Independent Book shop in Downham Market
Upcoming Events
We are pleased to announce our autumn line up of authors who will be visiting the shop and giving talks. There may be more to be added so keep an eye out! We hope there is an event to interest you. We look forward to seeing you.
Saturday 5th September from 10am
Jane Sleight Local Author
Local author Jane Sleight will joining us f0r an informal meet and greet to chat to customers and sign her books. Jane has written many works of fiction with her 'Tales of a Modern Woman' series, plus she has written, plays, short stories and poetry.
Jane started her first novel in 2011 though she had many pages of teenage scribble filled with happy-ever-after tales by that point. With fifteen books completed and a sixteenth in progress, she gets the same buzz from conjuring up fascinating characters and putting them in tough situations. The more she writes, the harder those situations become, with espionage, corruption and murder featuring in her later works. But there’s always a happy ending for someone.
Her play - The Sisterhood Illusion - was showcased at the Norwich Theatre Royal in 2025 and she will be a guest speaker at a German literary festival this autumn. Find out more at www.janesleight.com
Come and have a chat with Jane and find out more about her writing from 10am
NEW from award-winning superstar Mariajo Ilustrajo comes 'Unexpected Guests', a witty tale of a family of mice who discover some unpleasant houseguests: HUMANS! A playful, surprising twist on the classic "unexpected guests" premise, Mariajo's latest witty tale features clever gatefolds and die-cuts throughout a sure to be firm family favourite.
Join us as the lovely Mariajo leads a story-time draw-a-long event where kids get to draw their own mice, and recreate their own 'Mouse Land' from the book!
Following the prize-winning Flooded and I (Hate) Love Books – along with other titles such as Lost and Oh, Carrots! – Unexpected Guests confirms Mariajo as one of today’s most exciting picture book creators.
We have limited spaces for this event and so we can keep an eye on numbers this event will be ticketed and include a copy of the book to take home. Tickets are £8 including a copy of the book. Please call in the shop to grab your tickets or call or email us.
Saturday 19th September 11am
Marijo Illustrajo - The Unexpected Guests - A story-time 'draw-along' event
This interactive event is ticketed at £8 which will include a copy of The Unexpected Guests
Thursday 24th September 6.30pm
Charles Moseley - Hunting for Hereward: Myth, Mayhem and Man
We are very pleased to be welcoming the wonderful Charles Moseley back to Words & Wonder Books to talk about his latest book 'Hunting For Hereward'. Hereward the Wake was an Anglo-Saxon nobleman who led the rebellion against the Normans throughout the fens and famously at Ely.
Hereward, for a very short time, made a noise in the world, and gave William the Conqueror quite a few sleepless nights. Centuries after he died, he became an icon of Resistance to Tyranny. But we cannot know much about what this mysterious man was like, not even where he was born or where and when he died: he comes out of shadows and returns to them. This book explores the turbulent world he lived in, and what it would have been like to have lived through events that reverberate right down to today. It also explores how people remembered Hereward, how they made a myth of him, and how he became a symbol of Englishness.
Dr Charles Moseley lives on the fens and is a Fellow of Hughes Hall, Cambridge University, where he teaches English. He has written many books, and he loves, among many other things, Ely cathedral, choral music, growing vegetables and walking his dog Milo.
This event is free but please register you attendance by emailing, calling or popping into the shop.
Thursday 8th October 6.30pm
Rory Clements - Invitation From A Dictator
The Sunday Times bestselling author returns with a gripping new WW2 thriller, set in 1937 during the Windsor's infamous tour of Germany.
Munich, 1937. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor have arrived in Germany for a historic meeting at Hitler's mountain retreat.
But recent attacks by ruthless Communist band, Red Freedom, has brought fear and bloodshed to the area. As brutal as the Nazis, their next targets are Edward, Wallis and the Fuhrer himself.
Detective Sebastian Wolff is charged with their protection, but the conflict between his job and his politics becomes even more complicated when Wolff realises who is behind Red Freedom: Ulrike, his first love and the mother of his son.
The personal and political collide in this electrifying new novel from the million-copy-bestselling 'master of the wartime thriller', Rory Clements.
Rory Clements writes full time in a quiet corner of Norfolk. He was raised all over the world while his father served in the Royal Navy, an experience that went on to inspire Rory's beloved historical thrillers. Previously a journalist for various papers, he is now a Sunday Times bestselling author, two-time winner and three-time nominee of the CWA Historical Dagger Award. His books have sold over 1 million copies to date.
This event is free but please email, call or pop in the shop to register your attendance.
Tuesday 3rd November 6.30pm
Charlie Bingham - The Ornithologist's Library
The Ornithologist’s Library is a richly illustrated exploration of the most influential works in the study of birds, from early naturalists to modern field guides. Featuring landmark texts by figures such as John James Audubon and Gilbert White, it reveals how art, observation and storytelling have shaped our knowledge of avian life across centuries. At a time of accelerating biodiversity loss, this timely volume highlights how these works continue to inspire conservation and deepen our connection to the natural world. Inside, readers will find: • A chronological journey from ancient manuscripts to contemporary ornithological classics • Key authors and thinkers who transformed bird science and conservation • Striking visual material, including high-quality illustrations and rare archival content • A global perspective that spans both Western and non-Western traditions • Fresh insight into how historical works inform today’s environmental challenges
Charlie Bingham is a UK based nature writer and author of The Life Affirming Magic of Birds. After completing a degree in archaeology at the University of York, Charlie began to reconnect with nature in her mid 20’s. She found that birds especially seemed to have the ability to help her through difficult times and made it her life’s mission to share her love and passion with a wide audience. Charlie’s passion for the natural world shines across her social media platforms and in her work as a digital communications specialist and event manager for nature based charities. Charlie has written for various platforms and publications including Conker Magazine, Bird Table, The Guardian and Bald Hiker.
This event is free but please register your attendance via email, telephone or calling in the shop.