Sunday, 20 December 2020

Indie Advent: Amy McCaw on The Barrister In Wonderland Bookshop, Retford and The Rabbit Hole, Brigg

Really pleased to welcome my friend Amy, author of the upcoming Mina And The Undead - which I'm super-excited for - to talk about not one but TWO bookshops today!



The Barrister in Wonderland Bookshop

As soon as I walked into The Barrister in Wonderland Bookshop, I knew it would become a favourite. The décor is absolutely gorgeous, with a tea party on the ceiling and lots of other quirky touches that create a fun, cosy atmosphere. There are inviting displays of books as soon as you walk in, including a selection of signed books. I clicked with the owner, Helen, immediately and love talking children’s books with her!

The shop specialises in new children’s books from birth to YA, and there’s a small range of preloved books. I walked out with a huge bag of books and even more recommendations.

They provide a subscription service for either six months or a year. The lucky recipient gets a different book every month that is tailored to their interests. I signed up for my baby – it’ll be lovely for him to get a new book in the post every month!

Visiting The Barrister in Wonderland is a special experience, and I can’t wait to go back!




The Rabbit Hole

Another one of my favourite bookshops is The Rabbit Hole in Brigg. The children’s section is a bright, airy space that feels so welcoming from the moment you step inside. There are play tables and beautifully presented displays of books, with an amazing range of books for all ages from babies to YA. Further into the shop, there’s a well-stocked section of adult books, and you can find preloved books, CDs and vinyl on the second floor.

One of the things I love about this shop is the passion and knowledge of the owners, Nick and Mel. They are well known for working with local schools and connecting with authors, and have even set up a reading group that has followed a group of children from primary school to secondary. Through lockdown, they have found innovative ways to keep author visits going, allowing thousands of children to connect with their favourite authors.

The personal connection and amazing service are two of the many reasons why I’ll keep going back to The Rabbit Hole!



Amy McCaw is the author of the upcoming Mina And The Undead (UCLan Publishing.) She also blogs at YA Under My Skin and can be found on Twitter at @YAUnderMySkin.

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