Storysmith offers a bumper schedule of literary events

Independent bookshop Storysmith has quickly become a North Street fixture, moving last year from one end of the street to bigger premises at the other – now nestled on the corner at 236 North Street.

Run by Dan and Emily Ross, the shop is renowned for its customer service, selling coffee as well as books, and offering next-day ordering as well as worldwide delivery.

Beyond the regular bookclub meetings (currently operating online), Storysmith also offers its patrons numerous carefully curated lists of recommended books for every occasion, from ‘horribly addictive crime’ to ‘European curios’, ‘actually funny books’ and ‘weird sci-fi’.

And there are regular events programmed, too. Recent guest authors have included Deborah Levy, discussing her novel Real Estate, and Simon Moreton, talking about his multi-layered memoir Where?.

Bristol 24/7 takes a look at the upcoming authors who will be discussing their works at Storysmith and beyond:

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March 22, 6.30pm

Alex Hyde & Lucy Caldwell: writing the women of World War II

In this event, Storysmith is bringing together two authors who have literary themes in common. Both Alex Hyde’s debut novel Violets, and Lucy Caldwell’s These Days, explore the stories of the women left behind during World War II.

In conversation with writer and journalist Sian Norris, they will be discussing the characters and narratives at play in their respective books, and the ways in which fictional reimaginings of one life can illuminate the real-world experiences of so many.

Lucy Caldwell, author of These Days – photo: Faber & Faber

April 2, 10am

Jo Loring-Fisher: Wolf Girl

Storysmith welcomes author and illustrator Jo Loring-Fisher for a special storytime event based on her picture book Wolf Girl. This beautifully drawn story is full of magic and wonder, and illuminates the inner and exterior landscapes of its young protagonist, Sophy, in her journey towards greater self confidence.

The event is free to attend (though booking is required), and is aimed at children aged 3+.

Cover for Wolf Girl (Quarto, 2021) – photo: Jo Loring-Fisher

May 5, 7.30pm

Candice Carty-Williams: People Person

Bestselling author of multi-award winning Queenie, which was not only critically lauded but undoubtedly amongst the best-loved novels of recent years, Candice Carty-Williams is back with her second novel, People Person. It tells the story of aspiring lifestyle influencer Dimple Pennington, and the catastrophic event that reconnects her with her half siblings Nikisha, Danny, Lizzie and Prynce.

Carty-Williams will be joined in conversation by author, screenwriter, mentor and podcaster Nikesh Shukla to discuss the book. This event will be held at Bristol Central Library’s Reading Room, not at the shop.

Candice Carty-Williams – photo: courtesy of Storysmith

May 12, 6.30pm

Natasha Brown: Assembly

Storysmith called Natasha Brown’s debut novel Assembly “an electrifying mini-masterpiece of restraint and concision”, and “a needle-sharp book that had us gripped when it came out last year”. It is a story narrated by a Black British woman as she readies herself to attend a grandiose party, set in the the country estate belonging to her boyfriend’s family.

Bernadine Evaristo called it “Exquisite, daring, utterly captivating”, and Ali Smith wrote “I’m full of the hope, on reading it, that this is the kind of book that doesn’t just mark the moment things change, but also makes that change possible”.

Brown will be introducing the paperback edition which is released in May.

Book cover for Assembly, by Natasha Brown (Penguin Books, 2021) – photo: courtesy of Storysmith

May 30, 6.30pm

Fernanda Melchor: Paradais

Held up to be amongst Mexico’s greatest living writers, Fernanda Melchor made waves with her widely praised novel Hurricane Season, which made Storysmith’s Books of the Year list in 2020.

Her new book Paradais follows teenagers Franco Andrade and Polo, both trapped in unfortunate personal situations from which they hatch “a mindless and macabre scheme” to escape. It is a story that unearths hard truths about the issues of race, class and violence that can so easily derail the society in which the characters find themselves.

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For tickets and further information about all upcoming events, go to www.storysmithbooks.com. Tickets to all evening events will include a glass of wine, and copies of the novels can be pre-ordered for a discounted price, to collect on the night.

Main photo: Alex Hyde – by Matthew Dyas

Read more: Bookshop makes the move into bigger premises

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