Amy Wilson’s favourite bookshops
Oh, a bookshop! Naturally one of my
most treasured haunts, just stepping in through the doors is an adventure. I
quite often get lost in them, forgetting what I came in for and wandering on
until I’m rescued by a bookseller, or one of my children. Here are some of my
local favourites:
Books
on the Hill, Clevedon: A gorgeous bookshop, really active in the local
community. The children’s section is bright and welcoming, and Alistair is a
book-loving wizard who always makes time to chat.
Website: https://www.booksonthehill.co.uk Twitter: @booksonthehill
Chepstow
Books: I love this bright, warm bookshop, tucked at the bottom of St Mary
Street. Bookseller Matt has supplied books for several of my author events, and
always has a warm and friendly welcome – and a lot of knowledge to help a lost
reader!
Website: https://chepstowbooks.co.uk Twitter:
@ChepstowBooks
Max
Minerva’s, Westbury Park, Bristol: One of the area’s newer independent
bookshops, cosy and so helpful. I turned to bookseller Jessica during lockdown
when I wasn’t sure what I wanted to read, and having mumbled vaguely about
things I liked I very soon had a beautiful pile of previously undiscovered
treasures.
Website: https://maxminervas.co.uk Twitter:
@maxminervas
Mr
B’s Emporium of Reading Delights, John Street, Bath: A palace of a book
shop, recently expanded and heaving with goodies. There are some lovely twisty
book-crammed corridors to explore, and the children’s section has been
beautifully designed and decorated. Look out for author’s pens on the ceiling!
Website: https://mrbsemporium.com Twitter: @MrBsemporium
Waterstones
Cribbs Causeway, Bristol: A
bustling bookshop, always welcoming. Children’s bookseller Mary is a star, so
friendly and on a mission to help young readers find their next adventure.
Website: https://www.waterstones.com/bookshops/cribbs-causeway Twitter: @WaterstonesCC
Bookshop Day is on Saturday, October
3 and exists to promote all high street bookshops. Do support your local bookseller
this week, if you can, and if you’re not planning to visit a shop this weekend
why not tweet about your favourite shop. Be sure to tag @Booksaremybag and use
#ChooseBookshops.
For anyone who doesn’t know where their local bookshop is, you can use this handy link to the Bookshop Search: https://booksaremybag.com/bookshops.
Amy Wilson
Amy Wilson is the author of several
magical middle grade stories, including A
Girl Called Owl, published by
Macmillan Children’s Books. Her new story, Owl
and the Lost Boy, can be enjoyed as a standalone or companion to A Girl Called Owl.
To find out more about Amy and her
books, or to book her for a virtual or real-life visit to your school, please
go to her website https://amywilsonbooks.com. Amy tweets at @AJ_Wils.
