Meet the gang and find out which books they choose to read and love to recommend
Jo
Fiction
Jo loves people as much as she loves books, and bringing the two together is her favourite thing to do. To achieve this she lives on little sleep and BBQ flavoured hula hoops. She prefers make-believe to reality, reads mostly fiction, hosts Appetite Book Club, and can often be seen with her shopping trolley delivering books or teaching yoga.
Jamie
Non-Fiction
Jamie is our resident witch, yoga teacher and fantasy wizard with a deep love for Terry Pratchett. They read a lot of non-fiction and love giving recommendations, ranging from politics to science to history. They are also the perfect person to speak to if you are starting a pagan/witchcraft journey – always happy to share whereabouts to begin.
Louise
Weird Fiction
Louise will happily fuss any dog that comes in the shop! She is the brains behind our Blind Date with a Book and runs The Cocoa Book Club which has collaborated with the Women’s Fiction Prize and the New Adult Book Prize. With a love for the gothic and macabre, don’t be surprised when she recommends the latest horror story she has been reading. Don’t get her started on the genius of Angela Carter unless you want to spend all day in the shop!
Sharon
Fantasy & Whimsy
Sharon is the newest member of staff at Red Lion Books, and is a lover of all things strange and whimsical. When she isn’t in the shop, she is likely either moonlighting as a video game translator or getting actively buried beneath a mountain of unfinished craft projects. She has an incurable fondness for lyrical prose, fairytale retellings, and meditations on the place of stories in human culture.
Anna
Children’s Books
Anna has a fantastic knowledge and passion for children’s books. She has worked as an English teacher and children’s book editor. She spends a great deal of time reading books meant for children and considers them to be the equals of any written for adults. When she is not at the shop she keeps herself busy making things, book binding and wild swimming.
Sarah & Peter
Red Lion Books favourites
Sarah and Peter Donaldson have been hands on owners and booksellers since 1978. Sarah’s passion is for children’s books. Peter has been a trustee of the Essex Book Festival since 2011. It has always been their firm belief that bricks and mortar shops have an important part to play in keeping local communities strong and healthy.