Past events

Author visits to Woodbridge

For Browsers, Catherine Larner organises and hosts author talks and book launches ranging from intimate gatherings of around 30 guests to large evening events with capacity audiences of up to 300 people. Recent guest authors have included Max Hastings, Victoria Hislop, Joanne Harris, Dan Snow, Kate Humble, Jeffery Deaver and Robert Peston.

Since launching the author talks more than 10 years ago, other speakers have included Alexander McCall Smith, Margaret Drabble, Kate Mosse and Deborah Moggach as well as Olympic rowing champion Katherine Grainger and antiques expert, Judith Miller.

In 2008 Catherine was the Artistic Director for the first Children’s Book Festival in Woodbridge, Suffolk, in association with Browsers Bookshop. There were four days of activities for children of all ages, and their parents. Many sessions were free and all were creatively run to ensure full interaction, participation and engagement throughout the community. Leading authors (including Philip Reeve, Nick Butterworth, Kevin Crossley-Holland and Meg Rosoff) presented at venues throughout the town. Supplementing the headline speakers there were launches of new books and authors, story playtimes for toddlers, a children’s comedian, storytelling trails around the town led by members of local amateur dramatic groups, and a dogwalking storytime by the river. It was an ambitious and varied programme which was professionally run and well-attended, creating a genuine excitement throughout the town.

Recent events

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Wednesday 25th July 2018 at 7.30pm

'Yellowhammer' is the second of James's police thriller series. Set in Essex in the 1980s, this book steps into the Suffolk countryside.

James first visited us at Browsers a couple of years ago when he launched this series with 'Blackwater'. It was this visit, and a later return for a talk at Hollesley for Suffolk Libraries, that inspired James to feature Suffolk in this new book. You can read more about this event here and Catherine's article here.

Thursday 14th June 2018 at 7.00pm

We marked publication day of 'For the Immortal' by Emily Hauser with a party in the bookshop. Guests were treated to wine and nibbles, and a chance to mingle and chat with Emily.

This book is the culmination of Emily's Golden Apple trilogy retelling the Greek myths. She joined us in Woodbridge to speak about the first book in 2016. Read about that event here.

Anne Youngson at Browsers
Thursday 7th June 2018 at 7.30pm

The author, Anne Youngson embarked on a creative writing course in her 50s. Now 70, this is her first novel. It is a delicate and charming tale told as a correspondence between two strangers. Read my account of the event here.

You can read a review of 'Meet Me at the Museum' here and Catherine's profile of Anne Youngson here.

Jeffrey Deaver at Woodbridge library
Tuesday 22nd May 2018 at 1.00pm

The international bestselling crime writer, Jeffrey Deaver visited us from his home in the USA to launch his new thriller 'The Cutting Edge'.

Deaver's work has sold over 50 million copies in more than 35 languages around the world, winning numerous awards.

Read an account of his visit here.

Ruth Hogan at Browsers
Wednesday 2nd May 2018 at 7.30pm

The author of last year's delightful debut 'The Keeper of Lost Things' has another story to charm and delight us. 'The Particular Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes' is about a spirited, rebellious, independent woman whose life has been changed by a tragic event.

Ruth introduced her wonderful new characters and talked of what inspires and drives her to write. Read an account of the event here.

Monday 9th April 2018 at 7.30pm

The inspirational cookery writer presented her new book 'How to Eat a Peach', all about menus, stories and places. Read an account of the event here.

This is Diana's second visit to us at Browsers. She visited us at Woodhall Manor in 2016 to launch her book 'Simple'. Read an account of that visit here.

 

 

Thursday 11th January 2018 at 7.00pm

The award-winning journalist, now ITV’s political editor, Robert Peston visited us in Woodbridge to discuss his recently published book, 'WTF'.

The capacity audience in Woodbridge Community Hall was held gripped throughout the conversation with Catherine Larner.

You can read a report of the event here and Catherine's article here.

Monday 6th November 2017 at 7.30pm

Maggie O’Farrell is a much-loved author of seven award-winning novels, including ‘The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox’ and her most recent book, ‘This Must Be the Place’.

This year Maggie has attracted huge attention for her shocking and enthralling memoir 'I Am, I Am, I Am’ recalling her numerous near-death experiences.

Read an account of the event here.

Monday 11th September 2017 at 7.30pm

Have you ever thought about reading an entire longlist of a literary prize, to see if you agree with the judges...? Perhaps not! But members of the Browsers Book Group decided to spend their summer working their way through the 13 titles nominated for the Man Booker Prize 2017.

Thursday 7th September 2017 at 7.45pm

This special evening saw John Le Carré streamed live from the London stage to the Riverside Cinema Woodbridge. He read excerpts from his new novel 'A Legacy of Spies' and talked about his amazing career spanning five decades. It is was a fascinating evening and Browsers was there with copies of the book for sale!

Monday 4th September 2017 at 7.30pm

Bestselling Middle Eastern cookery writer, Sabrina Ghayour came to Browsers to give us a very special introduction to her new book Feasts, due to be published three days later.

We sampled the recipes, heard about Sabrina's career and shared experiences in a relaxed and enjoyable evening. Read about the event here.

Donal Ryan at Browsers
Tuesday 27th June 2017 at 7.30pm

Donal Ryan's first two novels 'The Spinning Heart' and 'The Thing About December', and his short story collection 'A Slanting of the Sun', have all been published to great acclaim. He joined us to talk about his third novel 'All We Shall Know', just out in paperback.

He was a fascinating and entertaining speaker. We all left wanting to re-read all his work, and can't wait to see what he produces next! Read about the event here.

Monday 19th June 2017 at 7.30pm

This was an extrordinary evening where novelist Laura Barnett was accompanied by singer song-writer Kathryn Williams in presenting the new novel 'Greatest Hits'.

The soundtrack of the book had been created by Kathryn and she performed some of the songs for us in Woodbridge Library, and the album was on sale with the book on the night.

Read an account of the event here.

Wednesday 26th April 2017 at 7.30pm

Award-winning crime writer, Sharon Bolton introduced her new novel 'Dead Woman Walking' and talked about her career to date, plans for the future, and theories on why crime and thrillers are such a popular genre at present.

Read an account of the event here.

Tuesday 28th February 2017 at 7.30pm

Join us for an evening of poetry and conversation with Neil Powell as he introduces us to his newly published collection of work which spans 50 years.

Neil lives in Orford and visited Browsers a few years ago to talk to us about his biography of Benjamin Britten. Also a former bookseller, English teacher and editor, Neil has had seven volumes of poetry published. This collection draws on that body of work and is published by Carcanet Press.

Called 'Was and Is' the book is described as "the narrative of a lifetime" exploring "landscape and seascape, music and poetry, friendship and the deaths of friends. Ranging from the playful to the elegiac, these poems now resonate with each other in new and unexpected ways." Come along to the evening and find out more! Tickets £5.

Jem Lester at Browsers
Tuesday 21st February 2017 at 7.30pm

Debut novelist, and journalist, Jem Lester talked to us about the inspiration behind 'Shtum', his funny and poignant account of a family and autism.

Included in Simon Mayo's Radio Two Book Club last year, Jem visited to mark the release of the paperback edition of his novel.

Read an account of the evening here.

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