bookseller crow | K Morris

On popping into the hairdressers this morning (I like to get my hair cut at least once a year whether it needs it or not), I learned that the leader of the Labour Party, Ed Miliband, had visited the Upper Norwood and Crystal Palace area in which I live, http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/archive/2013/12/09/10864355.Labour_leader_Ed_Miliband_visits_small_businesses_in_Upper_Norwood_and_Crystal_Palace/. Apparently he popped into the shop but, I understand that he did not enjoy the attentions of the excellent hairdressers who, periodically have the dubious pleasure of cutting my own unruly mop! He did, however pop into the BookSeller Crow, a shop which I visit from time to time. The visit was aimed at promoting local small businesses of which BookSeller Crow is one such.

The above news pales into insignificance compared to the exploits of my guide dog, Trigger who decided, while I was having my hair cut, to present a towel to a gentleman who was also having his hair cut. It is the retriever in him which causes him to pick up all kinds of objects, my guide dog that is, not the customer.

Some 10-15 minutes walk from my home is the independent Bookseller Crow (http://www.booksellercrow.co.uk/) in Crystal Palace. As a child I have happy memories of visiting WH Smiths with my grandfather to buy clasics by children’s authors such as Enid Blighton, however Smiths is part of a large chain and sells many items besides books. The beauty of shops such as Bookseller Crow is that they specialise in books and are run and/or owned by book lovers. Even if the Bookseller Crow doesn’t have a particular title in stock they are more than willing to order it for you.

The shop also hosts events such as one where the comedian, Mark Steel, who lives locally read extracts from his book and autographed copies.

On a personal level I am grateful to the owner of the store, Jonathan Maine for allowing me to place cards advertising this website, newauthoronline.com in his shop. As an author living in Crystal Palace its great to know that there is a local book shop, independent of the huge chains to which I can turn to promote my writing.