Events

November 20, 2024 [5:30-7:30 PM]

The Function Room @ 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 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!

November 21, 2024 [5:30-7:30pm]

TQ BeerWorks, 1A Abbey Crescent, Torquay TQ2 5HB

Calling all you readers in Torbay who are looking for dedicated time to read amongst friends. Grab whatever you’re reading, however you’re reading it and join us for some non-book club, pro-silent reading time.

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. See you there & happy reading!

November 29 [6:00-8:00 PM]

54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE

Bovey Tracey is ready to spread some good tidings & cheer with a month of Festive Fridays.

Each Friday evening from November 29-December 20, there will be food trucks (*ahem, Soul Pizza Truck*)! There will be live entertainment! There will be late-night shopping! And businesses throughout town will be adding their own spin with in-store activities.

First Draft Books is bringing some fan favourites to town to celebrate the season. We’re kicking off Festive Fridays with the Queen of Dartmoor mysteries, Stephanie Austin. She will be here from 6-8pm signing her books purchased in the shop & chitchatting. So pop in, pick up something for the mystery-lover in your life and enjoy the festivities around town. No booking necessary. Just stop by.

Check out the Festive Fridays facebook event page [here] for full details and come along to shop local, support local this season.

December 11, 2024 [6:30-8:30 PM]

First Draft Books, 54 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 from 6:30pm 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 Ends

It’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. And even drawing. So bring whatever you’re working on – or hoping to start – and let’s write together.

Tea & coffee will be on offer. Parking is free in Bovey after 6pm, either on the street or one of the nearby public parking lots – Abbey Road or Mary Street.

This is a “pay what you can” event collected on the evening (suggested £2). No one is required to pay to attend but a little will go a long way to help cover the costs of running this group. Our physical space is limited, so please mark yourself as “going” here or email [email protected] if you are attending. Thanks! See you soon.

December 13 [6:00-8:00 PM]

54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE

Bovey Tracey is ready to spread some good tidings & cheer with a month of Festive Fridays.

Each Friday evening from November 29-December 20, there will be food trucks (*ahem, Soul Pizza Truck*)! There will be live entertainment! There will be late-night shopping! And businesses throughout town will be adding their own spin with in-store activities.

First Draft Books is bringing some fan favourites to town to celebrate the season. Join us on December 13 to get your favourite Philip Reeve & Sarah McIntyre books signed by the creators. Be it: Mortal Engines, AdventureMice, Grumpycorn or Utterly Dark! So pop in, pick up something special for the young readers in your life and enjoy the festivities around town. No booking necessary. Just stop by.

Check out the Festive Fridays facebook event page [here] for full details and come along to shop local, support local this season.

December 20 [6:00-8:00 PM]

54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE

Bovey Tracey is ready to spread some good tidings & cheer with a month of Festive Fridays.

Each Friday evening from November 29-December 20, there will be food trucks! There will be live entertainment! There will be late-night shopping! And businesses throughout town will be adding their own spin with in-store activities.

Join us and Grace & Favour Home for our Christmas Cracker, a little party to ring in the holiday and wrap up the Festive Fridays. Enjoy nibbles, drinks, calm last-minute shopping and surprises among friends and neighbours.

Check out the Festive Fridays facebook event page [here] for full details and come along to shop local, support local this season.

February 5, 2025 [6:30-8:00PM]

54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE [In-Store]

BOOK YOUR TICKET

WINNER 2024 Wainwright Prize & 2023 Richard Jeffries Award for Nature Writing

This is a conversation about falling in love with vanishing things.

Late Light is the story of Michael Malay’s own journey, an Indonesian Australian making a home for himself in England and finding strange parallels between his life and the lives of the animals he examines. Mixing natural history with memoir, this book explores the mystery of our animal neighbours, in all their richness and variety. It is about the wonder these animals inspired in our ancestors, the hope they inspire in us, and the joy they might still hold for our children. Through the close examination of four particular ‘unloved’ animals – eels, moths, crickets and mussels – Michael Malay tells the story of the economic, political and cultural events that have shaped the modern landscape of Britain.

For fans of Robert Macfarlane, Raynor Winn and Helen Macdonald, Late Light is a rich blend of memoir, natural history, nature writing, and a meditation on being and belonging, from a vibrant new voice.

In addition to an engaging conversation, Michael will answer your questions and will hang out after to sign copies of his book (available in the shop now or on the night).

This is a free but ticketed event. Please reserve a ticket to guarantee a seat here.

Late Spring 2025, date tbc

First Draft Books, 54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE

Due to unforeseen circumstances, our Book Talk with Talia Hibbert has been postponed until Spring 2025. If you already reserved a ticket, it will be automatically transferred to the new date once confirmed. You can keep an eye on our website or social media accounts for additional updates. Thanks for your support of Talia & First Draft Books. See you soon!

***

We are heating up November with a visit from Talia Hibbert, the award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Indie, and internationally bestselling author of your next romance obsession.

From raucous romcoms to breathless new adult romance, Talia is known for writing complicated characters who’ll make you feel seen. Since self-publishing her first novella in 2017 at 21 years of age, Talia has written more than fifteen books and is now a hybrid author. Several of her books, including The Brown Sisters, have been optioned for TV and film.

Note: we will be digging into romance book content that might not be suitable for kids.

Talia is one of this bookshop owner’s absolute favourites so do come along to keep her from getting too awkwardly fangirl-ish. This is a free but ticketed event. The ticketing page will be added here once the new date is set. Keep an eye out for announcements! You won’t want to miss it.