A generous offer

Had a young man in today.

He was intent on making me an offer I couldn't refuse. He'd raided the post office and offered me the swag.

Lest you think that pile of cash was for the Horrid Henry book, let me explain. He was making an offer for the shop. I nearly took the money!

The Signing Detective

We are delighted to say that we have an exciting new author in our midst. The photo shows Moreton resident, Paul W. Nash with his excellent new book called The Remains of Sherlock Holmes.

Paul has turned up some manuscripts written by Dr. Watson documenting more of the cases solved by his friend.

I have only had time to read the first in this collection of short stories but, if that is representative I can promise you, not only an entertaining read, but one which could easily have been penned by the Doctor, himself.

It has all the twists and turns of the originals and has clues that only the great Holmes could even think of looking for. With giants, dwarves, missing weapons, a murdered beauty and jealous suitors all packed into the first tale, Paul has written an excellent imitation Holmes story and I look forward to reading the rest of the book when it is released soon.

I've saved the really good news till last. Paul has agreed to call in and sign copies on the evening of the Moreton Christmas Lights Switch On. That's the 27th November. He'll be here shortly after 5pm.

Lesley Cookman Book Launch.

Lesley Cookman's signing went off without a hitch apart from her excursion to a few pretty villages on the way to the shop. We could tell what a lovely lady she is, long before she arrived, as waiting for her was a shop full of her friends, many of them authors.

The photo shows just some of them - Susan Alison (the illustrator of the map in Lesley's books), Gilli Allen, Adrian Magson, Lesley Cookman, Katie Fforde, Jane Gordon-Cumming (her sister) Hazel Cushion (the publisher who kindly bought a generous supply of wine and nibles). There were others too - we couldn't fit them all in. It was quite a party atmosphere. We hope you will all come again.

Many thanks to Lesley and Hazel and all their friends (Hazel's daughters too). To all our customers who came along too. We hope you are well into Libby Sarjeant's mysteries by now and we're sure you will soon be back for more.

Lost in Moreton-in-Marsh?

We have become aware that many of our regulars are having difficulties finding us. On several occasions recently, customers have had to be escorted into the shop, by a local police person, after they have spent some time, wandering around the town, looking for us. One of these desperate searches had apparently lasted for four days and the customer finally arrived, hungry, cold and exhausted. He was given tea and banana cake until he recovered.

The reason for the problem is, apparently, the colour of the front door. We have had to keep it closed during the recent cold spell and customers, used to the cream door, open or shut, have turned away and continued hunting when confronted with the new colour.

So now you finally know what is behind the Green Door!

Sky Arts and us

We know somebody who knows somebody who saw us on the Sky Arts program last night! Were we any good?

They were good enough to do us a write up and put up a couple of photos of ours. Thanks Helen.

Link to 'our' page.

Pity they didn't mention our book signing for Lesley Cookman. However, they might be doing something about Justin Thyme sometime in the future (or the past - never sure which with that book)

A Gaggle of Authors

We hear that Lesley Cookman has invited some of her author friends along to the book launch tomorrow.

Among them may be Katie Fforde, Kate Lace, Jane Gordon-Cumming, Anita Burgh, Rosie Harris and Christina Jones plus, with a bit of luck, our own good friend Jane Bailey.

With artist, Susan Alison and publisher, Hazel Cushion, it should be quite a party! (They are bringing the wine)

Do come along between 11 am and 1 pm to meet Lesly and her friends (early if you want a drink, Nina is bringing her pint mug!)

A Hound called Hugo

It seems a long time since we had one of our doggy friends on the blog and we thought Hugo was too good to miss.

He was very polite with his biscuits, and didn't slurp his water too much. Better table manners than David, I thought.

(It's great being the blogger. I can say all sorts of rude things about David and Nina)