Events

10 April 2025 [10:30-11:30AM]

Riverside Community Centre, Station Road, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AW

BOOK YOUR TICKETS

Hey, curious young readers! Join First Draft Books & Friends of Bovey Tracey Library for an action-packed morning of exploring forbidden places and curious spaces with Sam Sedgman, author of Isaac Turner Investigates series, including The Clockwork Conspiracy and brand-new The Forbidden Atlas. Sam has fun experiments planned & wacky histories to share with us. He will also read from his latest book, answer all of your questions AND stick around to sign your books. So come along!

Perfect for young readers ages 7+. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are £3 for adults and children. All funds go to support Bovey Tracey Library.

Sam’s books will be available to purchase at the event. You can also check out his books from the library or pick up copies now from First Draft Books.

2 April, 2025 [7:00-9:00PM]

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

SOLD OUT // Join waitlist

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

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 first meal will be inspired by The Bullet Swallower, Elizabeth Gonzalez-James’ multigenerational family epic set on the Mexico-US border and fizzing with Western tropes & magical realism.

Bonus: your ticket entitles you to 10% off the purchase price (£9.99) of the supper club book at First Draft Books. Request a copy through your registration form or pop into the shop to pick one up.

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

8 April 2025; 2:00-4:00 PM

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

Come meet Sophie Pierce & Alex Murdin, the authors & artists behind the brilliant new Rock Idols: A Guide to Dartmoor in 28 Tors (£14.99). They will join us in the shop to sign copies of the book and chat with you about all things Dartmoor tors.

Rock Idols tells the story of Dartmoor through the lens of its tors. With captivating original artwork, personal stories and practical information, discover why these ancient stones continue to fascinate us. Cards of the original artwork are available to purchase through Grace & Favour Home.

Email [email protected] to reserve a copy for signing on the day, or just pop in (though day-of stock will be limited). Can’t make it to the signing? Pre-order a copy via email or in the shop, and we will get it signed on your behalf to be collected at your convenience after 8 April.

_{[Photo credit: Emma Stoner]}

12 April 2025 [11:00AM-12:00PM]

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

Neil Lancaster, author of the DS Max Craigie series, will be stopping by the bookshop for our Saturday Book Corner. Come by to say hello, chat with Neil about his work & life and maybe pick up a signed copy of one of his books.

Neil served as a military policeman and worked for the Met Police as a detective. He now lives in the Scottish Highlands – though he has family in Bovey Tracey that he regularly visits – where he writes, works as a broadcaster and commentates on true crime documentaries. He is an expert on two Sky Crime TV series, Meet, Marry, Murder and Made for Murder. The first two instalments of his DS Craigie series, Dead Man’s Grave and The Blood Tide, were longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book of the Year.

No booking required, just stop by. If, however, you would like to reserve a specific book, please do email [email protected] by 9 April. See you there!

15 April, 2025 [2:00-4:00PM]

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

PRE-ORDER HERE

Get early access to the brand-new paperback release of Stephanie Austin’s eighth book, Death on Dartmoor Edge (published 17 April).

The queen of the Dartmoor mystery will stop by the shop to sign & personalise your copies and have a little chat. Just pop in! Though pre-ordering is recommended to guarantee a copy of Death on Dartmoor Edge. All books in the series will be available to purchase on the day.

Can’t make it but want a personalised copy? Pre-order and mark yourself as “Not Attending” in the check-out process. Leslie at First Draft Books will be in touch to coordinate!

22 April 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 launching with an absolute banger. The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard is time-traveling, philosophical, literary sci-fi at its very best. If you love Kazuo Ishiguro & Emily St John Mandel, you’ll love this one.

We’ll dig into all the big ideas and small moments together. Then, Scott will join us via zoom from Canada for a Q&A. How cool is that?! Plus, when you register for this event, you get 10% off The Other Valley (£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

+ 7:50pm – Break

+ 8:00pm – Q&A with Scott

+ 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!

24 April, 2025 [6:30-8:00 PM]

The Lounge @ White Hart Hotel, Moretonhampstead

BOOK YOUR SEAT HERE

The Queen of the Dartmoor Murder Mystery is making her Moretonhampstead debut to celebrate the paperback release of her eighth book, Death on Dartmoor Edge. Join us for a lively conversation about our shared love of a good mystery, creating imaginary worlds in real places and more.

Leslie at First Draft Books will kick things off with a moderated conversation with Stephanie, where you’ll get to know her and her work as well as hear a reading. Then we will open it up to your burning questions. Stephanie will hang out afterwards to chat further and sign copies of any of her books. The full series will be available to purchase on the evening – or you can pick up titles at Zero Waste Moreton and First Draft Books today.

The fine folks at the White Hart Hotel will be putting on canapes and offering 20% off glasses of wine on the night so bring your whole gang. It’ll be a lovely evening.

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

30 April 2025 [7:30-9PM]

Riverside Community Centre, Station Road, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9EW

BUY TICKETS HERE

Join First Draft Books and Friends of Bovey Tracey Library for a conversation with Sarah Turner, The Unmumsy Mum & author of bestselling novels Stepping Up & On the Edge. Sarah is known for her funny, honest & open reflections on the pressures of parenthood and the complexities of family life. Together, we will get to know her and her work, including the new-to-paperback novel, On the Edge.

The evening will kick off with a moderated discussion between Leslie of First Draft Books and Sarah about her work, including a reading from her latest novel, before opening it up to your questions. Then, we will stick around for a book signing and mingling with Sarah after the conversation. Books will be available to purchase on the evening. Copies are also available to check out from the library or purchase through First Draft Books now.

Tickets are £7.50 each and include a glass of wine or a soft drink. All ticket sales go towards funding the Bovey Tracey Public Library. Thank you for your support of Sarah, your library & your independent bookstore.

May 7, 2025 [6:30-8:30 PM]

54 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey [In the shop]

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. 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). Let us know if you’re joining.

This is a “pay what you can” event (suggested: £2, cash or card on the night). No one is required to pay to attend but it helps to offset our costs and keep the group alive. Thanks! See you soon.

3 June 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 back with something completely different. I Died at Fallow Hall by Bonnie Burke-Patel is a classic country house whodunnit with a modern sensibility. If you love Agatha, you’ll love this one.

Bonnie will join us via zoom for a Q&A to kick us off. Amazing, right?! Then, we’ll dig into all the big ideas and small moments together. Plus, when you register for this event, you get 10% off the paperback of I Died at Fallow Hall (out 24 April, £9.99) in the shop – and some swag!

What to expect:

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

+ 7:15pm – Q&A with Bonnie

+ 7:45pm – Book club chat commences

+ 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!