Vouchers and Event Tickets
E-Vouchers will be emailed. We don’t provide event tickets. Name (s) will be on the guest list. No postage required
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Author Event | AK Blakemore
Waiting list. Please email us@redlionbooks.co.uk AK Blakemore talking about The Manningtree Witches. A book we discussed, with Amy, over Zoom, during the lock down back in the day. We are thrilled to have an in person event with her Thursday, 2nd April at 6pm, in person at Red Lion Books
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Author Event | Elodie Harper & Nikita Gill
Thursday 23rd April 2026, 6pm in person event at Patch Cafe
Doors open at 5.30pm and the bar will be open. This is a wheelchair accessible venue and the event will commence at 6pm sharpAuthor event with Elodie Harper talking about her new paperback edition of BOUDICCA’S DAUGHTER with Nikita Gill at Red Lion Books.The event ticket is £5 and paperback copies of BOUDICCA’S DAUGHTER and HEKATE will be available to purchase at the eventus@redlionbooks.co.ukBoudicca. Infamous warrior, queen of the British Iceni tribe and mastermind of one of history’s greatest revolts. Her defeat spelled ruin for her people, yet still her name is enough to strike fear into Roman hearts. But what of the woman who grew up in her shadow?The woman who has her mother’s looks and cunning but a spirit all of her own?The woman whose desperate bid for survival will take her from Britain’s sacred marshlands to the glittering façades of Nero’s Roman Empire…Born to a legend. Forced to fight. Determined to succeed. Elodie Harper is the award-winning author of the Wolf Den trilogy, set in ancient Pompeii. The first book in the series, The Wolf Den, was a Waterstones Book of the Month, and the second, The House with the Golden Door, was a Sunday Times bestseller. Her next novel, Boudicca’s Daughter, is out in August 2025. Alongside her career as a writer, Elodie has worked as a reporter at ITV News and producer at Channel 4. elodieharper.comNikita Gill is an Irish-Indian poet, playwright, illustrator, and author based in the south of England. She has written and curated seven volumes of poetry, including Wild Embers, Fierce Fairytales, Great Goddesses, and These Are the Words. Her novel Hekate: The Witch, the first book in her chthonic gods trilogy, was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Nikita is one of the most followed poets on Instagram and her work is beloved around the world.
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Author Event with Author Nussaibah Younis | Discussing Fundamentally
Wednesday 29th April 2026, 3pm in person book club event
Author event with Nussaibah Younis discussing FUNDAMENTALLY with Appetite Book Club membersThe event ticket is £12 which includes the book.SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2025 WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION A funny and razor-sharp exploration of love, family, religion and the decisions we make in pursuit of belonging. Nadia is an academic who’s been disowned by her puritanical mother and dumped by her lover, Rosy. She decides to make a getaway, accepting a UN job in Iraq.Tasked with rehabilitating ISIS women, Nadia becomes mired in the opaque world of international aid, surrounded by bumbling colleagues. Sara is a precocious and sweary East Londoner who joined ISIS at just fifteen. Nadia is struck by how similar they are: both feisty and opinionated, from a Muslim background, with a shared love of Dairy Milk and rude pick-up lines. -
Author Event: Bobby Palmer in conversation with Kate Sawyer
Thursday 9th July 2026, 6pm in person event (finished by 7-7.30pm)
Main Characters Getting Away : Bobby Palmer, author of Isaac and the Egg talks about his new book ‘Main Characters’ with author Kate Sawyer about paperback publication of Getting Away Clara and Seb are about to fall in love. They don’t know it yet. But everybody else does. When Clara and Seb meet in a quiet corner of London, it’s the start of something. She wants to be a Director. He’s an actor, unsure what he wants from life. Their connection is magnetic. Everyone can see that falling in love looks something like this. But when Clara casts Seb in the film that will make her name, what should be the happiest time of their lives ends with a gut-wrenching betrayal. Some love stories are bigger than just two people. This one is told through the eyes of friends, flatmates, exes and strangers who see all the sides of Seb and Clara, from their first date to the moment they fell apart. Everyone has their version of events. But only Clara and Seb can decide how their story ends…This is a love story, told by everyone but the main characters.‘Unique, tender and funny’ Pandora Sykes
Bobby Palmer is both an author and journalist. His critically acclaimed debut novel, Isaac and the Egg, was a Waterstones Paperback of the Year in 2022; his second novel Small Hours was published in 2024. Bobby co- hosts the podcast Book Chat with Pandora Sykes and his writing has appeared in GQ, Esquire, Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan amongst others. Kate Sawyer is the author of three novels: Getting Away, Waterstones Fiction Book of The Month, This Family, and her debut novel, The Stranding, which was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, won the East Anglian fiction prize, was adapted for BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime -
Author Event: Mel Giedroyc
Sunday at noon, 27th September (doors open 11.30am)
In person event at Colchester Arts Centre. In conversation with author Kate Sawyer.
Ticketing options are available with or without a hardback edition of ‘The Comeback’ (rrp £20). Mel will stay on to sign her book after the talk. Ticket only, Ticket with book. 2 Tickets with 1 book Please note, this is not stand up comedy act. This is Mel talking about her book, in conversation with author Kate. The Comeback is a funny, big-hearted story of second chances. Sometimes life surprises you with an encore… Twenty years ago, aspiring performer Gill Piper boarded a bus out of Leatherhead with a spring in her step and stars in her eyes. Things didn’t quite pan out… Back home again, Gill finds much has changed. Young Lights, the youth theatre group which coaxed her out of her shell, is no more. The theatre itself, once the heartbeat of the community, now feels like a has-been; Gill can relate. When Gill learns the theatre is approaching its hundredth year, she decides to put on a spectacular anniversary show to give it a comeback and unite the town. She has just eight weeks, but if she can persuade some shy newcomers to step into the spotlight, it might just be possible. But Gill hasn’t counted on self-appointed Artistic Director and diva extraordinaire Carla Keswick, who declares war. Can Gill and her unlikely company of amateurs defy Carla’s dirty tricks, and prove it’s never too late for a curtain call? -
Author Event: Robert Ashton
Thursday, 6pm, 30th July
In person event at Colchester Crematorium Chapel (finished by 7.30pm)
Ticketing options are available with or without one or both books. Pre ordering books offers a saving otherwise books will be available on the evening at RRP The final chapter in Robert Ashton’s latest book Down to Earth sees him visit Colchester cemetery in search of his great-grandparents’ graves, so the cemetery and crematorium chapel is a fitting setting for what promises to be an intriguing talk about two of his books. Discover how almost forgotten ways are returning in rural East Anglia, and why it is vital that we relearn to respect the ground beneath our feet.Down To Earth, published in Hardback on 2nd July, RRP £16.99
We rely on the soil and its rich biodiversity for our food, traditions and folklore, but are we guilty of taking it for granted? In Down to Earth, Robert Ashton traces five centuries of human relationships with the soil, from farming and folklore to the modern environmental crisis. In so doing he reveals the wisdom of the gardeners, farmers, gravediggers, archaeologists and naturalists who work with it every day. Each chapter focuses on an aspect of our connection to the earth beneath our feet, seeking to deepen our understanding of its importance and encourage us to take its preservation more seriously.Where are the Fellows who Cut the Hay? published in paperback on 19th March, RRP £10.99
Where Are the Fellows Who Cut the Hay? is an ode to rural life, charting traditions of the past, how they were lost and why we need to reconnect. Exploring the relationship between everyday items and the communities that make them, Robert Ashton provides a snapshot of twenty-first century England. Where are the people who grow barley, milk cows and produce wool? How have their farming methods become less ethical, sustainable and natural over time? And what are we doing today to reverse that change? Inspired by George Ewart Evans’ Ask the Fellows Who Cut the Hay, Ashton gives voice to local people and travels rural Suffolk in search for innovation, interweaving his own personal connection to Evans and to the land. Part memoir, part social history, Ashton’s thought-provoking book is a manifesto for why, against all odds, we need to step back in order to progress. SHORTLISTED FOR THE NEW ANGLE PRIZE 2025 LONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 2024 -
Book Club Event with Author Wendy Erskine | Discussing The Benefactors
Thursday 25th June 2026, 11am in person book club event
In Collaboration with Essex Book Festival
Book Club / Author event with Wendy Erskine discussing THE BENEFACTORS with Appetite Book Club membersThe event ticket is £16 which includes the bookThis event is held offsite at a wheelchair accessible COLCHESTER ARTS SCENTRELONGLISTED FOR THE 2026 WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION AN OBSERVER BEST DEBUT NOVEL 2025 LONGLISTED FOR THE GORDON BURN PRIZEWhat a beautiful, hilarious blast of brilliance (Donal Ryan, author of Heart, Be at Peace)
Meet Frankie, Miriam and Bronagh: three very different women from Belfast, but all mothers to eighteen-year-old boys. Gorgeous Frankie, now married to a wealthy, older man, grew up in care. Miriam has recently lost her beloved husband Kahlil in ambiguous circumstances. Bronagh, the CEO of a children’s services charity, loves celebrity and prestige. When their sons are accused of sexually assaulting a friend, Misty Johnston, they’ll come together to protect their children, leveraging all the powers they possess. But on her side, Misty has the formidable matriarch, Nan D, and her father, taxi-driver Boogie: an alliance not so easily dismissed. Brutal, tender and rigorously intelligent, The Benefactors is a daring, multi-voice presentation of modern-day Northern Ireland. -
Book signing | Nick Butterworth
Saturday 28th March, 2pm On the ground floor of Red Lion Books until 2.30pm Nick will be in signing copies of his latest two titles Cross Rabbit and The Easter Egg Hunt We’d love to see you here. If there is a particular book you would like him to sign, please email us beforehand and we will ensure we have copies in. us@redlionbooks.co.uk
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Bookseller Consultation
Bibliotherapy sessions must be pre-booked so that our booksellers can dedicate time to you. You will be sent a questionnaire before your session, and arrange a date to have 30 minutes one-to-one time with a bookseller, over a cuppa. You will leave with a tote bag, a list of recommendations, 1 hardback and 1 paperback book A similar service can happen offline and options are HERE Read more about the power of bibliotheraphy here
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Bookshop Yoga
Yoga with Jamie in the bookshop. All genders and levels of experience welcome. Maximum 6 spaces. Classes involve warm up exercises, breathing techniques, mindful movement, traditional yoga poses (asanas), and end with a guided relaxation. Mats are provided. Wear comfortable clothing that you can move in. Jamie has been teaching yoga for 10 years and specialises in inclusive and restorative practice.
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Listening Party | Angela Blacklaw EP launch
Sunday 31at May 2026 11am – 12.30pm
The Price of Love: Lilies 2 – EP launch and discussion
“I cannot escape death, but at least I can escape the fear of it.” Epictetus
A special addition to our regular Death Club meetings – this is a chance to explore and discuss some aspects of death with a local songwriter. There is no cost, but we do ask you to book a ticket and you will be able to make a donation, if you would like to, to St Helena’s Hospice.
We will listen to some of Angela Blacklaw’s music, hear what inspired the songs and discuss the specific death-related topics that the songs refer to.
Who is Angela Blacklaw?
Angela is a singer, songwriter and producer who lives in Wivenhoe. She works with a range of styles and genres, and is particularly interested in jazz, soul, and electronic music. Angela is a regular attendee of the Red Lion Books’ monthly Death Club, and she has been writing about the topic of death for a few years.
The music
“The pain of grief is just as much part of life as the joy of love: it is perhaps the price we pay for love.” Dr. Colin Murray Parkes
Her new EP – The Price of Love: Lilies 2 – is the second in a series about death. This EP explores death in the here-and-now, covering topics such as assisted dying, suicide, the sudden shock of bereavement and acceptance of the inevitable. Inspired by Angela’s own experience of grief, and other people’s sometimes clumsy or awkward responses to that, Angela is seeking to break the taboo and normalise conversations about the thing that we all face.
What else Angela has done?
Her first EP on death – What Love Sows: Lilies 1 – was released in 2025 and explores the inevitability of life ending, covering topics like miscarriage, anticipatory grief and giving our short lives meaning. Her first album The Scale of Love and Destruction was released in 2014 with the jazz-influenced Gin and Regret following in 2025. She has released music as part of the production partnership Kaleidogroove (Kaleidoscope Visions, 2023) and is developing an increasing interest in the use of spoken word. Angela teaches creative process on a Masters in Songwriting.
Angela also sings soprano in the Mike King Collective. MKC has recorded for the BBC, performed live on Channel 4, sold out at the Edinburgh Fringe and worked with some of the music industry’s biggest names including Mark Ronson, Florence + the Machine, Lily Allen, Boy George and GRAMMY® world music artist Angelique Kidjo.
In addition to her musical work, Angela studies stage performance and has acted in several plays. She is also a highly experienced consultant, facilitator and coach in leadership and personal development, and a qualified Time ToThink® facilitator.
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Primary Teacher Event 2026 | April 15th, 6pm
Wednesday 15th April 2026, 6pm
We are hosting a Teacher Event at Red Lion Books as part of the National Year of Reading Our invitation may be best suited to your Literacy Lead but it is open to any educator interested in championing reading. Tickets are free but booking is essential as space is limited. This event is exclusively for teachers in Colchester and will be aimed at Primary Teaching The idea is that you’ll meet us, meet your peers and also meet childrens’ publisher, Dominic Kingston from Hachette who’ll give a short talk about how schools can access free events and activities. Attendees will receive a goody bag and a shopping discount, as well as a glass of wine. -
Saturday Morning Surgery | Guest Speaker | Michael Robb talking about SHELF LIFE
Weekly round up. The Saturday Surgery is open and we are delighted to welcome Author Michael Robb to this weekly event
- Check out this week’s new releases
- Find out out about industry book awards, winners and shortlists
- Have a cuppa with us (bring your own mug)
- Share your book recs
- Take our book advice if needed
GUEST SPEAKER Michael Robb talking about SHELF LIFE
Embark on a captivating journey through the ages with Shelf Life, a meticulously crafted exploration of bookselling and publishing that spans two millennia. This engaging narrative unveils the resilience and innovation of key figures who have shaped the literary landscape, from the pioneering days of William Caxton to the contemporary influence of Jeff Bezos. As the narrative navigates the ever-evolving terrain of book retail, it delves into the seismic changes of the past forty years and reflects on the current state of the industry, as well as offering insights into the challenges and future opportunities that lie ahead for publishing and bookselling in the twenty-first century. A must-read for anyone passionate about books, bookshops and the enduring legacy of the written word. In the basement from 11am We’d love to see you here. If there is any thing in particular you would like us to research before hand please drop us an email us@redlionbooks.co.uk -
Saturday Morning Surgery | Weekly drop-in
Weekly half-hour round up. The Saturday Surgery is open!
- Check out this week’s new releases
- Find out out about industry book awards, winners and shortlists
- Have a cuppa with us (bring your own mug)
- Share your book recs
- Take our book advice if needed
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Appetite Book Club (Daytime)
Red Lion Books in association with Appetite Book Club meet to discuss a book on the last Thursday of the month at 11.30am (excluding August and December). £16 booking includes a copy of the book, entry to book club and a hot drink (with a cake or biscuit). We will confirm the venue a few days beforehand. If you don’t require a copy of the book you will receive a £6.99 book token instead. See our previous reads here Evening book club is hosted by Appetite Book Club. Meetings occur on the last Monday and the last Wednesday of each month (over Supper). Email Jo for more information appetite.book.club@gmail.com The same book is discussed at evening and daytime meet ups. “Book only” can be ordered HERE
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Lisa Thompson is coming to St Mary’s School
Lisa Thompson is visiting St Mary’s If you would like to pre-order a book for this Author event please select below (free postage) as book will be available to collect at school orders must be placed at Red Lion Book using the following links by Wednesday night/Thursday lunchtime PLEASE STATE THE NAME OF YOUR CHILD AND FORM/YEAR GROUP please.