Events

10 September 2025 [7:00-8:30PM]

In the Shop, 54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE

JOIN THE CLUB // £5. Please reserve your spot in advance.

The Curious Readers Club is diving into Michael Deagler’s PEN/Hemingway Award-winning novel, Early Sobrieties. Full of heart and wit, this book explores how you create a new life for yourself when you’re surrounded by the old life.

We will dig into all the big ideas and small moments that made us feel the feelings. Mike will join us virtually from the West Coast of the US to answer our questions. Plus, when you register for this event, you get 10% off the paperback of Early Sobrieties (out now, £9.99) in the shop – and some swag!

What to expect:

+ 7:00pm – Settle in with a drink & a biscuit

+ 7:15pm – Book club chat commences

+ 7:30pm – Q&A with Michael Deagler

+ 8:00pm – Book club chat continues

+ 8:30pm – The end

The Curious Readers Club is a book club for, you guessed it, curious readers. Books are selected by Leslie at First Draft Books with an eye towards unique, thought-provoking debut titles. Always in paperback. Always discussion-worthy. Join us!

17 September 2025 [5:30-7:30PM]

Function Room @ The Cromwell Arms, Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE

Calling all you readers in Bovey Tracey who are looking for dedicated time each month to read amongst friends. Grab whatever you’re reading, however you’re reading it and join us in the function room of the Cromwell Arms for a bit of friendly, bookish chitchat and silent reading.

How it works:

+ 5:30pm – arrive, get settled, chitchat
+ 6:00pm – the silent reading hour
+ 7:00pm – more chitchat about what we read
+ 7:30pm – wrap up

All readers welcome, no purchase necessary! No need to register – just pop in. See you there & happy reading!

18 September 2025 [5:30-7:30PM]

Upstairs @ TQ BeerWorks, 1A Abbey Crescent, Torquay

Calling all you readers in Torbay who are looking for dedicated time each month to read amongst friends. Grab whatever you’re reading, however you’re reading it and join us upstairs at TQ BeerWorks for a bit of friendly, bookish chitchat and silent reading.

How it works:

+ 5:30pm – arrive, get settled, chitchat
+ 6:00pm – the silent reading hour
+ 7:00pm – more chitchat about what we read
+ 7:30pm – wrap up

All readers welcome, no purchase necessary. And no need to register in advance – just pop in. See you there & happy reading!

18 September 2025 [6:30-8:00PM]

In the Shop, 54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE

SAVE YOUR SEAT // Free, ticketed event

Come celebrate the launch of How to Get Murdered in Devon, the ninth exciting mystery by Stephanie Austin. Juno Browne is back on the case after things once again get messy in Ashburton.

We love Stephanie’s mysteries. And we’re especially excited about hosting Stephanie on the actual day her brand-new book publishes! Be among the very first to get your hands on the latest Juno Browne story.

On the night, we will have a conversation with Stephanie about the new book and her life as a writer. She might even read a little from the book for us! She’ll answer all the questions on your mind and stick around to sign your books. You may pre-order books through the registration process to be collected on the night.

This is a free but ticketed event. Please save your seat early to avoid disappointment. We will activate a waitlist once we hit capacity.

25 September 2025 [6:30-8:00PM]

The White Hart Hotel, The Square, Moretonhampstead TQ13 8NF

SAVE YOUR SEAT // Free

Join us in Moretonhampstead for a very special book talk with Sophie Pierce & Alex Murdin, authors & illustrators of Rock Idols: A Guide to Dartmoor in 28 Tors .

With captivating original artwork, personal stories and practical information, Sophie & Alex gift us with fresh eyes through which to explore the ancient stones that have always fascinated us. They will share some of the artwork, a few stories and, of course, answer your questions. Plus, copies of their book will be available to purchase on the night to be signed.

This is a free but ticketed event. Please save a seat to guarantee a spot on the night. If we reach capacity, we will activate a waitlist.

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About the book

Rock Idols tells the story of Dartmoor through the lens of its tors. Fantastical yet natural, Dartmoor’s 280-million-year-old tors are among the most iconic landmarks in Southern Britain. Victorian antiquarians described them as ‘rock idols’, believing them to be stone deities worshipped by the Druids. Thousands of years before that, they inspired our ancestors who built ceremonial stone rows and circles aligned with them. Today, the tors are loved by walkers, climbers and locals, who visit in their thousands every year. Rock Idols is a hymn to these mysterious monoliths, in which the authors share tales of their trips to 28 of the tors. With stunning original drawings, the book delves into the moor’s archaeology, folklore and geology. It is a meditation on the human relationship with ancient stones and wild places, and the hold they have over our imagination.

1 October 2025 [7:00-9:00PM]

Moretonhampstead Community Club, 17 Court Street, Moretonhampstead TQ13 8NE

SOLD OUT // To join the wait list, email Leslie at [email protected]. Most people on the wait list have been offered a seat at past Supper Club event so it is worth adding your name, reading the book and holding the date.

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Good food, good books, good company. The perfect trio! The Van du Pain and First Draft Books invite you to join us for our literary supper club.

How does it work? Once a quarter(ish), Liz cooks up a delicious two-course meal inspired by a great book. And it’s BOYB – we’ll have water but you can bring anything else you might enjoy. Leslie provides prompts throughout the evening to support an engaging conversation about the book. You enjoy a wonderful evening of delicious food and rich discussion at your table.

Our October meal will be Indian-inspired to match our chosen book: Rosarita, Anita Desai’s haunting tale of mothers & daughters and legacies set in Mexico and India.

Request a copy through your registration form or pop into the shop to pick one up. You can also get the audiobook here or order for home delivery here – both of which support our independent bookshop. Thank you!

Space is limited so book early. Bon appétit & happy reading!