3 4 Friday: Summer Events with Noël Janis-Norton, Bethan Roberts and Ann Cleeves

We have a few events coming up over summer to tempt you away from the sport (or perhaps you need no tempting?). Anyway, we have assembled three golden authors over the Summer in our own version of a cultural Olympiad...

On Monday 16 July at 7.30pm we welcome Noël Janis-Norton, author of 'Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting'. This takes place at Mostly Books, and Noël will be discussing her own approach to reducing the stress of parenting - and improving the relationship with your children at the same time. We only have about four places left for this event, and you must have a ticket (£4 to include wine). So if you would like to attend, details on how you can book can be found here.


Following the success of our joint 'Big Read' event with Abingdon Library earlier this year with author Rachel Joyce, we welcome rising literary star Bethan Roberts, author of 'The Pools' and 'The Good Plain Cook' to Abingdon Library on Thursday 9 August at 7.30pm.

Her latest book - set in Brighton in the 1950s - has just been selected for the prestigious annual Brighton 'City Reads' and we have been encouraging bookgroups to read the book over the summer for discussion in the autumn. Whether you come with your bookgroup, with a friend or on your own, it promises to be a lovely event, particularly as Bethan was born and grew up in Abingdon and worked in Abingdon library for a short time!


The book is, in part, inspired by the life of EM Forster, and has been critically acclaimed by a whole host of reviewers and readers. Read Nicki's review here, and find out how to attend the event here. Again, tickets are £4 and include a glass of wine.

Ann Cleeves looks poised to be the latest big name in crime fiction and we are pleased that she will be visiting Mostly Books in August. Her successful Vera Stanhope series has already made her a household name since being televised with Brenda Blethyn in the title role.

In September Ann Cleeves's Shetland series will be making its television debut. This new murder-mystery series is set against the stunning Scottish backdrop of the Shetland Isles and centres on Detective Jimmy Perez (played by Douglas Henshall). If you want to discover these books before seeing them on the television, come along and meet Ann at Mostly Books on Weds 15th August, 7.30pm. Full details can be found here, but pop in to see our offer to try her book 'Raven Black' for 99p when you spend £20 or more.