Hay-On-Wye is the world’s first ‘book town,’ and a focal point for book lovers from all over the world. It all started in 1962 when Richard Booth realised that an otherwise ordinary town could be rejuvenated if it became a destination for one specific product. (Interestingly, it doesn’t matter what that product is – fill a town with it, and the customers will come.) Booth opened a huge second hand bookshop, encouraged other book dealers to do the same and Hay was born – or, more accurately, re-born. Hay is now (ahem) past its heyday, due to the internet, but it still boasts over twenty bookshops and of course the literary festival.
The PBFA book fair in Hay is a relatively recent one. It is held in the castle, and the yard-thick walls made it a delightfully cool venue on what turned out to be the hottest day ever in Wales. The fair was very busy, with a great atmosphere and a wonderful launch party held the night before at the Cinema Bookshop. Hay itself is astonishingly pretty with its ancient buildings, beautiful river and unspoilt countryside for miles around. We didn’t miss the sea – we went swimming in the river!
My next book fair is on the 2nd August in the equally delightful town of Lewes. This is one of my favourite fairs and as usual I will be selling off ‘old’ stock at bargain prices. That means I need to replace it with new collections, so please do get in touch if you have books, maps, magazines, ephemera, postcards or photographs to sell. If it’s on paper, give me a call – you never know!
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