England's Lane Books gets busy! - Helena Halme Author

Tessa Hadley at England’s Lane Books on 21st April

We have so many events lined up at the book shop in London in May that I thought I’d share some of the excitement with you as I can hardly believe the quality of the writers we are going to be hosting.

Only last week we had one of my very favourite writers, Tessa Hadley, visiting London from Cardiff. She read from her Orange 2011 listed novel, The London Train, as well as answered intelligent and sometimes funny questions from the audience. It was a highly enjoyable evening. (Apologies for the quality of the photo – it’s taken from a film).

In May the list of events is even more alluring:

Bill Turnbull 6 May
The BBC Breakfast presenter has a special thing about bees, so much so that he’s written a book about them, The Bad Beekeeper’s Club. The tickets for this event are selling like hotcakes. Bill is like honey to the bees. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun.)

Diana Athill 12 May
This lady of letters has a place in the British world of literature one can only dream of: as well as helping Andre Deutsch set up his publishing house, as an editor she’s worked with authors like John Updike, Philip Roth, Simone de Beauvoir, V.S Naipaul. She’s written several autobiographical books which make absolutely fascinating reading. The latest one, Life Class: The Selected Memoirs of Diana Athill is now out in paperback.

Yrsa Sigurdardottir 18 May
Chill winds from Iceland will blow over our North West London bookshop when this latest best-selling Nordic crime writer comes to talk about her craft. Engineer by day, plotter of dark murders by night, Yrsa has written six novels, three of which have been translated into English (next one Blessed are the Children will come out next year). I will be reviewing one of her books, My Soul to Take here soon.

June is looking to be equally busy with talented, famed and acclaimed writers wishing to come and talk to eager readers at our book shop on England’s Lane. Watch this space for more details soon!