Brilliant line-up of events as we head into Autumn at Kemps

First up is the Harvest Food Festival where Kemps in Malton are once again thrilled to be the Festival Bookshop to welcome guests from the main stage to sign books and chat following their appearances. This year’s guests include welcoming back Master Pâtissier and judge from Bake Off: The Professionals, Benoit Blin, as well as 2022 Masterchef Champion Eddie Scott, and well-known outdoor cook Harrison Ward, who is also known as Fell Foodie.

The festival is free and signed copies of each of the guests' books will be available to purchase on the day. Towards the latter days of October, they have an array of events to occupy your evening. Join us on October 16 for a special evening in conversation with novelist Victoria Hislop at the newly refurbished Wesley Centre.

Inspired by a visit to Spinalonga, the abandoned Greek leper colony, Victorian wrote The Island and now returns to Greece in her new book The Figurine. This promises to be a fascinating event, perfect for fans of Victoria’s novels, bringing some Mediterranean warmth and sunshine to the gloomy autumnal Malton.

Meanwhile, if you are looking for a spooky evening in the lead-up to Halloween, the UK’s best-selling female historian Alison Weir will join Kemps from the Milton Rooms the following evening.

Given all the bloody deeds, violent deaths, and intrigues that the Tower of London has witnessed in its 900-year history, there is little wonder that it has the reputation of being one of the most haunted places in Britain.

Alison discusses some of the grim events it has witnessed and the ghosts that reputedly haunt it. Join us for a ghostly evening, perfect for this time of year.

Alison said: ‘I am delighted to be speaking in Malton, a town that holds happy family memories for me."

The next author joining Kemps is much loved by many of our customers. Angela Harding will be with us the following Saturday at St Michael’s Church for an evening of conversation and introduce us to her newest book.

Featuring illustrations of dramatic seascapes and reflective rivers, Still Water & Wild Waves is a beautiful new book that captures the water that moves us. Angela’s distinct style has become instantly recognisable to nature lovers and book lovers alike, so join us to hear about her work and inspirations, as well as ask questions and have books signed too.

Historian Annie Gray walks us down the road and through the ages, from the dawn of the high street in medieval England to what we see today in our next historical event.

Her new book The Bookshop, the Draper, the Candlestick Maker is a colourful work of social history where she explores the vast history of the high street. Annie specialises in the history of food and dining in Britain from the 17th century to the present day and it will therefore be an insightful evening perfect for Malton.

The final event in October is an interactive mystery catered towards 7-11-year-olds. There will be puzzles to solve, suspects to interview and clues to unravel in The Search for the at Kemps Bookstore. This event is free, but booking is essential.

As we head into November, Kemps are thrilled to welcome international bestselling author Kate Mosse. Kate will be in conversation about her new historical adventure novel, The Map of Bones, a story of adventure, hardship, dispossession and injustice in a turbulent historical period. It is the fourth and final novel of The Joubert Family Chronicles series that spans from France to South Africa in the sixteenth, seventeenth, and nineteenth centuries.

Although fictional, the characters are inspired by those who lived in this period of religious and civil unrest, making it an interesting evening for fans of historical fiction and those fascinated by this tumultuous

In collaboration with Derventio Wines, Kemps will host ‘Read Between the Wines.’ Matching favourite reads with some delightful wines from around the world, explore the fabulous worlds of wine and books in one place. They will discuss characters, plots and literary worlds over a nice glass of wine.

Following her visit in September, Sally Coulthard will be returning for Malton’s St.Clements Festival. She will be talking about her new book The Apple: A Delicious History, which presents a richly informative story of fruit with a unique attachment to the human story. Sally will also be signing books following her talk.

Last but not least, as Kemps look ahead to Christmas, Be Amazing Arts will be back with an immersive theatre experience of A Christmas Carol in the streets and buildings of Malton. It will commence on December 3 and run until the 23 with the meeting point for the performance at Kemps.

Liz Kemp, owner of Kemps, said: ‘We have been working so hard to put our events programme together and it was really heartening to have such a positive response to our events with Dan Jones and Annie Garthwaite. To have Kate Mosse, Angela Harding and Victoria Hislop choosing to visit Malton is quite a coup for us and we do hope our audiences enjoy them and support us so we can build on this for the future."

More details of these and future events can be found at www.kempsgeneralstore.co.uk or in-store.