Julia Donaldson to sign and personalise copies of her new book for The Steyning Bookshop

Julia Donaldson’s lovely new book, The Hospital Dog, comes out tomorrow and, as a Steyning resident, the national bestselling children’s author has agreed to sign and personalise all copies of it ordered through the bookshop’s website, by adding the child’s name.

Steyning poet Simon Zec is also launching his second volume of poetry, In the Downtime, published by Steyning’s own indie publisher, The Real Press, and the bookshop will be hosting a poetry evening with him on Zoom at 7.30pm tomorrow.

Sara Bowers, bookshop owner, said: “Of course, we would have loved to have laid on a jolly bookshop launch of Simon’s poetry book and a wonderful signing event thronging the bookshop for Julia’s book.

“Sadly, that’s not possible at the moment but we do hope that folk will join our online In the Downtime Zoom launch (email the shop at [email protected] for the Zoom link) and order Simon’s signed book, and also grab the great opportunity to get a specially-signed copy of the utterly brilliant new Julia Donaldson book from our website, or by calling at the bookshop.”

Simon is a local tree surgeon who started writing poetry a few years ago. He has become known for reciting his verse in poetry events in local pubs and inspiring various action groups within the town.

His first volume was Death of the Suburb, and his new book has a beautiful cover art by Benita Hubbard and illustrations by Rob Winterson. The book is available priced £8.99 and while stocks last, there is a special offer at the bookshop of two original limited edition prints by the artists, plus the book, for £28.99.

Julia said the idea for The Hospital Dog came to her a few years ago, when she was visiting a hospital children’s ward and saw a sign on a noticeboard announcing the next visit of the hospital dog.

Intrigued, she spoke to a woman in Brighton who used to take her labrador Lara to a hospital in London cheer up sick children.

Thus, a follow-on to her previous book, The Detective Dog, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie, was created, this time with a dalmation called Dot.

Sara said: “We all fell in love with The Hospital Dog here at the bookshop. The story is exciting and touching for all young dog lovers, Sara Ogilvie’s colourful illustrations are superb and the timing of publication is unintentionally appropriate, with hospitals so important to us all at the moment.”

Visit www.steyningbookshop.co.uk for more information.

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