nurse Abroad' and with STC she went to Vietnam, Cambodia and The Middle East and was there during all the horrors and futility that ensued.
She also went to the Arctic North of Canada and the Plains of Alice Springs in Oz.


She did so much, helped so many people and selflessly dedicated her life to helping those less fortunate and in dire need of humanity and care.


She is writing her third volume of her jaw-dropping autobiography which will be out next year, by then she should be a household name and deservedly so.


'Always the Children' was arguably the best autobiography of the year in 2010/1 and she followed it up just in May with 'A Nurse Abroad'.


What makes her so special is her urbane humanity and sense of humour and purpose, she should be listened to by politicians and if only they would we could make a lot happen in the NHS and with dealing with 'conflicts and wars'. If you want a signed copy of her books get in touch and we will sort a dedication and send it on..


She was a celebrity speaker at today's 'Save the Children' Fundraising Literary Lunch in Chester held at the salubrious and rather gorgeous Eaton House, deer and all!

Reading is it a trend or a pas(sed)time

I have decided to move any stream of consciousness thoughts to a tab called rants see above, so that If you stumble upon my blog, you will see current stuff and suchlike and not my latest rant!

He does a good Job-Bling-ing it!

Curtis Jobling is something of a multipurpose performer, he cut his crayons on superb sketching of shapes that became iconic Bob the Builder, Frankenstein's Cat and Raa Raa the Lion and his animation work with Nickleodeon and others is fast and funny and polished. He declares a love of fantasy having succumbed to 'Where the Wild Things Are' at an early age and been an early fan of all things Hobbit. He took Dungeons and Dragons seriously and then decided to create his own Fantasy Domain and named it Wereworld, well Lyssia actually, but the books are tagged as Wereworld and are serious stuff, no loads of comic action here, a dark and sinister undercurrent of feudalism and ancient rites. A liberal amount of shape shifting, not too much (clever).
Believable plotting and characters and lashings of excitement and battles and gore..Ideal reading material for anyone with a pulse and eyes aged 10+ or so and definitely adults who hark back to Eddings, Tolkien et all.


He does a rapid fire drawing masterclass, shows his slick animation skills, jokes a bit, gets a laugh and a 'wow' and then draws Bob into a 'WereBob' and reads from his stunning 'Rise of the Wolf', no sparkle necessary here...just awesome action and real death in chapter 3, you just see the kids wanting to hear and read more, he does fab doodles in every book and occasionally a quick commission for teachers with little ones at home, an all round nice man and all round genius.


 Check out his stuff at www.curtisjobling.com and for fans www.wereworldbooks.com


Hark my words a new voice in must read dark fantasy is amongst us and he ain't going away, Curtis is still only a squeak over 40 and is destined to emulate Garth Nix, Brian Jacques and others and even set a new mark...The NEW Curtis Jobling! 


If he performs near you go see and be amazed, he will be at various festivals and libraries etc and also at this year's ScareFEST3
 Saturday Oct 6th at the Civic in Crosby 

tickets at the box office and with us too!

www.seftonarts.gov.uk and 01704 830130

a smattering of quick images of quick drawing below

Jean Sprackland wasn't stranded in Formby

Jean Sprackland is slowly but steadily becoming a household name


She was hailed as a born wordsmith by her creative writing coach in her early days and went on to reach exalted heights winning the Prestigious 'Costa Prize' for her second collection of Poetry 'Tilt' in 2007 and her first collection 'Hard Water' was accoladed by the Poetry Society too.


She then took nearly three years to develop and perfect her first 'non fiction' book
'Strands: A Year of Discoveries on the Beach'

What makes this book so special not just for us in the NW, but for any reader is the pure descriptive magic Jean weaves with her words. She is such a pure talent and will in time be recognised alongside writers such as Richard Fortey and Kathleen Jamie (Sightlines).

Jean takes you with her journeys of discovery and is so eloquent and fluent in her narratives that you smell the salty sea air and feel the breeze as you read. She is quite profound and extremely knowledgeable, blending history, science, nature and links with other writing in a prosaic way. Even for those used to fast paced thrillers there is beauty to be read in Jean's 'Strands'. Take a relaxed read on the NW Coast.




She was the June 2012 Book of the Week on BBC Radio 4 and we were inundated with requests for the book and sold out literally twice. Then folks were so excited to be told she could actually visit Formby and would read from the book, discuss her ideas and take questions, now all we needed was the weather!


After the wettest June on record we weren't optimistic that too many would venture out if it continued to be like a swimming pool outside the shop as was the case on the day before her visit. Poor Steve Cole had to drive from us to Oxford at about 10 miles an hour after his trip.

But the weather was superb and so was the crowd

Mark Rawsthorne is the brother of Sefton Super Reads winner Paula and was first in the queue,
 partly as his daughter would have been bored at the back of the queue

Beth with Ron Davies the stunning 'Iron Men' photographer from Crosby and two fans who had I think heard about the event from either the radio or the Guardian where we featured!

Beth and Vicky my deputy manager

everyone asked her interesting questions too!

And if it works there is now a video of Jean
telling us some background about her book

How to make 100 seem young with Andy Briggs

Andy Briggs is something of a star, he seems to travel in another universe, one of awesome creations and immensely cinematic writing. He will soon be a huge name and well deserved.

He is tireless in his efforts to make 'reading for pleasure' actually a PLEASURE.

He works in Hollywood and anywhere he can find a willing horde of would be readers.

His Hero.com and Villain.net are up there in the action stakes with added intrigue.
His comics make kids who don't..READ
and...NOW..he is a legend

Tarzan is an icon and is just hitting 100, Everyone knows his name and his call...

Andy makes him roar and come to life in front of your eyes and ears

He came to Sefton to launch Tarzan: Jungle Warrior the second 'Rock and Roll Read' in the new legend rebooted for the 21st Century. Andy is a true writer of octane and energy and he does not pull punches..

There is carnage in the Congo and everything and everyone is at risk..he deals with 'real issues' adds pace, humour and adrenaline by the gallon..folks this is reading and you need to become a fan

Just see the images too..whole pages in the big papers..See images and those soon to be nationally seen c/o Patrick from www.southportreporter.com and MidasPR I am so proud to work with so many great authors who value Sefton and Formby as a Book Beacon.

Steve Cole: He 'Rains' in Sefton a king of comedy for kids and teachers alike

After the mega day of yesterday, now history!
We struggled up at 6.30am after just 4 hours sleep and headed for St Mary's Catholic Primary in Little Crosby, a tiny village on the way to Formby, the whole school could fit into an average 'normal' school assembly hall..so why was Steve Cole, purveyor of mirth and magical moments for all ages meeting me there? Well, they are often overlooked as we sort of want the bigger numbers to enjoy 'Special' visits by authors. 'Not Fair' I hear, and yes that is true, so after them coming at their cost of hiring a coach for all the infants to meet Nicholas Allan when Vicky (my wonderful Deputy Manager) organised her 'Jubilee Knickers Day'

 she worked wonders as over 1200 kids decorated their own knicker designs, and Nicholas went around as many schools as we could manage, he signed books for 3 hours...I will post the images, they are stunning and the round about thing is Colette the teacher who helped us deserved us to help her with Steve Cole. He is a magnificent performer, a bundle of energy and excitement and ad libbed humour for all ages.


We were warned about the weather and sure enough the clouds came, grew and dumped about 3 inches of rain in an hour, plans to do an 'al fresco' presentation scuppered, so Steve had about 100 kids in a classroom and even with the door open it was sweltering! He was stunning, when he spotted a 3 foot cuddly cow and used it as a CIA prop the room fell apart, a room full of joyous tears almost as wet as the playground.

 Steve sort of looked like he had done a marathon and yet it was only just the first sprint of a hectic day

We aquaplaned across country to get to Summerhill Primary in Maghull and the kids were sat patiently waiting and looked so keen, it was a very funny show as the staff and pupils joined in with aplomb

We had to ring ahead for lunch and sailed across to try and cool down, it was like working in the tropics
Steve had to do remedial repairs on hair and costume onstage!


We had the most torrential downpour at Our Lady of Compassion RC Primary in Formby, so sadly others couldn't walk over, in fact half the school nearly didn't make it across the playground!


Steve went away looking like he had run a marathon and I just hope he missed the hold ups on the M6


Truly the funniest and most innovative performer we have, it is no wonder he is so in demand for promoting books and reading and schools really should buy sets of his books to help improve 'reading for pleasure'
There is nothing finer than his unique blend and long may he reign after all the rain in Sefton

CWA Night July 5th and Independent Bookshop Week

It was... 

With great pleasure that we were part of the 'CWA Month of Crime'
 and it fell in IBW too!

Andy Briggs was with us daytime to launch Tarzan for the centenary, and he and Paula Rawstorne and Ruth Eastham were at Sefton Super Reads too, Paula won! It was the closest voting ever and for several years now a winner was at the event!


Sefton Super Reads 2011/2
Paula Rawsthorne (winner) and Andy Briggs and Ruth Eastham

Then Andy signed loads of books and met two of our three Crime Authors, Stephen Booth and Frances Brody before we went to the event at Formby Pool.

The weather was fabulous and the talks superb
and there were excellent questions,
we ran til 10pm, so I was a bit late getting to
Radio Merseyside for Linda McDermott's
Under the Duvet Book Club that I am a panelist on!



Martin Edwards was first to stand up and keep us absorbed






It really was a superb outdoor event at Formby Pool Cafe
we had burgers and hot dogs and a lovely relaxed evening



Frances Brody made history come to life
 as she passed out her wonderful photos
which help show how accurate her 1920s Kate Shackleton mysteries are...



Stephen Booth has won THREE CWA awards and really treated us to an insight into the power of fiction to become 'reality' and brought a memorable night to a stunning end...

we have a few signed copies of books by the three authors
 in stock so get in touch pronto via 01704 830130 or info@formbybooks.co.uk

Sefton Super Reads

It is with great pleasure
That I read books (for pleasure)
Then I want others to well agree!


We in Sefton started a 'Reading Prize' and surprisingly called it 'Sefton Super Reads'


seems like a long time ago, the first year we met at a local high school (Ainsdale High)
I was...don't laugh, asked to wear a suit and say a few words and hand out the prizes for reviews and 'accept' the winners award and well we never even told the 6 authors much about it, although 7 years on by a pure accident, one of the 6 this year was slightly (unintentionally) snubbed (Sorry Panama!)


I can't remember all of the details m'lud but here foes a resume of reasonable reading...


We sort of wanted books published within the 'school year' preferably by UK authors and sort of 'new/not well known'. We have erred from this path a bit but in essence we tried to establish a level reading field.


In some ways the art of wrapping the books in plain or all six covers merged wrapping, it sort of at least means the kids start reading without looking at the artwork.


The winner the first year (and my fave too) was Robert Swindells: Ruby Tanya
Now he was 'known' but we felt the subject was apt as we also wanted to try and get six vaguely different genres read, although that has proved harder than expected.


also we hastily point out the votes are only cast by students reading not by us adults!


It was a success!


We adults went and read more books, we met and short long listed or long short listed, whatever, we had to reread and whittle and a few tears were spilled when favoured maybes became no-go Be's.


Year two a bigger number reading and big displays and prizes for reviews, still no prize bar a nice trophy for the winner though.


The nice thing was we had a huge win margin, possibly the biggest ever. And the winner was a local lad and now well known worldwide super seller Joseph Delaney and his 'Spook's Apprentice'


It sort of hotted up a bit as we argued over inclusions and wondered about mirroring the Carnegie a bit, weirdly our readers are different, we put John Boyne 'BSP' up and felt it would do well, I loved it and wore my suit and tried to read the reviews I penned out in reverse order, finishing with 'Boy' and..when I was handed the envelope..the winner was..Lauren St John 'White Giraffe'. A great book, but not what I thought would win! In fairness it was good and she has grown into a major name and wins more prizes, so just shows.


We still hadn't really got media or industry notice, I feel we need publishers and PR to actually get 'nominated' and 'won' into blurbs..so If you are involved and read this get in touch and we will find the definitive details!


Now we move onto a minor legendary story, I was given a ARC/Proof hot off the press and literally in the editors hands at a meeting in RHCB in London. I read said book in two hours and was blown away.
I put my foot down and the book was shortlisted, I had tried to shout about Hunger Games I recall but at the time they said no (import anyway!), and we had other great books and sort of nicely for me the one I championed won..Matt Haig and Shadow Forest, he actually came to the awards along with Philip Caveney the runner up! He also was meant to do a big talk for hundreds of kids, i went to get him from the hotel, he wasn't there..he was..back home in Yorkshire and I was worried, he was ill! Not my cooking or nerves, no he had picked up a bug and was very poorly, his poor wife had to drive all night to get him etc.
Thing was the kids...I had heard his talk twice and sort of had to stand in, was a treat reading some extracts and a teacher did say, if I hadn't said I wasn't Matt, some of the kids would have thought I was Matt!
He had a big box of books to sign and courier!


Now I get hazy as so many books are great and picked and suchlike


I seem to recollect putting Trash By Andy Mulligan up and it is still one of my all time favourites, but I don't think the popular vote was..so I think we went with Michael Scott and the Alchemist. as it goes a book I rate highly and for me 'Better than Potter' sacrilege! He will soon be huge as a film beckons as does 'Seventh Son' for Mr Delaney.
Michael did pop over from Dublin and actually got his prize and a winners chq for £100!


We then had a winner with Gareth P Jones and his memorable 'Thornthwaite Inheritance', he couldn't make it up but we did eventually send his swag, I read his 'Space Crime Conspiracy' on hols and it was equally superb, he is soon to be..a biggie, funny,clever,different and well written, akin to Adams and even Pratchett.
Paul Adam was runner up and he was with us, his strait jacket went down well!


Dilemma..should we re-read the six previous winners a Super SSR, close call but no..we went for six newbies and one of them went mega..Jon Mayhew was suddenly a phenomenon, up for the Waterstones Prize and I think 9 others, he won 5 or 6! He is a super lad and was gracious in saying that 'Artichoke Hearts' was better than his and deserved the Waterstones Prize!  we missed that one, so he was lucky, 'cos he won ours! we also had Ellen Renner and Mary Hooper at the awards and the 'Book Witch', she blogged and took ace pix and it was a great event.


NOW, we are just about to announce the winner..
Andy Briggs and Tarzan or Gill Lewis and Sky Hawk or Paula Rawsthorne and Truth about Celia Frost or Ruth Eastham and Memory Cage or Patrick Ness and Monster Calls or Panama Oxridge and Justin Thyme


Patrick does win a few awards and is a nice lad and writes well, the others have also surprised some with their talents. Paula, Ruth and Andy are at the event, Gill and Patrick engaged elsewhere but were coming...and IF we had known Panama was 'real' we would have hoped they with us too, I was really mortified to hear they had fans emailing them and didn't know about the event etc! I am so sorry!
They may even win!

 BUT the main thing is READING wins and the enjoyment of the children getting so much pleasure from discovering new books and we hope maybe some notice beyond Sefton???


check back for the winner...it will be tweeted at 3pm @formbybooks

The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan

This is a simply stunning book, powerful, profound and raw writing talent.

Taking a simple plot device of survival under the harshest of conditions and lashing in little rum,but plenty of salt and seascapes and a cracking look at choices and consequences...


Grace is newly married to her Mr Right, we learn of their back stories and then they are thrown apart in the maelstrom of the sinking of their ship to their prospective new future of happiness.


Several lifeboats are launched and a random association of society is pitched in, 'helmed' by sea dog Mr Hardie a stubborn but sensible soul with a determination like none other.


At first they seem to be only a wave away from being rescued and hopefully reunited with their loved ones, surely equally safe on the other bobbing vessels.


However, as the waves wash over them and they begin to feel the wrath of the sea as their supplies diminish with their hope, we start to get a gripping tale of double crossing and death, either voluntary, by proxy or by push...


It is told in an almost clinical way at times, I think the lack of warmth of some of the characters is excellent as they must have been literally chilled to the core and we sort of don't want to get to know anyone too much as well they may soon be fish food.


Charlotte blends in many threads as we bob along forlornly, hoping and dreaming of salvation, making alliances and decisions, eating raw fish, sipping water through bloodied and cracked lips.


As we perceive the end result of actions taken as we are lead through the subsequent court case..murder most foul at sea..well the pace and inevitability keep lapping away.


Some of the central characters are slow burns and the power of persuasion and ability to survive is subtlety
written. The impact of numbers, weight, water and fatality are constants.


This isn't the easiest book to pigeon hole and I think that is what makes it so good, we often compare them to others and maybe one that stands alone is truly the one to read.


I give this book 9/10 and hope if you are a book club you will get to read and discuss it.


I will load up the cover later, 'tis late and I have to read more books before doing BBC Radio Merseyside  

Dan Freedman and a Final Whistle rematch

Dan Freedman is one of a few writers brave enough and able enough to make reading football accessible and exciting and most importantly realistic. He lives and breathes the sport and is a keen observer of the good and bad of it, but very impartial. His background with the FA certainly gave him the plot lines and his eye for detail and ability to make you feel you are watching real matches is superb.


I have worked with him for quite some time, we once had empty boxes at the most unlikely schools, once we found them, my lack of 'sat nav' is to be remedied I promise. I also remember the huge billboard opposite Lime Street when I picked him up one time and now he has sadly (for now,although he had some very interesting what if conversations today) blown 'Full Time' on his Jamie Johnson series.
These books are iconic and loved by boys and girls across the country, whatever your team  you root for Jamie. A journey through life as well as football and packed with authenticity.


We raced (well after traffic lights and roadworks) to St Jerome's in Formby and had special guests from Holy Family transfer by coach to join us and a lady from the 'Football League' came too!


I stupidly didn't have my camera!


We popped to sign stock for the shop and then went underground (through the Mersey Tunnel as it goes), we emerged and without 'sat nav' again got slightly lost. And we had been before!

 This was a welcome rematch with the wonderful boys at St Anselm's in Prenton on the Wirral, right by the leafy and majestic Birkenhead Park. Gill Ashton the most excellent book loving librarian had lunch and tea and lots of fans waiting for us and it was a real treat.


Dan went recently and did a huge assembly and it seemed apt that they had a revisit, they were so keen, had awesome questions and showed real insight into the books and What if..Jamie did resurface, Dan will have mentally made notes and it may just be that they sparked a new chapter.


They adored hearing almost the fist ever reading from the new book as Jamie realises his and most boys dreams of walking onto the turf of the Nou Camp in front of 20,000 fans and showing his skills.


Below are a few snaps we took at the school..enjoy and go read the books!

Cathy MacPhail and the Iron Men

Cathy MacPhail was our guest on Thursday 28th June
We were asked to bring an author to St Edwards College in Liverpool as they have their 'Come and see the school' evening for prospective pupils
from lots of nearby primaries...

But rather than just spend an evening sat in their library
 (rather lovely and full of great books)
We decided to make a day of it and visit somewhere else...

They were celebrating and didn't have to wear uniform and were very happy to met Cathy

 And despite an absolute deluge
as she finished her talk,
we just had time to pop to Crosby Beach
to see the fantastic 'Iron Men'.

One Hundred life size body casts
of Antony Gormley
spread over 3km on our coastline

they get all sorts of attention,
dressed up in football kits and suchlike

They appear to like reading too!



We did get to St Edwards College and Ruth the LRC Manager
had cakes and tea
And a lovely display
and lots of lovely readers came to meet Cathy too!

This young lady was adorable
and was thrilled to meet one of her favourite authors

as ever...please make this blog known and leave nice messages