It's prize season again in the book world. From high literature with Anne Enright's “The Gathering” winning this year's Booker, to more populist fiction (Katie Price – aka Jordan –  was nominated for a Galaxy Book award – but sadly didn't win) there are prizes for all sorts of great reads. The Galaxy Book of the year was “On Chesil Beach” by Ian McEwan. Whilst “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Afghani born writer Khaled Hosseini won the popular Richard and Judy Book of the year. JK Rowling was given a special Outstanding Achievement Award, which few could argue with. What a huge achievement to get thousands of children reading and to create a multi-million pound brand just from the power of your imagination.

          Those of us who love books know they allow you to enter worlds as strange and far fetched as those of Harry Potter, or to look at familiar things in a new light. Which is why new local author Mike Pannett is so exciting. Mike was a bobby in Ryedale for over ten years and has now written a book about his experiences.  Everyone in the book world is talking about “Now then lad...” and it's all based right here in Ryedale. The book, and indeed Mike himself, are being talked about as the Herriott of the police force.  I've been told local people will recognise many of the characters and stories in the book, and I can't wait to read it when it's published at the end of May. We are fortunate to have Mike coming to do a signing for us on Monday 9th June, which promises to be very entertaining. So please come along to meet the author, if you haven't already!

          And Mike isn't the only author coming to Pickering in June. We have another event on the 16th when Jill Liddington will be signing copies of her book Rebel Girls. It tells the tale of a group of suffragettes who set off from Whitby in 1908 and travelled across the moors by horse drawn caravan to recruit women to the suffrage movement. It's a fascinating story of local women and national change. The author is an expert on the subject and will be giving a short talk at 12 o'clock followed by book signings. Perhaps all of us who take our right to vote for granted should pay thanks to the women who made it possible.

          It promises to be a busy summer here at the bookshop with lots to read and lots to talk about.  Enjoy your spring, and lets hope we have a drier summer than last year.

Caroline Overfield.