How to Cook by Isabella Beaton and Gerard Baker

SATURDAY 26th Nov - HOW TO COOK by ISABELLA BEETON and GERARD BAKER - Gerard Baker proved very convincingly that some men can multi-task.  He gave a wonderful, informed talk about Mrs Beeton and food history, all the while cooking up a some delicious food.  The goodie bags of chocolate cake were also well worth waiting for.

All Made Up by Janice Galloway

Tues 15th Nov -  JANICE GALLOWAY blew us away reading from the second volume of her memoirs, ALL MADE UP.  When she threatened to read more (and about sex no less!)  if no further questions were asked, the room fell silent - I think we could have listened to her all night.

Empire: What Ruling the World Did to the British by Jeremy Paxman

How to Steal a Dragon's Sword by Cressida Cowell

Sat 1st Oct – CRESSIDA COWELL taught a crowd of 150 children the basics of Dragonese while explaining the inspiration behind her bestselling (and huge in-store favourite) HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON series.

Is That Bike Diesel, Mate? by Paul Carter

Thurs 29th Sept – Australian PAUL CARTER played a blinder and turned the air blue talking about his third book, IS THAT BIKE DIESEL MATE?  “The Andy McNab of the Oilfields rides again.” The Telegraph

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Wed 14th Sept - Lunch with an Author - MADELINE MILLER -  We were very lucky to host Madeline Miller's first ever reading of THE SONG OF ACHILLES.  What a delightful author, she wears her erudition lightly both on the page and in person.  We're all just hoping that she emulates Donna Tartt's success, but not the ten year wait in writing a second novel.

‘To rewrite Homer’s Iliad as a modern novel was a bold move, but it has paid off superbly. ... If I were to give a prize for the best work of fiction this year, this would be the runaway winner.  As a first novel it heralds the arrival of a major new talent.’  A. N. Wilson

The Burning Soul by John Connolly

Sat 3rd Sept - Bestselling crime writer, JOHN CONNOLLY gave us a masterclass in crime fiction, talking about his writing heroes, keeping the audience laughing throughout, meanwhile his Charlie Parker novels deprived some of us from sleep.

Books, Borders and Bikes

Books, Bordes & Bikes 20-21st Aug - we had a wonderful weekend running our pop-up bookshop in the magical setting of Traquair House at their second Books, Borders & Bikes festival of literature and thought.  A stellar cast of authors included David Starkey, Mark Thomas, Mariella Frostrup and Jonathan Powell, but the show was really stolen by an impassioned talk by Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish.  His book, I Shall Not Hate is `A moving and powerful book about his experiences with a central message of hope and reconciliation...[it] has had an extraordinary impact..."we have to offer a message of hope to those who believe in hate and revenge".'          The Guardian

The Sea Detective by Mark Douglas-Home

Book Group Lunch by Maggie O'Farrell and Bella Bathurst

And The Band Played On... by Christopher Ward

Esther Freud, Helena McEwen & Alison Gangel with Jenny Brown

The Scots: A Genetic Journey by Alistair Moffat

One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde

Thursday 3rd March - we were very lucky to have author, JASPER FFORDE speaking at the shop in the week his new novel, One of Our Thursdays is Missing, hit No.1 on the bestseller charts. 

Rock and Writing by Ian Rankin and Richard Havers

Tales from the Tap End by Judy Steel

Invented in Scotland by Allan Burnett

THURSDAY 7th October - ALLAN BURNETT, author of Invented in Scotland, wowed local school children as he revealed just how much we owe to Scottish inventors talking about his book Invented in Scotland.

The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud

Childrens Event by Anne Fine

TUESDAY 28th Sept - bestselling and prize-winning children's author, ANNE FINE, gave an excellent talk to 150 children in advance of Children's Book Week.  She also gave a highly entertaining  

Where the Hell Have You Been by Tom Carver

WEDNESDAY 2nd June 2010

Tom Carver gave a fascinating and moving talk about his book, Where the Hell Have you Been.  "In November 1942, two nights after the Battle of El Alamein, a young British army officer was captured by German forces.  

Valvona & Crolla: A Year at an Italian Table by Mary Contini

Mary Contini charmed her audience at the Corn Exchange in Melrose as she talked with The Borders Book Festival, Alistair Moffatt.  We learned much of the fascinating background to the creation of Valvona & Crolla, and Alistair managed to work out his menu for Saturday's dinner party!

Rifling Through my Drawers by Clarissa Dickson Wright

Thursday 12th November 2009

Clarissa Dickon Wright gave our first ever event at The Sugarhouse Gallery (the barn behind the shop), and what a way to start.  She was more stand up comedian than conventional author, and the audience was laughing along with her from the first.

Fish/Dino-Egg by Charlie James

Thursday 8th Oct 2009

Charlie James visited Melrose Grammar School to speak to P4 & P5, keeping them entertained with her samples of fossilised dinosaur poo!  For those not lucky enough to meet Charlie on the 8th Oct, I'm delighted to say that she will signing her books at our Xmas Shopping Evening on 4th November.

The Day of the Assassins by Johnny O'Brien

6/7th October 2009

Johnny, himself a former pupil of Peebles High School, had a busy two days going into Borders schools to speak about his first novel, DAY OF THE ASSASSINS.  He was a hit with the children and was, I think, impressed with the answers they gave to his questions on WWI.

Death of an Ocean by Euan Clarkson & Brian Upton

Friday 2nd October 2009

We just managed to seat 70 people in the shop to listen to Euan Clarkson and Brian Upton talk about their new book on the geology of the Borders region.  The audience had many questions to ask and the authors brought along fascinating samples of fossils.

Millers Antiques Guide by Judith Miller

4th JULY 2009 - JUDITH MILLER TALKS ANTIQUES

Judith Miller was up in the Borders filming the Antiques Roadshow at Abbotsford and we were lucky enough to book her for an event at the shop on the 4th July.  Brought up in Galashiels, Judith began collecting in the 1960s while a student at Edinburgh University.

Resistance by Agnes Humbert

Tuesday 26th May

“Looking for Agnès: a tale of passion and paper trails”

“Looking for Agnès” at The Mainstreet Trading Company was another sell out evening.  This time the audience enjoyed a fascinating talk from Barbara Mellor, translator of Résistance by Agnès Humbert.

Barbara was full of passion and knowledge about her subject – a much neglected heroine of the French resistance, who described herself merely as “the typist”.   

East Fortune by James Runcie

30th April 2009

Thursday 30th April was a beautifully sunny evening in St Boswells and we were lucky enough to be hosting an event for James Runcie, talking for the first time in public about his new novel, East Fortune.  David Robinson, books editor of The Scotsman, introduced James and his novel to our audience and the two discussed the issues at hand - what it is to be parented, to be a parent yourself and to be middle class and middle aged (James' words, not mine). 

The Trouble with Dragons/Witch Baby by Debi Gliori

29th April 2009

In the morning session, Debi talked about her eco-fable, The Trouble with Dragons (4yrs +).  The children were clearly fascinated and I think it's fair to say that everyone was incredibly impressed by how much thought goes into creating a picture book. 

World Book Day in the Borders

5th March 2009

Thursday 5th March was World Book Day and over a hundred children attended author events at The Mainstreet Trading Company in St Boswells to celebrate with Vivian French and Natalie Russell.

Into Danger by Kate Adie

26th Nov 2008 (held in association with the Borders Book Festival)

Over 200 people turned out to hear the hugely respected journalist, Kate Adie talking about her new book, Into Danger.  The book looks at the people behind the most dangerous jobs in the world, from food tasters to terrorists and deep sea divers. 

Neil Gaiman

29th Oct 2008

We were very honoured that Neil Gaiman made it down to the Borders as he was in the middle of an international tour (New York, London, Manchester, Edinburgh, St Boswells!) to launch his new novel for children, The Graveyard Book.

Michael Morpurgo

3rd Oct 2008 (held in association with The Borders Book Festival)

Bestselling author and former Children’s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo delighted 550 local school children when he performed for them at the Volunteer Hall in Galashiels last October.  He was talking about his writing and in particular about his new novel, Kaspar, King of Cats which was published in October.