BITES THE BUZZ

Garth Nix, who wrote The LeftHanded Booksellers of London (2020), has just published a follow-up called The Sinister Booksellers of Bath. This young adult fantasy novel is a wintry return to the alternative 1980s England of the first book.

The booksellers who police the Old World keep a careful watch there, particularly on the entity who inhabits the ancient hot spring. Yet it is not from Sulis Minerva that trouble starts. It comes from the discovery of a sorcerous map, leading left-handed bookseller Merlin into great danger.

A desperate rescue is attempted by his sister, the right-handed bookseller Vivien, and their friend, art student Susan Arkshaw, who is still struggling to deal with her own recently discovered magical heritage.

The map takes them to a place separated from this world, guarded by monstrous living statues of Purbeck marble. But this is only the beginning, as the booksellers investigate centuries of disappearances and deaths and try to unravel the secrets of the murderous Lady of Stone.

Garth Nix is an Australian writer who specialises in children's and young adult fantasy novels. He is visiting Bath and appearing at Topping & Co. on 3 April at 7.30pm. The Sinister Booksellers of Bath is published by Gollancz, £20.

From skidding down BMX tracks at Wansdyke Playing Fields as a child to exploring all the natural magic the countryside has to offer as an adult, Carer Support Wiltshire trustee and marketing expert Donna Moore has always felt connected to her hometown of Bath.

I grew up in Bath and spent the early years of my childhood racing around on my bike at the BMX track in Wansdyke Playing Fields – I’m sure I still have gravel in my knees from falling off! During my teenage years, I was a member of Bath Sea Cadets learning to kayak, powerboat and row, making friends who I’m still close to today.

I live in Bathwick and love its proximity to the city centre and green spaces. I feel like I have the best of both worlds on my doorstep. There is also excellent community spirit in Bathwick, a real feeling that people are looking out for you and there’s always someone willing to stop and say ‘hello’.

When I started work in 1997, I had the good fortune of joining Future Publishing. As an 18-year-old it was an excellent introduction to working life – fun, great people, and lots of ambition to grow. I quickly moved into the IT department and became the voice of the helpdesk for a few years.

I fell into marketing by accident. After returning to work after my daughter Emma was born, my employer thought that my technical background would make me a good fit for a role in SEO (search engine optimization), and my marketing career started there. Over the years I expanded my knowledge and have worked in Bath, London and Bristol in various roles.

Right now I’m working for an American company called Welocalize, heading up their marketing team. I moved to this role three years ago after the marketing agency I worked for (SearchStar) was acquired by them. One thing I really enjoy is speaking to people across the globe, finding out about where they live and their culture, and adding to my never-ending list of places to visit!

I first got involved as a trustee for Carer Support Wiltshire in 2019. I was looking for a new challenge – a different way to use the skills I’d built up as well as giving something back. I’ve volunteered throughout my adult life and I was keen to find a local charity to work with as a trustee, and caring was close to my heart having been a teenage carer for my terminally ill father.

I’m a member of the board of trustees at CSW and the subcommittee Chair for the Fundraising and Publicity Committee. As a trustee, I’m there to provide support, governance and use my experience to steer the charity as it progresses and grows.

CSW offers carers support when they need it most, or they’re not sure who can help and what support is available. This includes practical help navigating life as a carer, emotional and well-being support from other carers, or specialist carer provision.

Loneliness is a problem across society. Combine that with having less personal time available to meet with others, and not wanting to burden others, it’s easy to see why our Here to Talk service is so valuable. Here to Talk provides a safe space for unpaid carers to talk about their lives – the highs and lows –with an experienced befriender. It’s an opportunity to get guidance, have someone listen, and feel understood.

I love getting outside after working all week. Usually, I’m walking parts of the Bath Skyline, cycling along the canal as the days get warmer, or meeting up with friends. Most of my activities are combined with a meal or coffee. Blue, my Miniature Schnauzer, usually comes along to join in the fun. He loves going for long walks at the weekend and meeting other dogs, and this summer he’ll be making his debut at dog agility shows!

I love spending time in Society Coffee –it’s my happy place to watch the world go by, drink great coffee, enjoy a delicious cookie, and spend time with my family.

I’ve just come back from a whistlestop tour to Madrid, taking in the city and enjoying some excellent tapas. In the summer I’m visiting the South of France for the first time and am looking forward to visiting vineyards, eating alfresco and exploring towns on the French Riviera. ■

If you are interested in being a volunteer for Carer Support Wiltshire, contact admin@ carersupportwiltshire.co.uk; carersupportwiltshire.co.uk