What are the opening hours?

Monday 9:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 9:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 9:30am - 4:30pm Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm Saturday 9:30am - 4:30pm

First Draft Books

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First Draft Books

An independent bookstore for curious readers of all ages in Bovey Tracey and popping up in Ashburton
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19/06/2026

You know who loves reading? Dads.
From epic sci-fi to literary thrillers, nature books to picture books, your fave father figure is covered. Pick up something for them this Independent Bookshop Week and get a £5 National Book Token voucher to use in the future. Bargain. Dads would approve.
This stack features:
🙌 Slow Gods by Claire North - a space opera for the ages
🙌 The Social Lives of Birds by Joan E. Strawman- oh, the real-life bird drama!
🙌 The Predicament by William Boyd - the accidental spy is back in action
🙌 Lords of the Ring by Dan Higgins - examining the stories behind the sport and the surprising ways they have shaped & mirrored our cultural and social lives
🙌 Classic Football Shirts by Doug Bierton, Matthew Dale & Gary Bierton - does what it says on the tin and includes essays from Rory Smith
🙌 Daddy Is Cleaning by Angel D**e & Ebony Glenn - an utterly charming and relatable story about a dad and toddler enjoying their day together
There's plenty more where that came from. Pop in for a browse and more recommendations.

18/06/2026

Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy is the very deserving winner of the 2026 Indie Book Awards' nonfiction prize.
A fierce and raw account of the life of an author with a complicated maternal (and socio-political) history. I was thoroughly intoxicated by Roy's story, her frankness and her vulnerability. A stunning piece of writing.
Out in paperback now. Do yourself a favour and pick it up this summer. Happy reading!
Books Are My Bag

17/06/2026

When Great Big Green Week Bovey Tracey & Independent Bookshop Week overlap, you throw a Great Big Green Book Swap!
Join us in Mill Marsh Park on Saturday, 20 June, from 10am-4pm for the Great Big Green Fun Day, a full day of family-friendly activities, crafts, stalls, talks, food, music and, of course, a book swap. All to celebrate our rich and varied local climate action community.
So bring up to three gently pre-loved books - for kids or adults - and swap them for up to three new-to-you reads. Everyone who participates will receive a 15% off voucher to use in the shop in the future as a THANK YOU for being part of our bookish re-reading community (while supplies last).
Any books left at the end of the day will go to the lovely new book exchange phone box on Cromwells Way so even more of the community can enjoy some pre-loved reads.
And special shout out to the amazing people who will be running this stall while I'm running another event in Ashburton on Saturday. Bovey reading community for the win!!

11/06/2026

It's Independent Bookshop Week, everyone!! Time to celebrate our shared love of all things bookshops & books & reading & bookish community.
From 13-21 June, we'll be saying a big THANK YOU to everyone who has supported us over the past three years. There is no First Draft Books without you. Here's what we've got planned.
🎉ARCs for Bovey Tracey Library: our semi-annual fundraiser for our favourite library. Make a donation (suggested: £2 per ARC). Take home up to THREE advanced reader copies of new-to-2026 books. Bask in the glow of doing good. [Bovey only]
🎉 High Five for Bookshops: our friends at National Book Tokens have given us £5 book tokens to give away. Buy a book in Bovey or Ashburton during the week and get a voucher to apply to a future book. Excludes ARCs & half-price books. [Bovey & Ashburton]
🎉Enjoy some Adventuremice fun with Philip Reeve & Sarah McIntyre at Craft Festival (13 June) and in Ashburton (20 June) - free!
🎉Let's read together: come along to one of our Reading Socials for some silent reading among friends in Bovey (17 June) and Torquay (18 June) - free!
🎉Bring a book, take a book at the Great Big Green Book Swap as part of the Great Big Green Week Bovey Tracey Fun Day on 20 June in Mill Marsh Park, and get a 15% off coupon to use in the store (while supplies last)
Not to get all mushy but I do love you all! Being able to build this bookish community alongside you has been an absolute joy. Let's take the chance to celebrate together.
See you out there!

10/06/2026

Anyone who has met Bovey local Ian Wellens knows he contains multitudes. One of them is Writer. Another is Thinker. Another is Advocate & Activist. His newest book, A History of Palest1ne in Five Fruits, encapsulates all of that and more.
Join us in the Bovey bookshop on 9 July at 7:30pm to celebrate the release of this beautiful & unique book.
On the night, Ian will be joined in conversation with writer, artist, curator, international lecturer and traveler Jenny Balfour-Paul. We will explore this complex history and the making of the book together.
You can pre-order a copy of the book (£10) to be collected and signed on the night. This is a free event, but advanced book is required. Save your seat here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1991463566135?aff=oddtdtcreator
See you there!

09/06/2026

Volunteers needed! As part of Great Big Green Week Bovey Tracey, First Draft Books is organising a Great Big Green Book Swap during the Fun Day on 20 June in Mill Marsh Park.

But I need help. I am looking for a few people who might be able to help me run the table on the day (from 10-4, plus setup & clean-up) as I will be running another event in Ashburton that afternoon!

--> You could do a couple hours, half a day or the whole shebang. Plus, you will always be with a buddy so you can have a wander around the fair, etc.
--> You'll get to chitchat with loads of amazing people.
--> And you'll get to take home any books that you like the look of at the end of the day!!

If you've not been to the Fun Day before, it is a buzzy, vibrant community day full of vendors, talks, demonstrations, food and music - all in celebration of Great Big Green Week and our local climate action initiatives.

All help is appreciated. Reach out if you're interested and I'll provide more details. Thank you for your help!

08/06/2026

The next Curious Readers Club approaches: Tuesday, 30 June!
Don't worry if you've not yet started reading Camilla Barnes' witty, bittersweet family drama The Usual Desire to Kill. You've got plenty of time!
I've whipped up a quick "read-along" schedule for those who need it. And if you've not yet signed up to join us, there's time for that, too. Head over to the Event links and book in. Plus, you'll get 10% off the book when you pick it up in the shop.
We will get together at 7pm in the Bovey Tracey bookshop for a book club chat and then Camilla will join us virtually at 8pm for a live Q&A.
Can't wait to hear what you think of this one. Happy reading!

03/06/2026

Ooh, I spy some summer reads over here. New paperbacks. New heavy hitters. New escapist fun.
🌻 Land by Maggie O'Farrell - 1860s Ireland, OS mapping, family secrets; hardback, 4 June
🌻 Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy - beautifully told mother-daughter dynamics, writing & campaigning in India; paperback, 11 June
🌻 Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer - last-chance love in the Italian countryside by the author of Less; hardback, 9 June
🌻 Squid Bits by Jess Bradley - hat-related graphic novel mayhem for ages 7+; paperback, 4 June - meet Jess in Bovey on 11 July!!
🌻 Scandal of the Summer by Alexandra Vasti - a lady looking for adventure, a rake looking for a mark; paperback, 25 June - love her, can't wait
🌻 How Not to Save the World by Anthea Lawson - how to work together to create change; paperback, 4 June
Grab a book and meet me outside for some sunshine-filled reading time!
Find more about these books through the links in the bio or pop into the shop to browse. What's on your summer reading list?

02/06/2026

Cathedrals by Claudio Piñeiro, translated by Frances Riddle.
I've been eagerly awaiting this one. I love Claudia's books. She writes crime novels (kinda) that grapple with the impact on those left behind and the conditions that allowed the crimes to happen in the first place. Always gripping, always full of big questions and emotions.
Out now! Pick it up in Bovey and Ashburton, or order for home delivery through the book links in the bio. Happy reading!

27/05/2026

June is peak "out and about" season for First Draft Books. You'll find us just about everywhere in South Devon this month: Ashburton, Bovey, Buckfastleigh, Exeter, Torquay. Of course, the bookshops will be there for you per usual. But do come see us out in the wild.
🌞3 June: Junior Book Club at Bovey Tracey Library - it's the final 11+ group before the summer break. Come chat about The Supreme Lie by Geraldine McCaughrean amongst friends [Free, 4:15-5pm]
🌞7 June: The Book Market is back in Exeter. And this year, we are down by the Quay. It's a jam-packed day of indie book stalls, activities, talks & vibes. Such a good day!!
🌞10 June: Our monthly Writing Social gets together in Bovey to write and chitchat with fellow local writers [Free, 6:30-8:30pm]
🌞12-14 June: We're bringing our craft book stall back to the Craft Festival. Find us at MM4. Plus, on 13 June, Reeve & McIntyre will be doing a draw-along & book signing (2-3pm).
🌞13 June: It's Great Big Green Week from 13-20 June! We are teaming up with local orgs to bring you a week of green activities, actions and community events, including this special Reel Earth screening of the cycling documentary The Engine Inside with Bovey Paradiso and Climate Action: Bovey & Heathfield [£10, 7:30pm]
🌞17 & 18 June: Our monthly Reading Socials are back in Bovey and Torquay. Bring a book & let's read silently together. Plus, lots of friendly chitchat beforehand. [Free, 5:30-7:30pm]
🌞20 June: It's Independent Bookshop Week (13-21 June)! We've got loads of fun celebrations planned, including this awesome Reeve & McIntyre event in our Ashburton shop, First & Favour [Free, 11am-12pm]
🌞20 June: To close out Great Big Green Week, join us for the Great Big Green Fun Day in Mill Marsh Park. Fun for the family! We will have our book swap table back out. So bring a book, take a book. [Free, 10am-4pm]
🌞30 June: Curious Readers Club will get together to talk about The Usual Desire to Kill with author Camilla Barnes joining us for a virtual Q&A [£5, 7:00-8:30pm]
More on all the campaigns, special weeks & festivals to come. But if you're out in South Devon this month, you're bound to bump into us. Come say hi!

Address

54 Fore Street
Bovey Tracey
TQ139AE

Opening Hours

Monday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday	9:30am - 4:30pm

Website

https://firstdraftbooks.co.uk/

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