It’s a new term in the bookshop!

Summer may have been a wash out, but here in the bookshop we’re looking forward to a new term! We’ve got some brilliant new titles, many signed and exclusive editions, we’ve got everything you need to get ready for Back to School AND we’ve got an absolutely fabulous line up of autumn events for you: let’s get started!

New titles and pre-orders

Here’s a selection of new titles we’re excited about, to pre-order any of them, please just reply to this email and we’ll add you to the list and let you know when they arrive!

• The Lake House, Ann Patchett. Exclusive edition with free notebook: in stock now!

• The Raging Storm, Ann Cleeves. PRE-ORDER now for a SIGNED COPY of the fourth in the Matthew Venn series (available 31st August)

• The Farmer’s Wife, Helen Rebanks. The wife of James Rebanks on what it’s like to be a farmer’s wife today. With tons of recipes to feed body and soul, this is looking like an ideal Christmas present! PRE-ORDER now for a SIGNED COPY (available 31st August)

• The Last Devil to Die, Richard Osman. PRE-ORDER now for a SIGNED COPY the fourth in the best-selling series (available 14th September)

• The Secret Hours, Mick Herron. A stand alone novel from the Slow Horses author. PRE-ORDER now for a SIGNED COPY (available 14th September)

• Impossible Creatures, Katherine Rundell. Brand new series from the author of The Explorer. PRE-ORDER for a SIGNED COPY now (available 14th September)

• The Figurine, Victoria Hislop. A brand new stand alone novel from the beloved author of The Island, PRE-ORDER now for a SIGNED copy (available 28th September)

• Divine Might, Natalie Haynes. The author of Pandora’s Jar returns with a look at Goddesses. PRE-ORDER now for a SIGNED INDEPNDENT BOOKSHOP EXCLUSIVE EDITION (available 28th September)

• Geneva, Richard Armitage. PRE-ORDER now ***if you’d like Richard to personally dedicate this book to anyone, please let us know! A great chance to get a signed and dedicated book for The Hobbit fan in your life! (available 12th October)

• Rambling Man, Billy Connolly. Scotland’s favourite comedian is back with another memoir - this time focusing on his time travelling the world. PRE-ORDER now for a SIGNED copy (available 12th October)

• The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac, JK Rowling. The first and only official companion to Harry Potter’s Wizarding World: this is going to be really special! PRE-ORDER now (available 12th October)

• Heartstopper Volume V, Alice Oseman. The final instalment of the smash hit series. PRE-ORDER now (available 7th December)

Join us next Friday, 11th August for a very special storytelling session! Terenia Edwards is the author of The Lonely Tiger, and she’ll be here in the shop to tell us the story of Tiger and his friends.

This is a free session, starting at 3.00pm and suitable for ages 3-6.

Although there’s no charge for this session, space is limited, so please book your spot here

Details of our autumn event season!

We begin our autumn season of events with a visit from Flora Fraser who’ll be here to discuss Pretty Young Rebel, the definitive biography of her namesake Flora MacDonald. We all know the Jacobite heroine rescued Bonnie Prince Charlie, but that was the only the beginning of her adventures! Join us in St Peter’s Church at 7pm on Wednesday 20th September to find out more.

Next up is an evening of historical crime fiction, with a duo of authors who write about very different places and times. DV Bishop has just won a CWA Dagger Award for his Cesare Aldo series set in and around renaissance Florence and Kate Foster has won critical acclaim for The Maiden, set in 17th century Edinburgh and based on the real life murder trial of Lady Christian Nimmo which scandalised the nation. We’ll be delving deep into the darker side of history on Wednesday11th October at 7pm in St Peter’s Church.

The following week, Allan Radcliffe will be here to talk about his beautifully written debut novel, The Old Haunts. Set in a town in central Scotland (Allan hails from South Queensferry), it deals with relationships, ageing and coming to terms with grief in such a simple, yet powerful way. I loved this book and can’t wait to discuss it with Allan on Wednesday 18th October at 7pm in St Peter’s Church.

In November, we’ve got some real treats for fans of funny books and authors! Nina Stibbe is the best-selling author of Love, Nina. She’s back with another instalment of her diaries with Went to London, Took the Dog which covers the year she ran away to London aged 61. It’s as funny, heart-warming, and real as all of her writing, and is guaranteed to make us all laugh! Nina is visiting Linlithgow on Thursday 9th November and we’re really privileged to be hosting an event with her at 7pm in St Peter’s Church, all are welcome!

And finally, we are delighted to welcome Alexander McCall Smith back to Linlithgow! Celebrating 25 years of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, plus the first Scotland Street Recipe Book, join us in the magnificent surroundings of St Michael’s Church on Wednesday 15th November at 7pm as we celebrate one of Scotland’s best loved authors, and the owner of the best giggle in the business!

All of these events are ticketed, and tickets can be purchased in Far From The Madding Crowd Bookshop on the High Street, or online here.

And finally…

Here’s a date for your diary: we’re celebrating all the amazing independent businesses that operate in and around Linlithgow with a special day, just for us!

Linlithgow Independent’s Day will see loads of your favourite shops and businesses offering special discounts, deals and giveaways!

Head into town on Saturday 26th August and see what bargains you can find, and remember to check out details of individual offers on the Linlithgow High Street Traders facebook page!