A Rare Day Of Bookshop Decadence in Edinburgh.
A sold out workshop and stowaway books.
Dear reader,
I’m sneaking in this wee journal entry from April, in support of ‘Independent Bookshop Week’. I hope you enjoy it!
Amidst towering bookshelves and the laughter of children, my day of bookshop decadence in Edinburgh begins…
I am a confessed bookshop addict. So when I was invited to run a workshop for the release of ‘Too Snappy to Wear a Nappy’ at The Edinburgh Book Shop at 9:30am on a Friday morning, despite the early start, I woke before my alarm eager for a rare day of bookshop decadence!
The Edinburgh Book shop has shelves which tower above you, reminiscent of the library in a stately home, yet it retains a cosines made more welcoming still by the warmth of the staff and a steaming mug of tea.
Many children turned up, all vying for the best seat on the floor next to the giant stuffed Gruffalo! We sang songs, read my book, made some delightful peg puppets together and laughed a lot!
Too Snappy to Wear a Nappy workshop at the Edinburgh Book Shop
First stop on my bookshop crawl of Edinburgh completed I freewheeled downhill to Stockbridge (A familiar haunt of mine. I shared a flat there in my 20s). The wind was icy despite the bright sunshine and I regretted the premature casting of my gloves. The old Scots proverb: ‘Ne'er cast a clout till May is out’ playing over in my mind as cobblestones shook every bone in my body. Rubbing my hands together I locked my bike to the railings on St. Steven Street where Ginger and Pickels and The Golden Hare conveniently sit opposite each other and entered their warmth. Exiting with just a few books…
Then it was onwards to Portobello Book Shop and the Sea. Leaving just enough time to drop into The Fruitmarket Gallery before my train back to Glasgow.
‘Too Snappy to Wear a Nappy’ had been released the previous day and to see it on the shelves, amongst such great company, in some of my favourite bookshops was definite cause for celebration. So I treated myself to more new books, coffee, cake and sketching on Portobello beach. Watching teenagers daring each other to swim - taking selfies, sandcastles being built, imaginary worlds unfolding, dog walkers, beach combers. All in all I couldn’t ask for a more perfect day.
I thought it timely to post this newsletter today - the last day in Independent bookshop Week.
Do you have a list of favourite bookshops in your town or city? I think the world could do with a guide to the best bookshop crawls in the uk! What do you think?
Some of my favourite Edinburgh Bookshops
Book Stowaways
without doubt - and gloves - an enjoyable report of a grand day out. well done in taking delight in your achievement of your books being in spaces valued.