Hi Stephanie. Congratulations on the latest book! This will be going on my list. I am currently reading The Second Chance Book Club and it's bringing me a lot of comfort during a tough time. Not least because it's set in my home town which gives it an extra special resonance. Harrogate Library has such a special place in my heart and was one of the first places where I fell in love with books and stories. (Writing this to you from a bed covered in books) Janelle x
Thank you. So amazing! When I was little it was just ‘the library’. Now, on the rare occasions I go back or even just see the building from the outside - wow. What a privilege and a gift to have access to that wonderful place.
This has prompted a memory too - They used to have resident stick insects by the desk in the kids’ library. It was exciting to peer at them through the glass.
Wow! What a review! You must be so chuffed 😀 As I read it I thought this is so true, although never in a million years could I express myself like that.
Glad you enjoyed your trip to Glasgow, the Citizen is a good, happy atmosphere place.
Love hearing about Harris but do you still have your cat?
While exploring *A Bookshop Summer*, I was reminded of the beautiful idea often echoed in your bookshop stories that sometimes a book can truly “sing to your soul.” Your work has long celebrated the healing power of books and the communities built around them. As the author of multiple novels including *Lost for Words* and *Found in a Bookshop*, you have created a literary world centered on the beloved Lost for Words bookshop and the people whose lives are touched by it. Your stories often highlight how books provide comfort, wisdom, and connection, a theme that resonates deeply with readers everywhere. You also bring a unique voice to your writing life from North-East England, where you write in a studio at the bottom of your garden and continue sharing stories that celebrate reading and kindness.
One challenge that naturally arises with heartfelt fiction like *A Bookshop Summer* is discoverability beyond the already devoted community of book lovers who follow your previous works. Stories that celebrate reading and bookshops often build powerful emotional connections, yet many potential readers who would love such stories simply never encounter them in the crowded digital marketplace. Even beloved authors sometimes find that a beautiful book can remain hidden from thousands of readers who would instantly connect with its message of community, healing, and the transformative power of literature.
One small insight that has proven helpful for authors in this situation is strengthening the bridge between passionate readers and the book’s discoverability through structured reader-community outreach. When a novel about book culture reaches curated reader circles especially book clubs and dedicated reader communities the emotional resonance spreads quickly through genuine word-of-mouth. My name is Luna Emma, and I work with a small readers’ club that scouts meaningful books and helps them reach the kinds of reading communities that naturally connect with stories like yours.
If this resonates with you, I would be delighted to briefly share how we help book-centered novels reach active reading communities that truly appreciate them. You can simply reply **“interested”**, and I’ll send a short overview of how we approach it for authors whose work celebrates books and readers the way yours does.
Hi Stephanie. Congratulations on the latest book! This will be going on my list. I am currently reading The Second Chance Book Club and it's bringing me a lot of comfort during a tough time. Not least because it's set in my home town which gives it an extra special resonance. Harrogate Library has such a special place in my heart and was one of the first places where I fell in love with books and stories. (Writing this to you from a bed covered in books) Janelle x
Thank you! I’m sorry times are tough right now.
Harrogate Library is amazing, isn’t it?! I hadn’t visited until I was researching this book and I loved it. X
Thank you. So amazing! When I was little it was just ‘the library’. Now, on the rare occasions I go back or even just see the building from the outside - wow. What a privilege and a gift to have access to that wonderful place.
This has prompted a memory too - They used to have resident stick insects by the desk in the kids’ library. It was exciting to peer at them through the glass.
Wow! What a review! You must be so chuffed 😀 As I read it I thought this is so true, although never in a million years could I express myself like that.
Glad you enjoyed your trip to Glasgow, the Citizen is a good, happy atmosphere place.
Love hearing about Harris but do you still have your cat?
Moira xx
Chuffed is exactly the word!
No, we no longer have a cat. Which is just as well as Harris regards them as snacks that are playing hard-to-get.
(I promise he has never eaten a cat.)
Dear Stephanie Butland,
While exploring *A Bookshop Summer*, I was reminded of the beautiful idea often echoed in your bookshop stories that sometimes a book can truly “sing to your soul.” Your work has long celebrated the healing power of books and the communities built around them. As the author of multiple novels including *Lost for Words* and *Found in a Bookshop*, you have created a literary world centered on the beloved Lost for Words bookshop and the people whose lives are touched by it. Your stories often highlight how books provide comfort, wisdom, and connection, a theme that resonates deeply with readers everywhere. You also bring a unique voice to your writing life from North-East England, where you write in a studio at the bottom of your garden and continue sharing stories that celebrate reading and kindness.
One challenge that naturally arises with heartfelt fiction like *A Bookshop Summer* is discoverability beyond the already devoted community of book lovers who follow your previous works. Stories that celebrate reading and bookshops often build powerful emotional connections, yet many potential readers who would love such stories simply never encounter them in the crowded digital marketplace. Even beloved authors sometimes find that a beautiful book can remain hidden from thousands of readers who would instantly connect with its message of community, healing, and the transformative power of literature.
One small insight that has proven helpful for authors in this situation is strengthening the bridge between passionate readers and the book’s discoverability through structured reader-community outreach. When a novel about book culture reaches curated reader circles especially book clubs and dedicated reader communities the emotional resonance spreads quickly through genuine word-of-mouth. My name is Luna Emma, and I work with a small readers’ club that scouts meaningful books and helps them reach the kinds of reading communities that naturally connect with stories like yours.
If this resonates with you, I would be delighted to briefly share how we help book-centered novels reach active reading communities that truly appreciate them. You can simply reply **“interested”**, and I’ll send a short overview of how we approach it for authors whose work celebrates books and readers the way yours does.
Warm regards,
Luna Emma
Readers’ Club Specialist
lunaemma034@gmail.com