A Rachael Smith Double Signing: Isabella & Blodwen and Snippets

We're delighted to have Rachael Smith join us for a special signing of not one, but two of her latest books, Snippets and Isabella & Blodwen! Rachel will be signing at the shop on Thusday 6th July 2023, from 6-7pm.

Acclaimed comics artist Rachael Smith of Avery Hill's House Party and The Rabbit, and more recently Icon Books' Glass Half Empty, has certainly been busy this year! With two brand new books out in 2023, the supernatural coming-of-age story Isabella & Blowden and her guide to create your own diary comics, Snippets, we're excited to have her in the shop to sign these marvellous new titles. Here's some words about them from publishers Cast Iron Books and David & Charles:

Sixteen year-old Isabella has been granted early admission to the prestigious University of Oxford. Academically gifted, but severely lacking in social skills, she finds navigating the hallowed halls a trial she can’t study her way out of. Mixing with older students, and struggling to find her place, she sets her heart on the coveted summer internship with her hero, Professor MacLeod. While wondering how to get the letter of recommendation she needs to be considered, she accidentally drops an exhibit from a museum she’s visiting in her bag... and Blodwen, the Witch from the Bottle enters her life!

Aimed at a young adult audience, and exploring themes of friendship, growing up, and finding your place in the world, Isabella & Blodwen is a story that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt alone and that the world is against them.


Snippets: 52 Weeks of Diary Comics teaches the basics of writing and drawing comic strips in a diary format that provides a record of your year, yourgrowth as an artist and storyteller, and a place to experiment and explore your creativity.

Forartists and non-artists alike, each week a new prompt will inspire users with suggestions of stories they can tell, or tips they can try. Extremely accessible and undemanding, the diary is designed for only one panel a day to be drawn, making it easy to fit into your life while at the same time allowing the use to establish a new hobby and skill. At the end of the week, the user has a completed comic strip to share with others, use as the basis fora bigger, longer story, or simply a private record of their life and growth as an artist.

Rachael will be signing here on Thursday 6th July, from 6-7pm. Add it to your calenders! And if you can't make it, you'll be able to order signed copies of Isabella & Blodwen and Snippets by clicking on those titles.

Keep up to date with any updates over on our Facebook event page.