David's Bookshop News

New Fiction Sale

2007-11-05T11:37:00.000+01:00

ALL NEW FICTION

Buy one, get one
half price*

until 30th November

Includes general fiction, crime fiction, sci-fi & fantasy, hardback fiction and classic fiction.

Excludes audio books.

*Discounts may not be claimed in conjunction with other offers. Cheapest book half price.

autumn/winter events

2007-10-28T12:48:00.000+01:00

19th November (Mon), 7.30pm at Spirella Ballroom
The World at War with Richard Holmes—tickets £3

The famous 1973 BBC documentary series "The World at War" told the history of World War II through the testimony of key participants, from civilians to statesmen of the day, and from all sides in the conflict. Now Richard Holmes has revisited the transcripts for his new book, priced £25. Hear the stories behind the series and book.

4th December (Tues), 7.30pm in the Bookshop
Imagining Magdeburg—poetry with John Gohorry

John Gohorry is the working name of Don Smith, who taught from 1971 to 2006 at North Herts College. Imagining Magdeburg (Shoestring Press, £8.95) is his third full collection of poems. www.johngohorry.co.uk

28th December (Fri), 7pm in the Bookshop
Trivia Quiz

Get your brain working again after the stupefying Christmas excess! Form a team of up to 6 people for this annual gathering
Entry is free—it helps us if you let us know you will be entering.

17th January (Thurs), 7.30pm in the Bookshop
Villages of Vision with Gillian Darley

Author Gillian Darley will give a talk entitled Villages of Vision—still?
Gillian Darley is a former architectural correspondent of the Observer. She is the former Chairman of the Society for Protection of Ancient Buildings. Her biographies include Sir John Soane and John Evelyn (both shortlisted for the James Tate Memorial Prize) and Octavia Hill.
Her book, Villages of Vision (Five Leaves Press, £14.99), explains the origins, aesthetics and philosophy behind planned villages which appeared all over Britain and Ireland – the best known being Portmeirion, Port Sunlight, New Lanark and Bournville. The new revised edition includes a greatly expanded gazetteer (including Letchworth) which shows where such villages can be seen – not as museums but as evolving, living places. Gillian Darley covers hundreds of these strange and pretty arcadias built by aristocrats, industrialists and visionaries— of particular interest to residents and students of Letchworth and the Garden City movement.Admission is free—please reserve your seat.

24th January (Thurs), 7.30pm at Howgills
Animal Rights debate

Debating the motion “Animal experiments are ethically wrong” will be Dr. Gill Langley, Science Director of the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research (a medical research charity funding exclusively non-animal research techniques) and Dr Simon Festing, Executive Director, Research Defence Society (representing medical researchers in the public debate about the use of animals in medical research and testing). Tickets £3 from David’s Bookshop.

26th February (Tues), 7.30pm in the Bookshop
Joanna Trollope in conversation with Sarah Harrison

Joanna Trollope has been writing for over thirty years: she first wrote a number of historical novels (under the name Caroline Harvey), and more recently, her enormously successful contemporary works of fiction, several of which have been televised. The Choir was her first contemporary novel, followed by A Village Affair and A Passionate Man. The Rector's Wife was her first number one bestseller, and made her into a household name. Since then she has written more contemporary novels, including A Spanish Lover, Other People’s Children, Marrying the Mistress, Girl from the South and Brother and Sister. All of these have attracted considerable critical acclaim as well as commercial success. Joanna was appointed OBE 1996. Her new novel Friday Nights will be published in February.
Sarah Harrison is the author of 23 books, including Flowers of the Field and How to Write a Blockbuster, and regularly appears on radio and television. Tickets £3 from David’s Bookshop.

Weekend discount sale

2007-10-28T11:55:00.000+01:00

Books, Music, Gifts & Cards

SALE WEEKEND

All day Saturday & Sunday, 3rd & 4th November

All stock at least 20% off*

Outside sale—all pavement stock is 50p or less all weekend!

Sale hours & discounts are as follows –please read carefully:
Saturday & Sunday all day:

20% off all stock*

“Happy hours” (Sat & Sun 2pm - 4pm only):
30% off nearly all stock*
50% off all secondhand books & cds & most vinyl*

Bookshop open 8 to 7 Sat & 10 to 5 Sun; Music & Gifts 9 to 6 Sat & 10 to 5 Sun.

*Discounts may not be claimed in conjunction with other offers. Excludes ordered goods & tokens. 30% discount excludes new dvds & cd singles. Stock means items on our shelves at the time of the offer. 50% offer excludes internet-listed vinyl.

Autumn 2007 Events

2007-09-04T11:05:00.000+01:00

Book now for the author events below. Please note the venue for each one. Free events - please reserve your seat by phoning 01462 684631 or emailing staff@davids-bookshops.co.uk; tickets for the others are available in the bookshop (you can reserve by phone etc).

Christian Wolmar

Britain's leading transport commentator will talk about Fire & Steam - a New History of British Railways (or how the government has never valued them properly!)

Tuesday October 9th, 7.30pm in the bookshop —admission free.

Cyril Aydon - “Out of Africa”

Come and hear Cyril talking about, and reading from, his book The Story of Man, and explaining why the “Out of Africa” theory of human origins has won out against rival explanations.

Tuesday October 16th, 7.30pm in the bookshop —admission free.

David’s Debate—The Surveillance State

David Blunkett & Simon Carr will debate the motion Law-abiding Britons have nothing to fear from identity cards. Simon Carr is the political sketch writer for the Independent; David Blunkett is the former Home Secretary.

Tuesday November 6th, 7.30 to 8.45pm, tickets £5 (at Howgills, South View).

Professor Richard Holmes

(author of War Walks, In the Footsteps of Churchill etc),
talking about his new book The World at War –exploring eye-witness accounts recorded for the landmark television series.

Monday November 19th, 7.30pm (Spirella Ballroom), tickets £3.

Annual "Carless Day"

2007-06-14T16:15:00.000+01:00

Another year gone by, another tiny act of defiance of our car-addicted culture..............

20% off

all stock in our 3 shops*

Saturday 16th June

Only for customers who come to town on foot, by pushbike or by public transport.

Sign the "carless pledge" to claim your discount - we trust you!

You can also claim free delivery (by bike) in Letchworth & Baldock before 3pm

*vouchers & orders excluded - not in conjunction with other offers

Don't forget the farmer's market - 9am til 1pm on the same day.

Meet the "Suburban Shaman"

2007-06-12T09:13:00.000+01:00

Wednesday, July 4th at 7.30pm, at David's Bookshop

Cecil Helman:

family doctor, anthropologist, university lecturer, writer and poet.
international expert on medical anthropology
author of Suburban Shaman: Tales From Medicine’s Frontline (serialized on Radio 4)

'Cecil Helman is many things: old-fashioned general practitioner, psychiatrist, cultural anthropologist, storyteller, poet and artist - and all this comes together in Suburban Shaman, a beautifully written, devastatingly honest, and often very funny, account of an audacious and adventurous life.'
Oliver Sacks

He is particularly interested in the humanistic side of medicine - especially the role of stories and narratives in medical care, and what they reveal about the inner worlds of both doctor and patient. Among his other interests are the role of metaphors and symbols in our understanding of the human body, in both illness and health; and what the Western industrialized world can learn from the healing systems of more traditional societies, when dealing with different aspects of human suffering.

‘Medicine is not just about science. It’s also all about stories, and about the mingling of narratives among doctors, and between them and their patients.’

Don’t miss this fascinating evening of readings, talk and discussion
Reserve your free seat on 01462 684631, email staff@davids-bookshops.co.uk

Find out more about Cecil Helman at www.cecilhelman.com

Author events at David's Bookshop

2007-05-08T10:52:00.000+01:00

Wednesday 23rd May at 7.30pm - Quirkology

We are pleased to welcome Richard Wiseman, Britain's only professor for the Public Understanding of Psychology, who will explain the ideas behind his new book, Quirkology (£14.99, published 18th May).
Richard recently spoke at the David’s Debate on “The Route to Happiness”

For over twenty years, Prof Richard Wiseman has examined the quirky science of everyday life. He has spent nights in allegedly haunted houses, conducted clandestine experiments in over 30 countries, and dressed up in a giant chicken suit. Quirkology describes his adventures into the backwaters of human behaviour, taking us to places where mainstream scientists fear to tread….“a fresh look at the fascinating phenomenon that is your life”.

Richard Wiseman has an international reputation for his research into unusual areas including deception, luck, humour and the paranormal. He is the psychologist most frequently quoted by the British Media and his research has been featured on over 150 programmes. He is regularly heard on Radio 4 and articles about his work have appeared throughout the national press.

Thursday, June 7th, 7.30pm
Behind the Veil—an evening with mental health

Talk & book signing with S. Westwood, author of Suicide Junkie—a memoir of living with & surviving Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, suicide and self-harm.

This autobiographical novel describes the author’s fights with an obsessive phobia that his skin is hideously ugly and a personality disorder that leads to the edge of despair. He is diagnosed as having Borderline Personality Disorder and severe depression but it is not for a further ten years that his silence regarding his appearance is broken and he is finally diagnosed with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. In the knowledge that his skin problem is a mental disorder rather than a physical deformity the correct medication is, at last, prescribed and the road to recovery begins. Books available now, £10.99.

Wednesday 11 July, 7.30pm.
War-torn Skies—Hertfordshire. Published May, £14.95
Author talk & signing with Julian Evan-Hart.

The archaeology of aircraft—it is 222 years since the Italian diplomat Vincenzo Lunardi landed his balloon in Hertfordshire, accompanied by his dog, cat and a caged pigeon. One of the first fatal military aircraft crashes happened in the county in 1912 (near Willian), and the first Zeppelin to fall in Britain came down at Potters Bar in 1916. The famous DeHavilland family based their aircraft manufacturing business at Hatfield, where the Mosquito was designed and built, Luftwaffe bombers were shot down in the county and American bombers were stationed at its airfields; all have contributed the county’s rich aviation heritage.

Julian Evan-Hart, author of the best-selling book Beginner’s Guide to Metal Detecting, has recently featured in BBC2’s Time Watch and journeyed to Jordan as part of an expedition to locate the sites where Laurence of Arabia fought. He is one of Britain’s leading metal detector experts, and has spent much of his life researching the history of his county.

All events are free - please reserve your seat by telephoning 01462 684631 or emailing staff@davids-bookshops.co.uk.

International author visit

2007-05-02T13:23:00.000+01:00

Literary evening—meet the author

The Gift of Rain
by Tan Twan Eng

Tuesday 8th May, 7.30pm (in the bookshop)

Tan Twan Eng was born in Penang, but lived in various places in Malaysia as a child. He studied law through the University of London, and later worked as an advocate and solicitor in one of Kuala Lumpur's most reputable law firms. He also has a first-dan ranking in aikido and is a strong proponent for the conservation of heritage buildings. He has spent the last year travelling around South Africa, and currently lives in Cape Town where he is working on his second book.
He is visiting Britain for a limited period to attend literary events and will appear on BBC Radio 3.

The Gift of Rain is set in Penang in 1939. With masterful and gorgeous narrative, replete with exotic and captivating images, sounds and aromas, Tan Twan Eng weaves a haunting and unforgettable story of betrayal, barbaric cruelty, steadfast courage and enduring love.

Tan will explain the book’s exotic setting, something of the history of wartime Malaysia, and read selected extracts.

Free admission—please reserve your seat.
Telephone 01462 684631, email staff@davids-bookshops.co.uk

World Book Day Sale

2007-02-26T12:27:00.000+01:00

Below are details of past events:

Don't miss the annual

World Book Day
SALE

20% to 50% off all stock*

Selected times Thursday 1st to Saturday 3rd March.

Bookshop open all night!

Sale times & discounts—please read carefully:

20% off all stock* in all 3 shops - Thursday all day
30% off almost everything* - Thursday 12—1pm & 6—7pm
& Saturday 1—3pm
Plus (bookshop only):
50% off all secondhand books - Midnight Thursday to 6am Friday
30% off almost everything else* - 2—6am Friday

*ordered items & tokens excluded. Discounts cannot be claimed in conjunction with other offers. 30% discount excludes new dvds & cd singles. Stock means items on our shelves at the time of the offer. See below for individual shop opening times

Opening hours on Thursday(note: these are not the sale hours)
Bookshop—7am Thursday to 7pm Friday non-stop; Music 9am to 7pm; Gifts 9am to 8pm.

Forthcoming Events

2007-02-09T10:58:00.000+01:00

“What I Would Do With Letchworth”
- free discussion evening.
Six speakers with contrasting areas of interest and expertise, including Geoff Steeley, Roz Allwood, Chris Cheffings and William Armitage, will give alternative visions for the First Garden City’s future, followed by audience questions and debate.

Letchworth occupies a unique position as the world’s first Garden City and was the testing ground for many innovations of design and local government. It also experiences challenges common to most towns of a similar size in South East England.

What would you do with Letchworth today?
Tuesday 27th February, 7.30pm in the bookshop – admission free, please reserve your seat.

History of Islam
Author talk & book signing
Barnaby Rogerson, Author of The Prophet Muhammad, Heirs of the Prophet Muhammad, Meetings With Remarkable Muslims (ed.)
Wednesday, February 28th, 7.30pm
Admission free—please reserve your seat

Barnaby Rogerson:
After two jobs in publishing he worked for the Afghanistan Support Committee, as a tutor on a Greek island, as a barman and in the restoration of grottoes and the construction of garden temples. He is an experienced travel writer particularly on North Africa and the lands of the old Ottoman Empire. With John Hatt and Rose Baring, Barnaby owns and runs Eland Books, which specialises in travel literature, biography, fiction and oral history.

“The Changing Face of Newspapers”
Local & National

Expert debate from speakers including:
Darren Isted—Editor of the Comet newspaper
Tony Lloyd—Associate Chief Production Journalist, Daily Telegraph
David Walker—former Executive Editor, Financial Times
followed by audience questions and discussion.

The speakers:
Tony Lloyd started in newspapers on leaving school at the age of 18. His first job was as a trainee reporter on The South Yorkshire Times in Mexborough. Subsequently he worked for the Sheffield Star as a reporter, then sub-editor, the Daily Mail as a sub-editor and the short-lived London Daily News. For the past 20 years he has worked for the Daily Telegraph in a variety of roles including Chief Sub, Northern Editor, Associate Night Editor and now Associate Chief Production Journalist.
He is 53 and lives in Hinxworth with his wife Patricia. They have two grown up children.

David Walker was with the Financial Times for 35 years, and an Assistant Editor of the paper for over 25 years. He was successively Features Editor, News Editor, Managing Editor and most recently Executive Editor.
That meant working with the Editor in passing leaders and features for publication, taking final decisions on the day’s main news stories, being responsible for the accuracy and literacy of the overall content, and seeing the paper through the successive UK and international editions each night as news broke.
He retired in mid-2005. His journalistic career began in Letchworth 38 years ago on the Herts Pictorial, predecessor to the Comet.
He is one of the judges for the UK Press Awards, and also edits a magazine for a London East End heritage group.
He is chairman of David’s Bookshops, chairman of Letchworth Arts Centre and a governor of the Garden City Heritage Foundation.
Both his sons are in the media industry.

Wednesday 7th March at 7.30pm
Admission free—please reserve your seat
Part of the North
Hertfordshire Book Festival

North Hertfordshire History Through Old Maps
Explore local history with 2 expert speakers

LLinos Thomas
County Local Studies Librarian for Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Brian Quinn
Co-founder of Timeline Maps (now Cassini Publishing), publishers of Old Series Historical maps – reproductions of OS’s 19th-century Old Series maps, but enlarged and re-formatted to match the present-day Landrangers – as well as an ever-increasing range of other historical mapping titles. Brian will talk about his publishing ventures.

A fascinating insight into maps and mapping!
Wednesday 28th March at 7.30pm
Tickets £2, (refundable when you purchase a Cassini Map)

Murder Ancient & Modern
Edward Marston and Judith Cutler compare techniques for writing about crime in the past and in the present. They have appeared at festivals, bookshops and writers' groups in the UK and in America.
Edward is the author of forty crime novels, set in four distinct periods of history: Domesday Books explore the crimes and misdemeanours surrounding the compilation of Domesday in the late 11th century; Nicholas Bracewell series features an Elizabethan theatre company; Christopher Redmayne mysteries look at the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire of 1666 and Inspector Robert Colbeck series deals with major crimes committed on Victorian railways.
Judith is the author of ten books in the series featuring amateur sleuth, Sophie Rivers and six novels starring Detective Sergeant Kate Power. All the novels are set in the present day
Thursday 19th April, 7.30pm – please reserve your free seat.

World Book Day 2007

2007-02-02T12:11:00.000+01:00

Thursday March 1st

FREE EVENTS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS!

24-hour charity bedtime read
Bookworms needed to read in the bookshop, in bed! The charity sponsored “readathon” starts at 7am on Thursday 1st March and continues until Friday morning (the bookshop is open all night). You can volunteer by calling the bookshop on 01462 684631 or email staff@davids-bookshops.co.uk.

Recitation Competition - 8pm
Can you recite poetry or speeches? Do you like to declaim to all and sundry? Enter the competition – there are 2 categories, for readings and for recitation from memory. Suitable for adults & older children.
Pick up an entry form from David’s Bookshop.

Trivia Quiz – 10pm.
Free entry – form a team of up to 6 or just turn up and we’ll fit you in.

For Children:

Bugs Bugs Bugs
See and hear about an array of creepy crawlies (from Shepreth Wildlife Park) in the Children’s Bookshop. 4 – 5.30pm. No need to book

Harry Potter Quiz
Open to all children – 6.30pm in the Children’s Bookshop. (an entry form should be handed in before the day). The next Harry Potter book (H.P. & the Deathly Hallows will be published on Saturday 21st July).

Also, on the days following:

Friday 2nd March – Dr. Seuss 50th Anniversary Party, 4 – 5.30pm
Fun, games and competitions (including the great marshmallow tongue-twister challenge). Please contact the Children’s Bookshop (01462 475910) if you want to go.

Saturday 3rd March – World Book Day Party, 12 noon – 5 pm
Come to the Children’s Bookshop for a mass of activities throughout the day, including a reading tent, book review and design-a-bookmark competitions, balloon race and book character fancy dress!

We will of course be accepting the 2007 World Book Day vouchers and stocking the special World Book Day reads.
This is a selection of events at David’s – details of debates, talks, discussions etc to follow.

All enquiries to David’s Bookshops on 01462 684631 or 475910,
email staff@davids-bookshops.co.uk.

Quiz

2006-12-16T10:27:00.000+01:00

Archived Events:

At a loose end after Christmas?
Test your knowledge in David’s Bookshop’s

Trivia Quiz!

Free entry
Form a team of up to 6 people or just roll up & join a team on the day

Extremely small prize for winning team

Light refreshments provided

Thursday 28th December, 7pm

David’s Bookshop,
Eastcheap, Letchworth
Tel 01462 684631
staff@davids-bookshops.co.uk

Books of the Week

2006-11-10T18:55:00.000+01:00

Saturday 16th to Friday 23rd December, while stocks last

The Sound of Laughter
by Peter Kay
£9.99
(rrp £18.99)

The Human Body
pub. Miles Kelly
£8.99
(rrp £17.99)

Hundreds more bargains in our shops
Look out for next week’s deals!

New Local Book published by David's

2006-10-31T14:37:00.000+01:00

David’s Book of Letchworth—published late November—price £9.95
A BRIEF HISTORY & PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE FIRST GARDEN CITY
By Roger Harrison, with David Walker

We have long wished for a concise history and town guide for Letchworth, not a big glossy hardback or book of old photos, interesting though these may be. So now we’re publishing one!
This unique, lavishly illustrated book tells the story of the Letchworth
adventure, with walks through the town that let you see for yourself how it unfolded.
It also provides a comprehensive guide to the modern Garden City and its amenities – the town centre, sports facilities, schools, places of worship,
medical and dental surgeries, arts and leisure, public bodies, and more.
There is an assessment of the Letchworth legacy – the successes, the failures, the lessons to be drawn.
Further afield, it looks at the surrounding countryside and nearby towns and villages worth visiting.

A book for everyone who lives or who has lived in or near Letchworth, and for everyone who cares about urban living, past, present and future. Don’t miss your copy!

Stocked up for Christmas!
More local books—there seems to be an emphasis on railways at present, with the new book from Hitchin Historical society, Take the Train From Hitchin, (£9.99). Also available are Hitchin to Bedford Railway by Peter Waylett at £8.95 and Lost Railways of Hertfordshire (also Bedfordshire) at £7.50.

New Historical Map—part of a new series of from Cassini (who produce the Timeline maps) this map will show the development of the area encompassing Letchworth, Stevenage, Hitchin & Baldock through 4 Ordnance Survey (re-scaled) maps of different ages (1804 to 2006). Available early December, £7.99.

Everyman Classics—hardback classics from £7.99 to £45. Over 100 in stock from November—build a library!

Globes now in stock—£6.99 to £100.

Gift shop
As well as the traditional cards, giftwrap, candles & stockingfillers, we have a superb range of gifts including:
jewellery by Coeur de Lion, Came Elspeth, Cavendish French, Pilgrim and Hultquist;
bags by Tula, Quintissential and Spencer & Rutherford;
toiletries by Cath Kidston, Crabtree & Evelyn and Arran Aromatics.

November News

2006-10-31T12:35:00.000+01:00

Happiness—public debate
Tuesday 21 November 2006, at 7.30pm
Howgills (Friends’ Meeting House), South View, Letchworth
“The Route to Happiness!”

We all know that the key to happiness is not money, but what is it? Can happiness be taught?
Politicians, broadcasters and teachers seem increasingly interested in this subject.
Speakers include
Professor Richard Wiseman (former professional magician, author of The Luck Factor and Professor in the Public Understanding of Psychology)
Dr. Nick Baylis (department of Social and Developmental Psychology, University of Cambridge, “Dr. Feelgood” of the Times)
Tim Lohreau (author of The Book of Modern Phobias; he has suffered from virtually every phobia in the book, with the notable exception of idemophobia and magnafundaphobia).

Each speaker will expound on his preferred “route to happiness” - individual or communal—followed by questions and comments from the audience. After a brief summing up, a light-hearted vote will be take place—who do we think holds the likeliest key to happiness?

Tickets (£3) each are now on sale at the bookshop—please call in, email staff@davids-bookshops.co.uk or telephone 01462 684631 to reserve yours.

David’s wins award!
As you may have heard, David’s was successful in winning the Orion Marketing Campaign of the Year at the Bookseller Retail awards, beating off competition from such (amateurs) as Borders, Ottakars, Blackwell’s and WH Smith. The entry encompassed all the events and promotions mounted around World Book Day last March. The panel of judges said “It’s wonderful to see a small bookseller take such care and invest such energy, and be so resourceful and creative” and noted “great ideas and high community involvement” which is very gratifying and illustrates the input of our supporters—so thanks again if you came along to any of the events, or read in the bedtime “readathon”.

William wins award!
Congratulations to William Armitage on his MBE for “services to business and the community”. We look forward to seeing it, and seeing William in a tail coat.

Environmental Audit
David’s Bookshop was recently subjected to an “environmental audit”. This involved scrutiny of all our operations as a business by an environmental consultant, who examined current practice and made many recommendations for the future, the aim being to reduce our “carbon footprint”. Some areas were rather mundane and seemed fairly obvious, like reducing draughts through old window frames, turning lights off etc (but you still have to spend the time doing it). Other areas covered energy supply (switching to greener suppliers), using energy-efficient light bulbs, using recycled paper and bags, re-using carrier bags, and so on. We are now prioritising the very long list of improvements suggested in the report and have made a start on some of them. For example, if you buy secondhand books from us, you will be offered a secondhand bag (even if it advertises WH Smith’s). All our waste is now sorted and cardboard and paper (including books) are recycled. Most of the high-energy light bulbs have now been replaced.
You can discover more about environmental audits at www.3acorns.co.uk

Running Your Own Brain
Free presentation, Tuesday 28th November, 7pm

Have you ever felt like a passenger in your own life?. Have you ever wondered "Why does this keep happening to me?" Perhaps it is time to consider:
· Who’s running your brain now?
· What is a limiting belief and how is it installed?
· How can you re-programme your own brain?
· How do you get back in the driving seat of your life?
In this work shop you will find out how to "install new software" to get the results you want. Build self confidence, achieve your goals, and create a compelling future. If you're running your own brain it's up to you!

Speaker: Melody Cheal
As a partner in The GWiz Training Partnership, Melody runs courses in both the private and the public sector, focusing on interpersonal skills and self-awareness. She holds a degree in Psychology and a diploma in Psychotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Master Practitioner in NLP and a licensed trainer of NLP. This means she is able to run courses qualifying others as Practitioner and Master Practitioners. Accreditation is with the Society for NLP.
If you are interested, please reserve your seat on 01462 684631, email staff@davids-bookshops.co.uk.. A selection of books will be available.

Tales for Tiny People
Come along to the Children’s Bookshop every other Thursday for stories for the under fives. A different book each time—explore the world of books and reading with your child. The next session is on November 2nd and will feature Meg and Mog by Helen Nicoll.
Start time is 10 o’clock for about half an hour—no need to book. Further details from Lois on 01462 475910.

Competition Winners
Congratulations to the winners of our poetry, songwriting and prose competitions listed below. The poetry and songwriting prizes were awarded at presentation evenings in the book & music shops; the winning entries were performed. Thanks to everyone who entered—we enjoyed them all.

Poetry Winners
Group 1 – Children under 11
1 A Poem About My Grandad and Me Liam Welby
2 Colours Athena Brown
3 The World Cup Final Robert Fells
Group 2 – Children from 11-16
1 Winter Sonnet Christina Farley
2 What Is Life? Nikki Alcock
3 Mother I Grew Bridie Mattingly
Group 3 – Adults
1 Commuting David Birkett
2 Shrinking Carla Jones
3 The Magician Philip Dean

Prose Winners
Children’s Group
1952 Recalled Sophie Harrold
Adult’s Group
Who is Josephine Brandt? Benjamin Coates

Songwriting Winners
Under 16 years
1 Lately Olli Beard (Hot Wet Dogs)
2 If I Could Wish Alex Holmes
3 Funky Monkey Jared & Asher Guy (Flying Monkeys)
16 years &amp; Over
Midnight Moon Claire Baker & Ben Walker
The Day I fell in Love with Vivienne Leigh Rod Stalham
Something Beautiful Pete Guy

Prizes of David’s Tokens to all the above.

up to 50% off!

2006-10-31T11:34:00.000+01:00

Tired of the same old shops in every town?
Be independent this Christmas!

Daft Discount weekend
All day Saturday & Sunday, 4th & 5th November
Discounts of up to 50%

All stock* discounted by at least 20% in our 3 shops

Sale hours & discounts are as follows:

20% off* all stock:
Saturday 4th November— 8am to 7pm in the Bookshop,
9am to 6pm in the Music & Gift shops
Sunday 5th November - 10am to 5pm in the Bookshop
11am to 5pm in the Music & Gift shops

Plus “happy hours”

Saturday & Sunday 11am –12.30pm only:
30% off nearly all stock*, plus 50% off secondhand books & cds*

If it’s not in stock we’ll order it for you

*Discounts may not be claimed in conjunction with other offers. Excludes ordered goods & tokens.
30% discount excludes new dvds & cd singles. Stock means items on our shelves at the time of the offer.

Carless Day & Global Warming debate

2006-06-08T13:23:00.000+01:00

Annual "Carless" Day-Saturday, June 17.

Most people rely on their four-wheeled friend to ferry them around just about everywhere, and cars are viewed as a necessity. We are convinced that in North Herts, as in the whole country, there are far too many unnecessary individual car journeys, so one day a year we say-leave your car at home! (Of course, some of our customers don't drive anyway).
If, on Saturday, June 17, you can sign the pledge "I travelled to David's today on foot, by public transport, by pushbike or other environmentally friendly means; I did not use a car or motorcycle", you can claim a discount of 20% off any items in stock (no discounts above 20% will be given).

Also:

Free delivery in Letchworth & Baldock for purchases before 3pm (for customers without cars)
Environmentalist Pete Perry will be in the shop to discuss his latest book, Vandals in the Garden

Prizes for:

Furthest distance travelled on the day (without a car)
Most inventive mode of transport (our decision is final!)

Public Debate-Global Warming

"We can't have economic growth AND save the planet"

Thursday July 6 at 7.30pm, Howgills (Friends Meeting House), South View, Letchworth
This motion will be debated by Keith Taylor and Donnachadh McCarthy and the format will allow each speaker, (after an initial vote) 15 minutes to put his case, followed by questions and comments from the floor, with summing up and a final vote at the end. The venue is a beautiful galleried Quaker meeting house. Please do come along to hear (and participate in) this important debate.

Tickets (£3) each are now on sale at the bookshop-please call in, email or telephone 01462 684631 to reserve yours.

Keith Taylor is one of the Green party's Principal speakers ("the closest position to a leader") and is a councillor in Brighton. In 2001 he achieved the Green Party's highest-ever vote in a Westminster election (9.2%) and has been instrumental in making Brighton the third strongest local authority Green group in Britain. With Keith as convenor (leader), Brighton Greens are seen as one of the most go-ahead local Parties in the country and have since doubled their number of seats. At the recent Euro-elections they took second place with 20%, pushing Labour into third place. Keith has lived in Brighton for 28 years, a former local businessman who took to community activism opposing an inappropriate local development before joining the Greens.

Donnachadh McCarthy was born in Ireland in 1959. A former professional ballet dancer, he has lived in London since 1986. In 1992 he spent time with the Yanomami Indians in the Amazon Rainforest, leading him to become a passionate environmentalist. As a Southwark Councillor, Donnachadh successfully led campaigns to save open spaces and to instigate many trailblazing green schemes. A former Deputy Chair of the national Liberal Democrats, he has since resigned to pursue his environmental media and consulting work free from political affiliation.
Alongside his campaign work, he has greened his own lifestyle believing that one should lead by example. His house in Peckham has solar water heating, photovoltaic electricity, a catalytic converter gas fire and a rain-harvester. It was the first house in London to get planning permission for a domestic grid connected windmill. His first book "Saving the Planet Without Costing The Earth - 500 Simple Steps to a Greener Lifestyle" was published in 2004 and he has a weekly environmental column in the South London Press. His articles have been published in the Independent, Tribune Magazine, Liberator, etc. He is to feature in a major new environmental BBC TV series next spring and appears regularly on radio and TV as an environmental commentator. He now works freelance as an environmental writer, green lifestyle coach and environmental auditor for small and medium sized businesses and organizations.