Festival's books available at local bookshop

By Lucy Burns

Bookends the independent Cumbrian bookshop will be at Words by the Water all day everyday selling the works of those appearing in the festival. Gwenda Matthews who runs the business with her husband Steve is prepared for a busy 10 days. Together the couple have worked in Cumbria for over 25 years and have 3 shops, Bookends in Keswick and Carlisle and also Bookcase of Carlisle which sells secondhand, rare and antiquarian books.

Bookends are the official booksellers at the festival which means there is a great opportunity to pick up books written by any of the speakers you’ve felt particularly inspired by. Melvin Bragg’s latest paperback “Remember Me” is set to be a big seller with plenty having been ordered in anticipation, Will Higginson who works part time in Bookends has been unpacking “box after box of Bragg’s books”. Works by Sandi Toksvig are also expected by the Bookends team to be very popular, so try not to miss Bragg and Toksvig performing.

Festival director Kay Dunbar advised fans to see as much as possible at the festival “but for something different I would recommend Emmanuel Jal, he’s great for a younger audience.” Emmanuel Jal fought as a child soldier in Ethiopia and southern Sudan and now has not only written "War Child a boy soldier's story" but is also an internationally acclaimed gospel rap artist. Jal’s book along all those performing at the festival will be available from Bookends if not on the day then through their next day delivery ordering service.

Most of those speaking at Words by the Water are expected to be putting on a book signing after their performance, so pick up your chosen book from Bookends and head to the entrance to meet your favourite artist.