- The Writing Social
8 April 2026 [6:30-8:30 PM]
The Cromwell Arms, Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE
The Writing Social is a monthly gathering to work on whatever you’re working on among fellow writers. All abilities welcome – just bring yourself and whatever you’re currently writing on whatever form you prefer (laptops, notebooks, phones, post-its, etc).
We meet on the second Wednesday of each month to write silently together. Here’s how it runs.
6:30PM – Doors open, get settled, say hello
6:45PM – Silent Writing Block #1 Begins
7:30PM – Break, chat about the work; option to head off
7:45PM – Silent Writing Block #2 Begins
8:30PM – Social EndsIt’s a great mix of people at all points in their writing journey. At recent Writing Socials, people were editing articles, starting new stories, and refining novel drafts. So bring whatever you’re working on – or hoping to start – and let’s write together.
This event is free.
- Storm Over Camelot: A Book Talk with Sophie Keetch
9 April 2026 [6:30-8:00PM]
In the Shop [54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE]
SAVE YOUR SEAT [Free with ticket]
First Draft Books favourite Sophie Keetch will be back in the shop for the release of Storm Over Camelot, the anxiously-awaited conclusion to her Morgan le Fay series. We will talk about all things Arthurian legend and witchy women in literature. You don’t need to have read the past books to enjoy this talk – we’ll avoid spoilers as best we can.
So come along, meet the delightful Sophie and enjoy a chat. There will be an opportunity for you to ask your burning Morgan le Fay questions, mingle with fellow fans and pick up a signed copy of the new book (as well as the first two in the series).
This event is free to join with a ticket. To guarantee availability, please reserve a copy of the book during registration. A few extra copies will be available to purchase on the night as well.
- The Reading Social: Bovey’s Silent Book Club
15 April 2026 [5:30-7:30PM]
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 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 upAll readers welcome, no purchase necessary! No need to register – just pop in. See you there & happy reading!
- The Reading Social: Torquay’s Silent Book Club
16 April 2026 [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 upAll readers welcome, no purchase necessary. And no need to register in advance – just pop in. See you there & happy reading!
- Book Signing: Stephanie Austin
25 April 2026 [11AM-1PM]
In the Shop, 54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE
Fan favourite Stephanie Austin will be back at First Draft Books on Saturday, 25 April, to celebrate the paperback release of How to Get Murdered in Devon.
She will be signing copies of her newest (out in paperback on 23 April) as well as all of her backlist. You know I’ll have plenty in stock to pick up on the day! No need to book in advance. Just drop in to have a chat, buy a copy and get it signed & dedicated.
See you there! - The Good Listener: A Book Talk with Holly Watt
1 May 2026 [6:30-8PM]
In the Shop, 54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE
SAVE YOUR SEAT // Free, ticketed event
The delightful, Dartmoor-based Holly Watt joins us to dive into her latest thriller that is certain to keep us glued to our seats, ferociously turning pages.
We will chat about what it takes to write an edge-of-your-seat thriller like The Good Listener and pepper Holly with all of our questions about the book & her life as a writer. Holly will hang out afterwards to chat further and sign copies of her new book (available to reserve in the form).
Having hosted Holly in Moretonhampstead last year, I can guarantee an entertaining, unscripted conversation with one of the best in the business.
This is a free, but ticketed event. Please book in advance to guarantee a seat.
- From Page to Plate: Literary Supper Club
6 May 2026 [7:00-9:00PM]
Moretonhampstead Community Club, 17 Court Street, Moretonhampstead TQ13 8NE
SOLD OUT // £20 per person – To join the waitlist, email [email protected].
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, From Page to Plate.
How does it work?
-> We cook 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.
-> We provide 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 next literary supper club will be inspired by The Country of Others by Leïla Slimani, translated by Sam Taylor. A compelling family saga set between France & Morocco in the late 1940s, this book will be the inspiration for a rich conversation and delicious Moroccan-French meal.
You can request a copy of the book through your order form today or pop into one of our shops (54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey OR Zero Waste Moreton) later. You can also pick up the audiobook here or the e-book here – both of which support our independent bookshop.
Please enter any dietary restrictions or allergies in the designated box during checkout. Liz or Leslie may follow up with you to confirm and clarify any details.
Tickets are transferrable and refundable until one week before the event. Feel free to reach out to Leslie with any questions.
Bon appétit and happy reading!
***
ABOUT THE BOOK
1944. After the Liberation, Mathilde leaves France to join her husband in Morocco. But life here is unrecognisable to this brave and passionate young woman. Her life is now that of a farmer’s wife – with all the sacrifices and vexations that brings. Suffocated by the heat, by her loneliness on the farm and by the mistrust she inspires as a foreigner, Mathilde grows increasingly restless. As Morocco’s struggle for independence intensifies, Mathilde and her husband find themselves caught in the crossfire.
- Curious Readers Club: Idle Grounds
12 May 2026 [7:00-8:30 PM]
In the Shop, 54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE
JOIN THE CLUB // Tickets: £5
The next Curious Readers Club will be diving into Krystelle Bamford’s Idle Grounds on 12 May from 7:00-8:30pm.
We will dig into all the big ideas and small moments that made us feel the feelings. Krystelle will join us virtually from Scotland to answer our questions Plus, when you register for this event, you get 10% off the book when you buy it from the shop (£9.99 RRP).
What to expect:
+ 7:00pm – Settle in with a drink & a biscuit
+ 7:15pm – Book club chat commences
+ 8:00pm – Krystelle’s virtual Q&A
+ 8:30pm – End of event
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 (and often debut) titles. Always in paperback. Always discussion-worthy. Join us!
About the book
As always with these things, it started with a birthday party. On a bright summer day in 1989 New England, Abi, three years old, vanishes from her aunt’s secluded home. Upstairs, her young cousins are looking out of the window.Something is unfolding in the distance at the edge of the forest – something sinister that is watching them back. The adults don’t seem to notice that the youngest of the group has disappeared. Too busy bickering over politics and reminiscing about the family’s domineering late matriarch, Beezy, they leave the children with no choice but to get Abi back themselves.
As the cousins embark on a quest through their grandmother’s sprawling estate, buried family secrets come to light and long-awaited plans are set in motion. Will they lose themselves while trying to find her?Idle Grounds is a chilling, evocative and darkly comic debut about childhood, legacy, and the burdens and privileges we carry with us.
- A Wilder Way: A Book Talk with Poppy Okotcha
13 May 2026 [6:30-8:00PM]
In the Shop, 54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE
SAVE YOUR SEAT // Free, ticketed event
Come celebrate the paperback release of Poppy Okotcha’s nourishing & evocative memoir, A Wilder Way.
We are thrilled to welcome Poppy to our corner of Devon to talk about our relationship with the land and what we learn from living more sustainably with it. Poppy will introduce us to her garden over the course of a year, sharing what she’s discovered and how it has shaped her life. You will be able to ask your burning questions, and she will hang out after the talk to chat & sign copies of her book, A Wilder Way, new to paperback.
This is a free, ticketed event. Please save your seat through the link above. You can also reserve a copy of the book during your registration. See you there for what is certain to be a nourishing and thought-provoking chat.
