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<channel><generator>iloblog 1.0</generator><title>Mo&#039;s Blog Feed</title><link>http://mosblog.booksinthewest.com/</link><description></description><item><title>Here&#039;s a message from my heart</title><link>http://iloapp.booksinthewest.com/blog/mosblog?Home&amp;post=14</link><description><![CDATA[   and a new way to buy your
Internet Books, CDs and DVDs. You can
now get your books, CDs and DVDs on the internet  and  support your independent
bookshops.  

 By
logging into  www.hive.co.uk , you will see that
there is a whole world of bargains with free delivery. You can have delivery to
your door or even better to your local independent bookshop, so that you do not
have to worry about being at home and can collect when it suits you. The
bookshop gains a small benefit and thus is able to remain to offer you that
relaxed browse and friendly advice.  You now have the best of both worlds
- your independent bookshop where you can browse, purchase and order as before
and an internet site for that armchair shopping.  

 When registering, you will be asked for your favourite
independent bookseller. Should you choose to support us, please enter Books in
the West, 89 Main Street, West
Kilbride. and be assured of our commitment to bringing you everything you want
in your local bookshop. 

 While we will benefit in a
small way from our membership with Hive, Books in the West’s very survival is
dependent on regular and passing trade. With continued support and our links to
the biggest book suppliers, we are able to offer a fast and efficient ordering service, writer and
musical events in a warm and convivial atmosphere. Like all independents, our
hope is to be here for a very long time and we can only achieve this with
continued customer support.  

  Go on, you
know you want to  … that was Nellie the ghost putting her oar in.  

 A man in running shorts just took a book from my window and
collapsed the whole display. You know
who you are. Keep on running!    Mo  
 ]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:39:16 +0100</pubDate><category>Mo&#039;s Blog</category></item><item><title>Sunshine and busy times</title><link>http://iloapp.booksinthewest.com/blog/mosblog?Home&amp;post=13</link><description><![CDATA[  The shop door is open, the sun is shining and I hope it keeps shining because, in-between serving customers, I’m tied to my keyboard writing a crime story for a competition - the deadline is 1st May. No pressure there then.  
 Please forgive my absence from this blog. Much has been going on, not least a number of author and musical events in Glasgow (which I’ll tell you about in a moment). Sharon Mail came to the shop with her biography  We Could Possibly Comment,  which is a tribute to her friend and actor Ian Richardson,. It was a lovely evening and Sharon’s biography is a very fitting tribute to this great Scottish actor, who sadly died four years ago. Copies of Sharon’s book are of course on sale at the shop and I would highly recommend it. 
 Last night I went to a night of poetry and music at the Griffin Bar in Glasgow, starring poet Aidan McEoin, violinist/violist Feargus Hetherington and pianist Will Pickvance. If you ever get to hear any of these truly gifted gentlemen, then consider yourself blessed. Just to save you trawling the internet, Feargus’ Hetherington has a number of concert bookings for May, as listed below.   Gorelik and Hetherington  
 A collaboration will take place in May 2011 between Belarusian-born, US based pianist Olga Gorelik and violinist/violist Feargus Hetherington. Both artists originally met whilst students at the Cleveland Institute of Music, USA.  
 Dates and details are as below:- 
 18th May, 7.30pm – St John’s Episcopal Church, Edinburgh 19th May, 7.30pm – St Bride’s Episcopal Church, Glasgow 20th May, 7.30pm – St Leonards School, St Andrews 22nd May, 3pm – Cathedral of the Isles, Cumbrae 
  Recital repertoire will include the following works:  
 Sonata in G K 301 – W.A Mozart 
 Märchenbilder op. 113 – R. Schumann (viola and piano) 
 Intermission 
 Poème op. 25 – Ernest Chausson 
 Sonata no. 1 in D minor op. 75 – C. Saint-Saens  
 ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:32:45 +0100</pubDate><category>Mo&#039;s Blog</category></item><item><title>Music For Another World</title><link>http://iloapp.booksinthewest.com/blog/mosblog?Home&amp;post=12</link><description><![CDATA[  I’m very much looking forward to Tuesday evening, when a shop full of men will read great stories to me and when I’ll be serenaded by Markee de Saw and Bert Finkle, as I sip wine that George has paid for. It doesn’t get much better than that. Actually, if someone could play servant and peel some grapes to drop in my mouth ... I know, a girl can dream.  
 Tuesday evening is the book launch of Music for Another World at Books in the West. Come along and sip George’s wine with me – we’ll have a blast! Click on the ‘Events’ link to read all about it. 
 Best, 
 Mo 
 ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:53:38 +0000</pubDate><category>Mo&#039;s Blog</category></item><item><title>Love is in the air</title><link>http://iloapp.booksinthewest.com/blog/mosblog?Home&amp;post=9</link><description><![CDATA[  A very happy St. Valentine’s day everyone.  
 On this special day, my book in the window is John Connolly’s Lovers, where from the shadow of the pages two dark figures emerge, with only one purpose in mind and that is to bring an end to Charlie Parker's existence. My other recommendation is Sisters, by Rosamund Lupton, where you can join Beatrice as she embarks on a dangerous journey to discover the truth about her missing sister, no matter the cost. Well at Books in the West, the cost is, if you buy the Lovers you can get the Sisters half price.  
 Dark love indeed, then what do you expect? No Mills &amp; Boon here, I do have a gentler side and occasionally read novels and beautiful poetry where no-one gets murdered. If you ask me, I’ll tell you all about them. Right now, I have events on my mind . Please see ‘Events’ link on this website. When you do, I think you will be encouraged to come along and meet the authors and musical artists.  
 Very best, 
 Mo 
   
 ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:14:39 +0000</pubDate><category>Mo&#039;s Blog</category></item><item><title>Happy 2011</title><link>http://iloapp.booksinthewest.com/blog/mosblog?Home&amp;post=8</link><description><![CDATA[  Here’s wishing all readers and writers out there a very happy New Year and apologies for the delay in doing so.  
 I have been busy, what with frozen pipes and worse - unfrozen pipes. Nellie our ghost didn’t like being left alone over the festive period and showed this by toppling the Christmas tree and tumbling books from shelves. No harm done, gratefully! 
 My book of the month is Sister, by Rosamund Lupton – I couldn’t put this book down. It is at at the usual 25% discount, but what am I saying, all paperbacks have 25% off in our January sale and there are large discounts on selected hardbacks too.  
 Glasgow crime writer, Gordon Brown (and not the ex-PM), will star at our next author event, on Monday, 31 January. Gordon is the author of  Falling  and  59 Minutes.  For a free ticket for this and all future events, please e-mail me at  mo@booksinthewest.com,  or just pop into the shop. 
 I should mention that I am one of the directors of Read Raw Ltd, a writer’s collective and for any writer or keen reader out there, it is well worth checking out the website at  www.readrawltd.co.uk . 
 Very best,  
 Mo 
 ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:12:33 +0000</pubDate><category>Mo&#039;s Blog</category></item><item><title>Christmas Stocking </title><link>http://iloapp.booksinthewest.com/blog/mosblog?Home&amp;post=7</link><description><![CDATA[  I've finally given in and embraced the festive season with a reindeer in the window and a Christmas tree in the backshop. If that isn't enough, Bob Dylan's Christmas album (also on sale here), is croaking out Christmas cheer to one and all. 
 I did have Roses and Quality Streets on my desk for the customers. When I offered the tin to one young lad, saying, "would you like a sweet?, they really suck," I was rather put out when he sourly replied "Yes, they do." On checking the content of the tin I was shocked to find that I'd polished off all the soft-centres. I hate to sound like Scrooge but in fear of getting fat, there will be no more chocolates on this desk.  
 My book of the month is Douglas Thompson’s novel  Sylvow , which is a stocking-ripping read. Sylvow is available in hardback and paperback, with the usual book of the momth 25% off. 
 Wishing all you book lovers a very happy Christmas and prosperous New Year! 
   Click here for your card.   
 Very best, 
 Mo 
 ]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 18 Dec 2010 15:57:42 +0000</pubDate><category>Mo&#039;s Blog</category></item><item><title>Winter Warmers</title><link>http://iloapp.booksinthewest.com/blog/mosblog?Home&amp;post=6</link><description><![CDATA[ Hope everyone is keeping warm out there. The snow is piled high around my home and so I planned to rough it tonight and stay overnight in the shop. Certain good friends won’t hear of it though and so it’s a night of luxury at their place – och well then!


Douglas Thompson is coming along to launch his fabulous new novel, Sylvow, at Books in the West on Tuesday, 14th December at 7.00 pm. I attended the launch of Douglas’ first novel, Ultrameta, at Waterstones and can assure you that this book launch is not to be missed. I may even bake some mincepies!


Book of the week is the Falconer by Alice Thompson. The newspaper critics are in raptures over this one. The Sunday Times states “”Elegantly spare... radically different in plot, style and language ... Thompson is one of the more original and idiosyncratic new voices in fiction.” That’s what they say. I say it’s a darn good winter-warming read and with the usual 25% discount. 

Very best,
Mo  
 ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:44:14 +0000</pubDate><category>Mo&#039;s Blog</category></item><item><title>Event, Exhibition and a darn good read</title><link>http://iloapp.booksinthewest.com/blog/mosblog?Home&amp;post=5</link><description><![CDATA[  I am so looking forward to Tuesday. If you have never been to a Books in the West event, then you should come along and find out what I’m raving about.  
 Rab Wilson will be coming to the shop on Tuesday evening at 7.00 pm. Check him out under events. Rab is one of my all-time favourite poets and it is always an enriching experience listening to him read his work.  
 Ray Evan’s fabulous  Territories’  exhibition shouldn’t be missed. Now here is a man who suffered for his heart. This is what Ray says: 
 “I came across an abandoned factory in Glasgow. The cavernous, almost church like inside, was literally covered in graffiti. I was immediately drawn to the intense colours and the diversity of the imagery.  
 Because I mostly work in black &amp; white, it was refreshing to refer back to basic colours and shapes. I think i've achieved some measure of style and illumination. I'm excited by what I find. Each visit brings new ways of seeing.” 

 What Ray didn’t say is that while he was taking his pics, he stepped back and fell down a big hole. Talk about bleeding for your art! Anyway, he is whole and hearty now and his pictures are blazing from our walls. 
 Book of the Week (25% discount as usual!) is Secret History by Donna Tartt. It is a wonderful read and definitely one of my favourites.  
 ]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 20 Nov 2010 17:20:47 +0000</pubDate><category>Mo&#039;s Blog</category></item><item><title>Book of the week and all that jazz</title><link>http://iloapp.booksinthewest.com/blog/mosblog?Home&amp;post=4</link><description><![CDATA[  I have started decorating the shop window for the winter season. I’m breaking into the festive season slowly because, don’t you just hate when shops put their Christmas trees up and play jingle bells practically before Summer has gone? Well I do. That did not happen at Books in the West in October and it certainly won’t happen in November either – “Jingle Bells” that is! I just can’t and won’t do that to you. Music shall be restricted to classical and jazz as always and that’s my last word on it!  
 As far as decorating the shop goes, I must say that I can’t get beyond the third step of the ladder without having a panic attack and so had to call a friend. Many thanks for all your help Dawn. Just awaiting my imaginative and clever designer friend, Wullie Purcell, to finish his pièce de résistance centrepiece for the window. No pressure Wullie, but Christmas is coming! 
  The Island  by R.J. Price is this week’s book of the week at 25% discount. Bill Broady, Author of  Swimmer and Eternity is Temporary , said of it: “Richard Price explores the intersecting worlds of children and adults with a wild joy and sadness reminiscent of Salinger ... a well-nigh perfect short novel,” and with this I would be inclined to agree.  
   
 Mo 
 ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:48:33 +0000</pubDate><category>Mo&#039;s Blog</category></item><item><title>The ghost is out</title><link>http://iloapp.booksinthewest.com/blog/mosblog?Home&amp;post=3</link><description><![CDATA[  The answer is  Nellie , although I do think that Amor Libro is the top answer yet and should win. Darn it, Nellie says it should win - she threw a Spanish dictionary at me and that says it all, the spooky, vicious auld romantic that she is. So, our clever winner , please e-mail your address to  mo@booksinthewest.com  or pop into the shop to pick up your spooky prize. 
 ]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 30 Oct 2010 15:01:09 +0100</pubDate><category>Mo&#039;s Blog</category></item></channel>
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