Panama Oxridge JT and TRO special

A month ago, I commented on a forthcoming special deal on Thyme Running Out for those of you who have not yet bought your copy of Justin Thyme.


Justin Thyme, the first in the Tartan of Thyme series of time travel books by 'Panama Oxridge' (not his real name, of course) is priced at £7.99.

The even more fiendish, tricksy and downright astonishing sequel, Thyme Running Out, is priced at only £6.99, despite having many more pages and surprises.

These two amazing paperbacks are already special but now you can buy the pair at Cotswold Bookstore at only £12.99.

If you don't know what the fuss is about (perhaps you've lived in a coal mine or on the other side of the moon for years) look in on 'The Justin Thyme story' on this blog or go to  http://www.justinthyme.info/ or http://tartanofthyme.blogspot.co.uk/ .
Or all three. 

Thyme Running Out - the paperback

Among the various exciting things to have happened recently, there's one that you might have missed.

OK That's enough suspense - it's the arrival of 30 paperback copies of Thyme Running Out by Panama Oxridge, the sequel to the amazing Justin Thyme.

If there is one book that has helped our bookstore stay open in the face of Amazon, The Book People, supermarkets and now The Kindle it's Justin Thyme.

If you have read it, you'll know just how ingenious it is. We've had nothing like it, ever! Until now!

With the arrival of the sequel, even Justin Thyme comes in second place for ingenuity, shocks and surprises. It is utterly brilliant and despite being about 60 pages thicker is an even more reasonable price. It also has the usual appendix of the more difficult words and there are clues and secrets everywhere. Oh! and lots of Time Travel!

Here's my review and do watch this blog for a possible special deal if you've not read Justin Thyme.


Thyme Running Out
Panama Oxridge paperback £6.99

I have been wanting to write a review of Thyme Running Out ever since I first read the hardback late last year. Now that the paperback is out, I really must get down to it. There’s a problem though. I can type a string of totally honest complimentary adjectives which will not help make up a reader’s mind if I don’t relate them to the plot. The plot, you see, is the problem. It’s almost impossible to mention any of the events in this book without giving something away. There are so many shocks and surprises that must remain secret that I daren’t mention any of them. Well, perhaps a few, eh?
   The book starts slowly and amusingly with Justin using his Thyme Machine to investigate the extinction of the Dodo, only to find that a baby one has hitchhiked back with him to the present. The dodo becomes an addition to the strange pets in the castle; Eliza the computer literate gorilla, Burbage, the Shakespeare quoting parrot and the eight legged cat, Tybalt.
   There are also new staff members, Peregrine Knightly, the drippy nosed butler and Evelyn Garnet, the ruthless replacement nanny (for Nanny Verity is still missing). Either could be planning to steal the Thyme Machine. The action soon starts to rush along with discoveries about Mrs Kof and the new Nanny being only minor news compare with some of the most amazing revelations that ace detective Justin discloses in a Poirot scene that will have you gasping, chortling and scratching your head, all at the same time. And I haven’t even mentioned the big surprise which locked up my brain for several seconds. I simple could not believe the trick that the author had played on me. If you thought Justin Thyme was tricksy, just you wait till you read Thyme Running Out. There is one sentence in the book that virtually demanded that I had to read Justin Thyme all over again.
   It’s ingenious and complex enough to challenge even Sherlock Holmes (and he does get a faint mention). It’s amazing. It’s funny. It’s gripping. It’s even moving. Finally, though it’s difficult to believe that it could be better than Justin Thyme, it is!

£2.00 off Justin Thyme

I'm afraid we've done a silly billy thing. Somehow, despite the certain knowledge that one of the most sought-after books this Christmas will be the paperback edition of Justin Thyme, we have managed to run out of it completely.

Therefore, to reduce the disappointment, we have decided to cut the price of the hardback by £2.00 bringing it a little closer to the price of the paperback.

The hardback, from now till the New Year, will be £10.99 (the paperback is £7.99).

The hardback edition will make a super Christmas present (especially if combined with the amazing sequel, Thyme Running Out, at £12.99)!

Meanwhile, the secretive author, Panama Oxridge, is busy writing the third book in this amazing sequence. However, we are not quite sure what century he is in, right now, so he may have finished it or perhaps he's not started it yet. Time travel can be very confusing.

'What time is it Eccles?'

When is Sci-fi not Sci-fi? When it's by Stephen King?

Stephen King has jumped genres in his latest though he seems, according to reviews I've read, to feel no compulsion to explain his time travel portal any more than did Edgar Rice Burroughs explain the portal that transported John Carter to Mars, 100 years ago.

(Film coming up on that, by the way. Shame it's Disney but you never know, they might not make a bad job of it)

Now if you want a really good explanation of Time Travel, look no further that Justin Thyme by 'Panama Oxridge'.

Hey! Don't stop reading. You may have read comments about  JT on this site before but we have just discovered a small box of signed copies of the paperback. Only a few mind so if you want one, be in touch.

Back to Mr King. Some reviewers love it, others hate it, but it's flying out here. If you've read it - let us know what you think.

(Blackout, a Time Travel book by Connie Willis has received rave reviews and if you've not read The Time Traveller's Wife then you've missed a wonderful love story as well as great Sci-Fi.)

VERY special copies of TRO

Panama Oxridge has recently announced that there are some very special copies of Thyme Running Out available.

See his blog http://tartanofthyme.blogspot.com/

As if a plain, regular, ordinary, common-or-garden, run-of-the-mill, everyday copy isn't special enough!

Nina spent most of today trying to use an Enigma Machine to decipher some of the clues and codes in her copy.

We hear that Lesley Cookman now uses hers as a talking point by leaving it in easy reach of guests.

A regular customer, today, saw a copy of Thyme Running Out on our desk and told us she thought Justin Thyme 'Brilliant!'.

Wait till she finishes TRO!

Inside Pocket Beard

Inside Pocket has a nice shot of Justin Thyme author Panama Oxridge and the big prize winner, Josh, at the Thyme Running Out launch on 10th September.

See http://www.insidepocket.co.uk/blog/

The beard? He's just back from the Edwardian period when he's been for research purposes.

The only signed copies we have left now are the paperback Justin Thymes and they are going fast.

Our blog has been very busy for a month or so but there's a flurry of hits from across the world again now. Is this because your books are arriving? Let's hear from you.

Panama Oxridge Signing

A highly successful signing for Panama Oxridge with his second book in the Tartan of Thyme series selling hundreds of books.
(We believe he signed about 250 in total - not bad considering we were only able to contact a small number of customers who bought Justin Thyme.


First in the queue were Arthur and his sister Nia who arrived early to make sure of their special edition bookmarks, a beautiful design by Panama himself.
We believe Panama arrived fresh from a time-travel jaunt into Victorian times, hence the grand beard and moustache.

The competition winner was Josh.
Here he is with his specially illustrated copy of Thyme Running Out.


When the shop opened, those shelves behind him were full of spine out copies of the new book and of the paperback of the first in the series, Justin Thyme.

Notice that we couldn't keep our own 'Mrs Koff' out of the picture.
The banana and chocolate chip cake went rapidly but her clock-face cake was far too good looking to cut.


Not only was the day successful, but it was also very enjoyable, hopefully for everyone.

However, we do apologise for the long wait endure by many of those attending. 


Thank you for your patience.


Now we hope you all enjoy the new book.

Watch out for some very big surprises!!!

Fridge Magnets?

With only one day to go for the fabulous Justin Thyme competition, I have run completely out of 'Thyme' connections.

However, Panama Oxridge continually asserts that 'Everything is connected to everything else' so there must be a connection between time travel and a bunch of fridge magnets.

I leave you to work it out.

Meantime, start with the Tartan of Thyme blog at http://tartanofthyme.blogspot.com/ and good luck!

We've sharpened up the window a little more with the perfect clock-face for time-travel and people have already been coming in because of 'The Dali Clock'.

In case you may have forgotten the date and time of our signing, it is Saturday 10 September at 11 am. Those coming south on the A429, start early. 'THEY' are digging up the road through town so there is a lengthy diversion. Parking may be difficult too, because the fair is in town. Wouldn't you know it!

Bookmarks and Bananas

I have had several e-mails from a disgruntled Eliza complaining that I have not yet included a banana in any of our Justin Thyme competition photos.

As bananas had already been used by Panama, I thought it old hat (there's a joke there somewhere) but Eliza is insistent.


So here you are, Bookmarks and Bananas.

To start the fantastic competition trail, go to the Tartan of Thyme blog at http://tartanofthyme.blogspot.com/ where you will find the easy-to-follow instructions.

If the letters are a little difficult to see, try clicking on the photo and, if that doesn't work, trawl back to an earlier post. Best of luck.

Our book signing for Panama Oxridge will be at 11 am this coming Saturday and Mrs Kof has kindly made us some banana and chocolate chip cake.
Do phone or e-mail us to book your copies or, if you cannot make it, to have one posted to you. First edition hardbacks of Thyme Running Out and paperbacks of Justin Thyme will be available for signing, as will hardback copies of Justin Thyme (Not firsts)
(The offer of posting applies to books, not the chocolate chip banana cake!)

Is it Thyme Castle?

 Hey. Isn't that the castle I built for the James Aitcheson signing? I think it is you know.
There are those towers I built and that tricky gateway I built and there, can you see it, that little well that I built.
Of course you may not have realised that it was the castle I built because of the overhead view. That's just so that you can see the Thyme Running Out bookmarks.

How are you getting on with the competition folks? Not difficult is it? Well, not as difficult as building a castle.
(If you can't quite make out the letters, go back to earlier posts)

In case this is your first try at this competition, here's where you start - the 'Tartan of Thyme' blog - 

http://tartanofthyme.blogspot.com/

And here are your instructions.

To celebrate the paperback release of JUSTIN THYME, the Tartan of Thyme Blog is running a competition with signed/doodled copies of both JUSTIN THYME and its forthcoming sequel THYME RUNNING OUT as the prize.

All readers have to do is visit the participating blogs, note down the letters and numbers on the Justin Thyme bookmarks (see photos), then rearrange the letters in numerical order. This spells a secret message (Justin’s description of himself). Visit the TOT blog to find links to all participating blogs, and to email your answer. The competition will close on September 7th, when a winner (picked at random from the correct entries) will be announced. 
If it IS all to much of a challenge, why not ask us to post you a signed copy of either the hardback of Justin Thyme or Thyme Running Out or the paperback of Justin Thyme. Thyme Running Out and Justin Thyme are both first editions. Just phone us on 01608 652666 or e-mail us on cotsbookstore@tiscali.co.uk

Justin case you missed it

The competition is hotting up. Entries are flowing in from the far side of the world. These books are to beautiful to be allowed to leave the country. The should be in The National Gallery.
Here's our third picture (but the bookmarks and their numbers are the same)

And here are the instructions from Panama Oxridge again -

To celebrate the paperback release of JUSTIN THYME, the Tartan of Thyme Blog is running a competition with signed/doodled copies of both JUSTIN THYME and its forthcoming sequel THYME RUNNING OUT as the prize.

All readers have to do is visit the participating blogs, note down the letters and numbers on the Justin Thyme bookmarks (see photos), then rearrange the letters in numerical order. This spells a secret message (Justin’s description of himself). Visit the TOT blog to find links to all participating blogs, and to email your answer. The competition will close on September 7th, when a winner (picked at random from the correct entries) will be announced. 

Here's your starting point - the 'Tartan of Thyme blog - 

http://tartanofthyme.blogspot.com/

Don't forget - you can make sure of getting a signed copy of these great books by mailing us on cotsbookstore@tiscali.co.uk or phoning 01608 652666. We are posting these around the world.

Fabulous 'Thyme' Competition

That continuously inventive author, Panama Oxridge, has designed an ingenious competition open to all bloggers.

It's simple, it's fun and it's free! And wow! What very special prizes. If you win the books, I suggest you wrap them in brown paper and lodge them with the bank - they could be very valuable. (Then buy a copy from us to read!)

Here's the author setting out the rules - over to you Panama.

To celebrate the paperback release of JUSTIN THYME, the Tartan of Thyme Blog is running a competition with signed/doodled copies of both JUSTIN THYME and its forthcoming sequel THYME RUNNING OUT as the prize.

 

All readers have to do is visit the participating blogs, note down the letters and numbers on the Justin Thyme bookmarks (see photos), then rearrange the letters in numerical order. This spells a secret message (Justin’s description of himself). Visit the TOT blog to find links to all participating blogs, and to email your answer. The competition will close on September 7th, when a winner (picked at random from the correct entries) will be announced. 

You will need to start at the 'Tartan of Thyme blog - 

http://tartanofthyme.blogspot.com/

And here's our photo. Don't forget, clicking on it usually gives a larger image

Thyme Travel and a Book Launch

Talking of mysteries, I hope that it has dawned on all our readers that only through the use of Time Travel will Panama Oxridge be signing Thyme Running Out nearly three whole weeks before the official publication date.

Books signed at the book launch on 10th September, here at Cotswold Bookstore, will have the edge on all other signed copies and, obviously, there will only be a limited number.

Panama Oxridge will also be signing the paperback of Justin Thyme on the day. Again, they will be dated first editions. The paperback differs slightly from the hardback so even collectors who have some signed hardbacks may be interested in adding a paperback or three

We are receiving phone calls (01608 652666) and e-mails (cotsbookstore@tiscali.co.uk) from across the world for these books but I'm sure that the bulk of those sold will be on the day.

Do contact us soon, if you wish to order, as things are hotting up!

The Lol Robinson Mystery

The big book-signing on the rather close horizon (10 Sept) is that of Panama Oxridge who will be here to launch the exciting Justin Thyme sequel, Thyme Running Out. The paperback of Justin Thyme will also be available. However, you know all that. You also know that there is a great deal of mystery about both books and about the author.

Strange then that, just one week later we have an author here who also has a great deal of mystery about him - Phil Rickman. Not only are his books mysteries in themselves but also, they are in a genre of his own creation. Murder mysteries that edge towards the dark arts but never quite get there, or do they?


However, there is an even bigger mystery that comes with his books. They contain a character called Lol Robinson, a musician. Now characters in books are just that aren't they? So how come I've just been listening to a Lol Robinson CD? Rather good it is too. I'm no judge but I'd say there was a Simon and Garfunkel touch in the sound (with a chunk of Bo Diddley in there too!) though Nick Drake is the big influence according to the books.


When Phil Rickman is here for his signing of his not-yet-published The Secrets of Pain on 17th Sept, he will also have Lol Robinson CDs for sale. So who the heck is Lol Robinson? Can anybody out there tell me?

Windows for Signings.

 Here are our windows ready for the signings in September.

Just in case you've forgotten, on Saturday September 10th at 11am we have the Thyme Running Out - Justin Thyme signing by Panama Oxridge.

It will be the event of the year with a special cake cooked by Mrs Kof to celebrate it.

Already over 100 copies of Thyme Running Out have been pre-ordered and there are very few hardback copies of Justin Thyme left. (Paperbacks are available)



Our adult window for the Rebecca Tope/Phil Rickman signing on Saturday 17th September is looking a little bare.

I intended putting in some murder weapons smeared with blood but David wouldn't oblige. He's selfish like that.

We have Rebecca's latest, Deception in the Cotswolds, Phil's new hardback, The Secrets of Pain and a wide selection of their paperbacks.

Rebecca should be here before 11 am but Phil is unfortunately delayed so midday is a more likely time for him.

As well as the guide book,to Merrily's haunts, called Merrily's Border, we will also have CDs of music by Lol Robinson, a character from Phil's books.
(No, I don't know how that works either - one of the many questions I have for Phil)

Merrily's Border

After our 'children's' signing (Panama Oxridge on 10September) we have another biggie - that is Rebecca Tope and her Cotswold murder mysteries and, on the same day, Saturday 17th September, Phil Rickman with his Merrily Watkins series including the new hardback The Secrets of Pain.

Just arrived, Merrily's Border, a photo guide to some of the locations in which Phil sets his stories, words by Phil himself and photos by John Mason. This is a must for Rickman fans, especially if you want to track Merrily down in her natural habitat.

In the same way that fact and fiction blur in the Merrily Watkins series, the landscape pictured is little removed from the myth of the Marches and much of the book tells strange tales of pagan places.

I'm looking forward to meeting Phil but now I also want to follow the Merrily trail in those border lands that this excellent author so obviously loves.

So, not only will we have Phil's fiction in stock and CD's staring Lol Robinson and Hazey Jane ll but now we'll have this evocative guide-book too. Maybe at a special price! (To be announced)

Fantastic 'Thyme' prizes!

A new competition has recently been announced by Panama Oxridge, the author of Justin Thyme and the soon to be released Thyme Running Out.

It's open to all blog followers and the prizes are very special indeed and very limited in number.

DON'T MISS!

See http://tartanofthyme.blogspot.com/ for details

Oh! Did I mention the book signing on September 10th?

If you missed out on a signed hardback copy of Justin Thyme then please get in touch quickly. Hardback numbers are dwindling fast and there may not be many left for the author to sign. However, we will have paperbacks.

Tartan of Thyme special

Oh! I forgot to mention - before the damp author vanished off to the past (or future?), he told me about the 'special something' that he was going to present to some of those first in the queue on his signing day AND I WANT ONE!

If you like to see details, look in on his blog http:tartanofthyme.blogspot.com

A visit from Panama Oxridge

As no other than Panama Oxridge paddled out of the water, his trademark Panama hat floated beyond reach.

It was another two hours before the RAC was able to haul his Time machine onto dry land and by then, the simple explanation for his visit came to light.


"What Ho!" he said. " I simply forgot when I was due to be at your shop. I know the signing is on September 10th, but is that 2011 or 1102? I can come on either date."

I put him straight on the date and after a chat and a few mechanical adjustments, he started the machine and disappeared back to where (and when) he had come from.

The Panama Oxridge signing -

Saturday 10 September at 11 am

The author will be signing copies of

Thyme Running Out,

the amazing sequel to Justin Thyme.

Hardback and paperback copies of Justin Thyme will also be available.

T-shirt Trio

Sorry to inflict this on the good folks of Moreton-in-Marsh but with nearly eight weeks still to go, the Cotswold Bookstore team are walking billboards for the new Panama Oxridge book, Thyme Running Out.

The date and Thyme for the book signing  are Saturday 10 September at 11am.

Before that though, we have the signing for James Aitcheson with his Sworn Sword on Saturday 13 August at 10.30 am.

There might even be some traditional Norman fare - honey cake and mead.