Independent Bookshop Week, author visits and offers!

by SALLY PATTLE June 11, 2025

It’s (nearly) Independent Bookshop Week 2025!

Independent Bookshop Week is back!

We have tons of offers, signed or exclusive editions and some very special guests lined up for a week when we celebrate everything good about books, reading, writing, independent bookshops and most importantly of all: you dear reader!

From Saturday 14th-Saturday 21st June we're offering:

*B.O.G.O.F. on all paperback fiction!

*Buy a children's paperback fiction book, and get an activity pack for free!

And if that wasn't exciting enough, on Saturday 14th June, enjoy £5 off all hardbacks!

And instead of our regular Friday storytelling session, we’ll be at the Rose Garden celebrations on Sunday 15th June to tell stories amongst the flowers at 3pm!

Plus, we've got a couple of special guests popping into the shop during the week - stay tuned for more information!

This is the perfect time to stock up on new books: holiday season is nearly here!

A run down of our summer events!

In addition to Independent Bookshop Week, we’re welcoming some new authors to Linlithgow for the first time, plus POSTMAN BEAR is coming to town!

IN CONVERSATION WITH CATRIONA STEWART, PEOPLE PLEASER

WEDNESDAY 2ND JULY, 7PM

ST PETER'S CHURCH, LINLITHGOW

We cannot wait to welcome Catriona to Linlithgow: her family has roots here - many people may remember her granny and grandpa Mary & Freddie Stewart - and we're hoping she can bring a little Californian sunshine our way when she visits!

“When a Hollywood A Lister with a seemingly perfect life is found murdered, her sister vows to find the killer. As she investigates, she discovers everything was not as it seemed in her sister's life and the gilded cage of Hollywood is slightly tarnished around the edges.

TICKETS £5, includes refreshments and a discount on book sales on the evening.

MEET POSTMAN BEAR!

FRIDAY 11THJULY, 11.00am

THE LOW PORT CENTRE

Following the success of our family Gruffalo event last year, we’re thrilled to announce that Postman Bear from the popular Acorn Wood series will be visiting Linlithgow on 11th July!

Based around the stories created by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, this will be a great family event! Children will get the opportunity to meet Postman Bear and have their picture taken. There will be storytelling and craft activities as well.

All activities suitable for ages 3+. Adult supervision required at all times.

Family tickets £8*

*A family ticket admits up to 6 people.

A couple of back-to-back visits by authors are also happening in July: Liam McIlvanney will be stopping by on Thursday 3rd July to sign copies of The Good Father.

The following day, renowned artist Nicola Atkinson will be signing copies of Beautiful Materials here in the shop at noon: check out her exhibition in the Burgh Halls now!

Our autumn events are taking shape!

We have some absolutely CRACKING events heading your way for autumn, here’s what’s already confirmed and keep watching … more to follow!

IN CONVERSATION WITH LEN PENNIE, POYUMS ANNAW

MONDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER, 7:00PM

ST PETER'S CHURCH, LINLITHGOW

Len Pennie is heading to Linlithgow! The only word that really works here is BRAW!

Len will be launching her eagerly anticipated second collection of poetry, Poyums Annaw, right here and we cannae wait! A formidable follow up to her award-winning debut poetry collection, Len Pennie's Poyums Annaw is just like her: defiant, angry and trailblazing. These poems are a call to arms, confronting ideas of patriarchy, gender-based violence and societal injustice with equal parts tenderness, quick-wit and righteous fury.

TICKETS £8, includes refreshments and a discount on book sales on the evening.

IN CONVERSATION WITH SABRINA GHAYOUR, PERSIANA EASY

THURSDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER, 7:00PM

LINLITHGOW BURGH HALLS

The finest Persian cooking is coming to Linlithgow! Persiana is one of our most sauce-spattered cookbooks and it's going to be a mouth-watering event to listen to Sabrina Ghayour’s inspiration and methods!

A brand new collection of inspiring recipes from the bestselling Middle Eastern chef - each carefully designed to be as easy as possible. The hotly anticipated new collection from Sunday Times bestselling author Sabrina Ghayour, every recipe in Persiana Easy balances irresistible Middle Eastern flavours with accessible cooking. From midweek meals and traybakes to pastries and sweet treats, this collection features easy recipes to delight your family and friends, time and again.

TICKETS £10, includes refreshments and a discount on book sales on the evening.

IN CONVERSATION WITH JAMES OSWALD, THE REST IS DEATH

WEDNESDAY 17th SEPTEMBER, 7PM

ST PETER'S CHURCH, LINLITHGOW

The gripping new instalment in the Inspector Maclean series has landed!

An ancient artifact, an innovative biotech company AND a whole lot of bloodshed left in its wake: this is shaping up to be Inspector Maclean's trickiest case yet, but one which readers will love. We’re over the moon to welcome James Oswald back to Linlithgow to discuss his writing life, and his farming life: we're here for the coos update!

TICKETS £8, includes refreshments and a discount on booksales on the day.

AN AFTERNOON WITH ANN CLEEVES, THE KILLING STONES

WEDNESDAY 8th OCTOBER, 2PM

ST MICHAEL'S PARISH CHURCH, LINLITHGOW

Last, but very definitely not least: Ann Cleeves is heading back to Linlithgow to tell us all about the next chapter in Jimmy Perez’s detective life; he’s back and this time he's solving crime on Orkney!

Tickets are selling fast for this one, so don’t miss out!

Book & Ticket £25

Ticket only £8

***PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A DAYTIME EVENT!***