Our free events are very popular but often held in smaller venues. Please only reserve tickets if you are sure you can attend and, if you are unable to come along, please cancel your tickets on Eventbrite to release your reservation so that others can access the event.
Dares Paradise: an evening with Taylor Strickland.
Monday 16th November, 7-8.30pm, The Station House, Stow.
We are delighted to welcome back to Stow, award-winning translator, poet and writer Taylor Strickland. Join Taylor to celebrate Dares Paradise, his new translation of under-appreciated 18th century poet and captain at Culloden, Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair. Join Taylor and poet and podcaster Scott Cassidy for an entertaining evening of poetry and song in English and Gaelic, with Taylor’s subversive Transatlantic style! This should be a magical, unique event so please book quickly while you can!
Free author event but donations very welcome. Booking essential through Eventbrite. 18+
The Watchmaker’s Wife: an evening with Janis Mckay
Thursday 26th November, 7-8.30pm, The Station House, Stow.
Award-winning writer Janis Mackay is returning to Stow to celebrate the launch of her new novel, The Watchmaker’s Wife. After ten years in domestic service, Johanna is determined to make the best of her marriage to watchmaker Willie Lockhart, but is haunted by memories of the man she loved, who was lost to the Great War. The more Willie tests her mettle the fiercer grows her love for her dead soldier, a man she barely knew. As a marriage built on lies, drink, and fiddle music chips away at her dignity, the past becomes a happier country. The Watchmaker’s Wife is the story of one woman’s hopes, poverty, struggle and survival. Authentic and multilayered, this poignant and compelling tortured love story will keep you guessing until the last page.
A scattering of confetti and Johanna is carried over the threshold into a cramped house he had promised was so much bigger…
Free author event but donations very welcome. Booking essential through Eventbrite. 18+
The Wedale Folklore Club
Usually meets monthly on the third Thursday of the month from 7pm, The Wild Hare Cafe, Stow.
The Scottish Borders has a rich and stirring history, matched by the often weird and wonderful folklore that surrounds us. We love a story, so have created this free-to-join group inspired by myths, legends and folk-customs. The group meets monthly and is a place to share stories, discover forgotten folklore and strange, fascinating places to visit and revel in the mysterious! Open to all, 18+.
If you love folktales, folklore, myths and legends then this may be the place for you! For further details or to join the group, please email us hello@charliebyrne.live
poetry circle
The poetry circle is currently taking a break. We hope to start up again in the new year, 2027.
If you enjoy reading or composing poetry, you may like to join our new monthly gathering at the bookshop on the last Wednesday of the month at 7pm, except August. Free to join, this group is for readers or writers of all abilities who love to write, read, sing, sign or perform poetry!
Email hello@charliebyrne.live for further details.
Each month, we choose a Poem of the Month, written by someone in the group. We’ll post each poem here on the website and our social media channels and we hope to publish a collection annually – so get involved!
Authors? Why have your book event in Stow?
Stow of Wedale has excellent transport links (we think we’re the only independent bookshop in the Scottish Borders directly served by a railway station) meaning holding and attending events here that celebrate the written word is ideal. In addition to our bookshop, we have local caterers and facilities that can allow for events hosting from 2 to 176 guests (that’s the capacity of the main space in the Town Hall!). In addition to the town hall, we also have the beautifully refurbished and presented Station House.
The Wedale Book Club.
We have two book groups (one meeting on the 2nd Wednesday and the other on the 3rd Wednesday of every month, except August) hosted in the bookshop. Open to all 18+. 20% off each month’s chosen titles when you buy in-store – contact us or ask next time you pop in!
October’s Book
November’s Book
You can buy books that our Book Groups have been reading from our List on Bookshop.org:
The LGBTQI+ Book Club
We are delighted to host the south’s only dedicated LGBTQI+ bookshop book group (as far as we know!). It’s held in Stow each month, except August. Open to 18+. 20% off each month’s chosen titles when you buy in-store – contact us or ask next time you pop in!