3 4 Friday: Bears, Baddies and Book Launches!

We have three superb events for young and old coming up over the next fortnight - including an innovative way for you to join in an event even if you can't be there in person (something we've never done before), we're hosting an evening with one of the UK's most up-and-coming crime fiction writers - and we're holding a book launch!

This coming Monday, August 13, we welcome Abingdon author and illustrator David Melling, author of 'The Kiss That Missed', the Goblins books and most recently the phenomenally successful 'Hugless Douglas'. It's been quite a year for David and Hugless. Hugless Douglas has become an absolute favourite children's character  - immortalised both as a cuddly plush, and one of the most downloaded iPhone Apps!

David will be at Mostly Books from 10.30am as part of "David Melling LIVE!" - an interactive event online. We will be broadcasting the event live on the blog, Twitter and Facebook, taking questions and allowing everyone to get the chance to see David drawing. In the shop, children can drop in during the morning, take part in Hugless Douglas activities and pick up drawing tips from David himself. David will be producing a drawing during the event, and anyone making a purchase of one of his books - both on or offline - will enter a prize draw to win the drawing! Click here to learn more.

Ann Cleeves is one of the UK's most talented crime writers, with her Vera Stanhope novels dramatized by ITV with Blenda Blethyn in the starring role. This autumn the BBC will be dramatizing her 'Shetland Quartet' novels, with detective Jimmy Perez to be played by Douglas Henshall. The first book in the series, 'Raven Black', won the Duncan Lawrie Dagger award, the richest prize in crime fiction writing, and we are thrilled that she will be at Mostly Books to talk about her writing and introducing people to the books before you see the televised versions.

Ann has done a bit of everything in her life - child care officer, women's refuge leader, bird observatory cook, auxiliary coastguard and trained as a probation officer. She is a passionate campaigner for libraries and has set up reading groups in prisons with the Literacy Trust. It promises to be a fascinating evening.

Ann will be at Mostly Books on Wednesday August 15 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £4, and includes a glass of wine. The event takes place in the shop - so space is limited, please let us know if you can attend or find out more here.

Finally, we are delighted to be the venue for the launch of 'Stop The Clock', the debut novel by local author Alison Mercer. 

Published by Black Swan, 'Stop The Clock' follows the lives of three friends as they negotiate what is often the most life-changing thing that can happen – starting a family. We meet the three as recent graduates, finding love and establishing careers, and watch how they fall apart and come back together again. It’s a rich, well-observed novel of three very different women, and three very different journeys.

The launch takes place at 7.30pm at Mostly Books on Tuesday, August 21. Find out more here.