Fresh from being named National Book Tokens (NBT) Newcomer of the Year 2022, The Ivybridge Bookshop has made a remarkably positive difference to their Devon community and local writers in super-quick time. 

Owners Matt Steele and Wynnie Ng only opened The Ivybridge Bookshop in April 2021, and in that time they’ve hosted tonnes of events and story-telling sessions after an epic launch involving 28 local authors. 

Acclaimed for their artistic flair (Alex de Berry, MD of NBT, praised their “beautifully creative window displays”, some of which can be admired below), Matt and Wynnie have already built a strong bond with their community and customers, and take much joy from sharing book recommendations: “what creates most happiness is each time a parent or grandparent comes in, saying how delighted their children or grandchildren were with the books we helped them to buy”.

Talking of sharing book recommendations, Matt does exactly that below (along with sharing a whole lot of reading-related passion) in this Bookshop of the Month interview.

Describe your shop in three words.

Spacious, inviting, dog-friendly

When was your bookshop born? How did it come about?

We opened on bookshop freedom day, April 12th last year, after the (hopefully final) lockdown. We have worked in bookshops in Hong Kong for nearly 25 years, and finally took the plunge to move back and open our own bookshop. I grew up in Devon, and after some scouting of potential places where a bookshop could work, Ivybridge seemed to fit the bill, with no bookshops nearby, and a sizeable population.

Tell us about your journey and the changes you’ve seen (and made) along the way.

Ivybridge has been very welcoming to us and the shop, and there is also a vibrant writing community here. This has given us the chance to hold a number of events, including book launches and children's story-tellings. 

Our first event included 28 local authors, each introducing their books, for 2 minutes. It was like a cross between Just a Minute and speed dating. We are also lucky to have large window on two sides of the stores, and have had fun with window displays, as well as welcoming picture book artists Briony May Smith and Richard Jones to create window paintings.

What’s important in a great bookshop? 

A great bookshop is full of the familiar and the unexpected. There is comfort in seeing old favourites on the shelves, even books from childhood being read by the next generation, and excitement in discovering new authors and reading journeys.

What’s your favourite…novel to recommend to adults?

Missing on Dartmoor by Julian Mitchell. Julian is an Ivybridge resident, and this detective novel set in the surroundings of Dartmoor has been our most popular book! 

...non-fiction to recommend to adults?

The Moth and the Mountain by Ed Caesar. It is the crazy story of World War I veteran Maurice Wilson, who tried to be the first person to scale Mount Everest by flying a gypsy moth aeroplane as high as could into the mountainside, and then climbing from there. It appeals to climbing enthusiasts, history fans, and anyone looking for an unusual and rather mad-cap tale. 

...picture book recommendation?

If You Go Down to the Woods Today by Rachel Piercy and Freya Hartas. A beautiful search-and-find book of animal scenes in the woods. 

...children’s fiction recommendation? 

Currently this is The Case of the Smuggler's Curse by Mark Dawson, a famous-five-esque mystery as a group of children investigate a strange figure on a stormy beach, signalling out to sea with a lantern.   

Which books have you been recommending recently?

The Dartmoor Murders by Stephanie Austin, Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior, The Last Bear by Hannah Gold. 

Who would you invite to your dream literary gathering?

Agatha Christie, Terry Pratchett, Stephen Fry and Jeffrey Archer. The conversation and anecdotes would be priceless. 

What’s your favourite area of your bookshop?

The Hong Kong section, we have met a few people there who have lived and worked in Hong Kong, and we can reminisce about old times, in the bustle of Kowloon, or the relaxing beaches and countryside of the outlying islands.

What are you most proud of so far?

Being awarded the National Book Tokens Newcomer of the Year 2022 Award was a proud moment, although what creates most happiness is each time a parent or grandparent comes in, and saying how delighted their children or grandchildren were with the books that we helped them to buy.

Tell us a secret about books.

The barcode on the back of each book might look like a random number, but different groups of numbers identify the part of the world it was published in and who the publisher is, and there is an algorithm which calculates the final numeral in the number.

Apart from your own shop, which other bookshop(s) do you love spending time in?

Any bookshop really! My favourite bookshop growing up was in Padstow on the harbour front. It was chock full of books and felt like entering a magical cavern.  Every bookshop has a its own personality from independent jewels across the country to the soaring cathedrals of London's multi-floor wonders.

  

What else would you like to share with the LoveReading community?

As booklovers you are part of a strong, supportive and growing community! There are now more books being read, and more independent bookshops across the country than there have been for years. Thank you for carrying the flame, and spreading the love of books and reading! 

Be the first to know about The Ivybridge Bookshop’s news and events:

Website: www.ivybridgebookshop.com

Twitter: @ivybridgeboooks

Facebook: @ivybridgebookshop

Instagram: @ivybridgebookshop

And discover more amazing bookshops here.