Famous Five? Hiss and Hers

Here's the first of the altogether superior photos sent by our good friend Joe.

That's about the best shot ever of we four in the shop.

Marylin is include for, though she doesn't work for us, she often helps out (and makes delicious cakes!)

I sent the photo over to Marion. Hope she likes it.

MC Beaton photos

Well, here are some of the photos of our terrific MC Beaton signing and launch of Agatha Raisin: Hiss and Hers.

Better ones to come from Joe and Lin who know how to work their camera!

(That's them above)


PS Guess what I'm having for lunch.

No, not the cake - more quiche!

Agatha Rasin's Bra

A perfect day for our Agatha Raisin: Hiss and Hers launch today and a queue is already forming.

The author, MC Beaton, is due at 10.30 and there's a pile of books waiting for her signature.

Meantime, David had tweaked the window with a little notice.

I think the word 'Props' needs inverted comma's to give the joke two layers but perhaps you'll work that out for yourself.

Hiss and Hers, Quiche and Wine.

Wine in the fridge.

Quiche ordered.

Don't miss the MC Beaton book launch and signing tomorrow at 10.30 am.

MC BEaton show-stand

Here's our internal show-stand for the MC Beaton signing.

I suppose there should be some competition with the new JK Rowling but, so far, the score stands at -

JKR   1 sale
MCB 3 sales

MC Beaton vote

Our favourite local author, MC Beaton, has been kind enough to vote us her favourite bookshop on the Guardian/Indies site. What kind words too!

Here she is at one of her popular signings.

Link below. Old photo of the shop though.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/gallery/2012/jul/06/authors-favourite-independent-bookshops#/?picture=392709061&index=6

Lesley Cookman's Ninth

Just arrived, mrather later than expected, the ninth of Lesley Cookman's 'Libby Sarjeant' murder mysteries, Murder at the Manor.
Lesley's books are similar in many respects to the Agatha Raisin books by our own best selling author, MC Beaton. There's a romantic element, a nice neat murder or three, plenty of laughs, larger than life characters and, of course, an involving mystery.
Usually Libby and her psychic sidekick, Fran, are found near their home village of Steeple Martin, in Kent, but in the new book they are off to Dorset after a murder at a writer's weekend.  The authors present seem a rum bunch with pornography and 'Spank Monthly' being mentioned but Leslie does point out in her 'Acknowledgements' that real writer's are a much nicer bunch than those she portrays.

Agatha Raisin returns

Yes, quite right. We really must get back to books. After all, we are a bookshop.

Well, the book for our return from Games Workshop and Rorke's Drift is a big one.

It's the 22nd Agatha Raisin title by MC Beaton and it's called Agatha Raisin As the Pig Turns.

It's bound to be a big hit in Cotswold Bookstore so we received 20 copies the other day.

I just love the quote from 'Entertainment Weekly'. "Agatha is like Miss Marple with a drinking problem, a pack-a-day habit and a major man lust."

Local writers

Now we have all our local authors in one place (apart from MC Beaton who has a unit entirely to herself!)

Jane Bailey is there with her two charming tales, as are Julian Roach, Henry Porter, Paul W. Nash and Rebecca Tope (who sold even more than usual because of our apple window). Phil Rickman and Veronica Stallwood also have their murder mysteries on the shelves and we've re-stocked Ann Granger too.

We are we're hoping that Ann will come for a signing in June. We've not met her yet but her Mitchell and Markby Cotswold series have sold very well and I've enjoyed them too.

She has a new Cotswold series out now starring 'Campbell and Carter'. The first is Mud, Muck and Dead Bodies and the hardback due in June is Rack, Ruin and Murder.

Miss Pym sets off again

No sooner were we used to the idea of the three MC Beaton re-issues, when along come another three.

Again, Miss Hanah Pym, 'The Travelling Matchmaker', is the star turn as she journeys to Dover, Brighton and York solving romantic problems as she goes.

The first three are already selling very well and we will be ordering more tomorrow.

MC Beaton - another series!

Pride of place on MC Beaton's new bookcase in the shop are her three 'new' titles. Actually re-issues, they involve spinster, Miss Hannah Pym. She uses a recent inheritance to travel the country but everywhere she goes, there seems a romantic problem to sort out. Naturally she considers it her duty to act the matchmaker. They are entitled ‘Emily goes to Exeter’, ‘Belinda goes to Bath’ and ‘Penelope goes to Portsmouth’. All are bound to be top sellers.

Watch out too for the paperback of her recent Agatha title, 'Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body' and another Hamish MacBeth title. Out Soon!

MC Beaton's Super Six Signing

Just a few of our favourite customers who attended MC Beaton's Agatha Raisin book signing today. Most were buying her latest Agatha title, Agatha Raisin and the Busybody but the new Agatha Raisin Companion was close behind.

Many of her new series were also bought. They are the Lady Rose Summer books set in Edwardian times. The first of the four in the series, Snobbery with Violence being easily the biggest selling paperback of the day.

Agatha's Companion

Just arrived - we now have Agatha Raisin's Companion in the shop. No, not the cat, nor one of her many boyfriends. This is The Agatha Raisin Companion - a must for every fan of MC Beaton's amazing string of hits.

It is full of detail not found in the novels It contains what is virtually a potted biography, an insight into village life of Carsley, a quiz and even some of the recipes mentioned in the books.

We have a book signing hopefully lined up for Saturday 13 November when all her books will be available.

Great news for Agatha fans

MC Beaton fans will not believe their luck when they see the sudden flurry of new titles from their favourite author.

Just in - Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body. There are rather too many suspects when a 'Health and Safety' employee is found dead for he seems to have upset nearly everyone in Carsely. So, as usual, Agatha has to sort it out. As if she hasn't got enough to do at Christmas!

The good news doesn't stop there, however. There are four murder mysteries set in Edwardian times too in which Lady Rose Summers teams up with Captain Harry Cathcart in a familiar mix of murder and romance. The titles are Snobbery with Violence , Hasty Death, Sick of Shadows and Our Lady of Pain.

On the horizon - an Agatha Raisin Companion. A must-have for all her fans.

We hope to see MC Beaton in our store signing all or any of these books on the morning of Saturday 13th November. Watch for details.