Bookbag

01/07/2026

Our summer season begins next week with a book launch.

Born out of twenty years reading and thinking, this book is partly a streamlined history homing in on the core issues of Palestine/Israel, partly a poetic reflection on place and people, and partly an impassioned cry for justice. By weaving these three things together in one text, Ian Wellens has created something genuinely new.

On the one hand, it works for newcomers to the issues: here they will find the story and the basic issues laid out with great clarity. It does more, however, via its five ‘fruit sections’, which zoom in on details and events in a way which illuminate the history whilst also breaking up the narrative. These are also the parts of the book where imagination is brought to bear; they add an emotional response and a moral perspective which the Palestinian story surely deserves.

There will be a talk, Q&A, and books available to buy after the discussion.

Tickets available at Bookbag (fee free) or via eventbrite

30/06/2026

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine,
Blowin’ through the jasmine in my mind

26/06/2026

Find a cool spot, find a chill read

24/06/2026

Is the World Cup living literature? Of course it is. Mbappe’s’s bursts craft the epic. Messi’s vision delivers the tension, and baller Bellingham’s all-action is pure poetry. Plot twists? Talk to Cape Verde.

Stories help connect us with the world around us. We’ve put together a book list of contemporary or classic fiction on .org from each of the 46 World Cup tournament nations*. It took ages and we kept going back and refining but also it’s not that deep. So many good books out there

*We couldn’t find a Paraguayan or Curaçaoan author translated into English if you know any tell us please 🙏 and feel free to comment which books we should have included

20/06/2026

Independent Bookshop Week ends today. Thanks to Dr Elizabeth-Jane Burnett for visiting Bookbag during the week to sign copies of new novel Splendour. Elizabeth-Jane, who grew up in Exeter, was a guest author for our first festival five years ago!

We’ve a full day of events for Echoes Lit Fest today. Free to attend panel discussions and book talks at Exeter Phoenix this afternoon, and a spoken word event in the Arcade with Sacred Grounds tonight. It’s going to be brilliant! Come!

19/06/2026

This weekend sees the launch of Echoes Lit Fest, a new festival featuring a weekend programme of Book Club, author talks including a Nature Panel with Louisa Adjoa Parker and Kim Squirrell, Brian Chikwava talks about novel Shamisa, and there’s spoken word and music on Saturday night with a stellar line up of poets: Jhalak Prize listed Zakirye, Phoenix Yemi, and Poet De La Soil. On Sunday writer’s workshops with Malcolm Richards, and a kids workshop with Asha Ali and Dinah Salah Al Din. Everyone is welcome, and we hope you can come.

Here, festival co-producers Asha and Kate talk about how Echoes came about.

The Past: Our Roots

In 2020 we began working together, along with Malcolm. Asha had just co-founded Roots Resistance. Kate had launched an edition of the Africa Writes festival in Bristol the previous year. Malcolm with Charlie was opening Bookbag, a new independent bookshop in Exeter. We began planning an Exeter-based festival and launched our first Africa Writes Book Club online (due to the pandemic) featuring authors including Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, Maaza Mengiste, Elizabeth-Jane Burnett, and Abdulrazak Gurnah.

Since then, we’ve delivered three successful 3-day festivals. We’ve programmed book launches, panel discussions, workshops for young people, poetry, music, and film. We’ve hosted Irenosen Okojie, JJ Bola, Diana Evans, Travis Alabanza, Varaidzo and more across multiple venues.

Through this work, we grew networks. Africa Writes - Exeter became a true community festival. There are too many people to thank here: attendees, writers, and local organisations all supported us - from showing up for talks; to putting up posters, and inviting their friends and families.

We’re so grateful to Africa Writes and the Royal African Society for trusting us with their name. Their support enabled us to start the journey which has led to Echoes, a celebration of Black creativity. We’ll produce year-round events, an inclusive, joyful literature festival, and hope to build lasting community connections for our area.

Asha Ali and Kate Wallis, Echoes Festival co-producers, 2026

17/06/2026

Join us for the Echoes Lit Fest this weekend! 

After an afternoon of talks, our Words and Sounds night is held at Sacred Grounds and Bookbag. This evening, the heart of the festival, is a celebration of spoken word and poetry: an expressive outburst of enchantment and joy, rage and hope. The performance is followed by music and socialising.

This year, the night will feature readings, poetry, and performances from a range of critically acclaimed poets and artists, including Zakariye, Kim Squirrell, Louisa Adjoa Parker, Masande Ntshanga, Poet of da Soil, Phoenix Yemi, and Samatar Elmi. Their books and pamphlets will be on sale on the night for signing.

We’ve also invited local writers to share their responses to the theme of “Echoes.”

16/06/2026

Join us on Saturday night for the Echoes LitFest Words and Sounds night at Sacred Grounds and Bookbag. This evening, traditionally the beating heart of the festival, is a celebration of spoken word and poetry: an expressive outburst of enchantment and joy, rage and hope. It always ends with music and socialising.

This year, the night will feature readings, poetry, and performances from a range of critically acclaimed poets and artists, including Zakariye, Kim Squirrell, Louisa Adjoa Parker, Masande Ntshanga, Poet of da Soil, Phoenix Yemi, and Samatar Elmi. Their books and pamphlets will be on sale on the night for signing.

We’ve also invited local writers to share their responses to the theme of “Echoes.”

Saturday 20 June / free or donation / 7pm / Bookbag and Sacred Grounds

16/06/2026

Thank you In Exeter

15/06/2026

Join us for the workshop at Bookbag. Malcolm Richards will hold the workshop on the topic of ‘pedagogical brilliance’.
This workshop offers those who live or work in rural, coastal, or non-diverse environments the opportunity to develop and write their stories.
Using activities that promote diverse cultural artefacts, multilingualism, music, sound, and voice, as well as reflective storytelling, we co-develop honest and compelling accounts of the political, historical, transformational, and cultural practices of participants who identify as part of the African diaspora.

We especially welcome attendees who work in education and teaching, who will have the opportunity to submit their individual and collective stories to a newly commissioned book and blog series by UWE Bristol and Bath Spa University, scheduled for publication in July 2026.

14/06/2026

Next Saturday, if you’re feeling the football, could there be a better alternative than spoken word & music from some amazing poets with a friendly, relaxed crowd?

13/06/2026

Have you got your tickets yet? Event with the Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlisted author!

11/06/2026

One week to go until - a new festival featuring Zakariye, a Jhalak Prize longlisted poet who’ll be performing at Echoes Words and Sounds night on Saturday 20th June, Bryan Chikwava, in conversation on Saturday afternoon discussing new book Shamiso, and Louisa Adjoa Parker and Fiona Williams as part of a round table‘writing nature as literary activism’ also on Saturday afternoon.

Friday book club, on Saturday author events and a spoken word night, Sunday workshops for kids & adults. Some of the best conversations take place in the space between sessions so don’t be shy - come!

10/06/2026

Independent Bookshop Week | 13–20 June
 
This is Bookbag’s fifth Independent Bookshop Week, we’re excited, you can get excited, and it’s a good week to come through & support your local independent bookshop.

We open the week with a free drop-in event for children as graphic novelist and creator of Alan, , works a shift in the bookshop, meeting children, doodling, and signing books. The week continues with the launch of , a new festival featuring a weekend programme of a book club, author talks, spoken word, and film.

We also have 50 × £5 National Book Tokens to the first 50 visitors during the week.

For those new here, Bookbag is an independent bookshop with a select range of books with a local/global feel across fiction, non-fiction, nature, art, zines, and children’s books, with love for independent publishers & personalised recommendations.

We host a range of events for all ages and recently received a Penguin Bookshop Grant to support a series of book events in local schools.

Located in McCoys Arcade in Exeter’s indie West Quarter, we can also order any title on request, alongside offering book subscriptions.

03/06/2026

Weird things happen and that’s ok

Horror writing / weird lit / translated fiction / Exeter / bookshop

27/05/2026

Guest blog up on the site today, as talks us through the shortlisted books on the

‘As we near the announcement of the winner, I would love the highlight the sheer variety of stories and approaches that have come out of this year’s shortlist. From San Francisco, to Ukraine, Tasmania, China and Delhi, reading the shortlist has been a globe-trotting adventure of epic proportions.

Whether you’re into futuristic dystopia, state-of-the-nation novels, quiet and introspective reads, or a daring experimental ride, I guarantee there’s a title in here for you.‘

Read book reviews in full via the 🔗 and thank you Paula. The winner of the prize will be announced tonight!

23/05/2026

Weekend reading: a tense thriller set on an oil rig & a story inspired by real events in At Sea.

A short story collection by a major new voice in Irish writing, the personal and political in Every One Still Here.

The Lost Folk new in paperback, the forgotte past and emerging future of folk.

An ultimate anthology of arcade gaming, and Eastern European veg-forward recipes
Don’t say we ain’t got range. Visit our bookshop in Exeter for your bank holiday reading today & Sunday, or browse online!

21/05/2026

Earlier this year we pitched for a Penguin Children’s Bookshop Grant 2026 - a major project to support bookshops to deliver creative projects that encourage children and young people to discover books they love, feel connected to their local community, and build a lifelong relationship with reading. The grant was over subscribed, so we’re especially happy to have been chosen as one of 44 bookshops around the UK, and even happier that our project will benefit pupils at St Sidwell’s C of E School and another Devon primary (tba).

Our idea was to adapt our book subscription model for children so that they choose books for each other. Pupils will be encouraged to write down three words to describe themselves, their hobbies or likes, and these will then be shared with children from a partner school. From a pop-up Bookbag bookshop we take into the schools, children will be supported in choosing a book for another child based on their three descriptive words, and write a handwritten note explaining the choice. The personalised book will then be wrapped and gifted to the relevant child, alongside the note.
This project will promote empathy and engagement with books, help children to develop their recommendation skills and understand how real-life interests can act as entry points into books. 

The initiative aims to create a meaningful and memorable experience, showing independent bookshops as fun spaces, and making reading feel special while increasing access to books for the children at St Sidwell’s C of E. By working alongside the schools we can make sure the books we bring are reflective of their diverse student communities, so that each child sees themselves in the stories. Thanks to the parent’s association and teachers at St Sidwell’s for their positive response to the project, which will take place in the autumn term.

Yay bookshops!

20/05/2026

Let’s all make zines

Write down your ideas
Create a manifesto
Scribble and doodle
Cut up magazines, glue and paste
Make stuff!

New shipment from 💙💙💙

19/05/2026

Bookbag and Echoes are hyped to be welcoming Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlisted author and winner of this year’s British Book Awards Discovery prize Marcia Hutchinson to Exeter.

The Mercy Step is Marcia Hutchinson’s solo debut novel informed by her own experience as a child. The book tells the story of Mercy, a precocious British-Jamaican girl born into a world that feels far too big for her small body — into a home run by an angry, violent father and a devout mother. But Mercy is resilient. She finds joy and escapism in books, in learning, and in the loyal company of her doll Dolly. She is determined to overcome her upbringing — no matter what it takes. The Mercy Step is at Bookbag, and we’ll have copies on the night.

Hutchinson was the first pupil from her comprehensive school to go to Oxford, where she gained an MA in Law. She worked as a lawyer before founding the educational publishing company Primary Colours. Marcia was awarded an MBE in 2011 for services to cultural diversity, and is a Zumba and Yoga teacher. When Marcia won her Discovery Award she danced up to the stage and quoted Coolio in her acceptance speech. We cannot wait to meet her! 👑

12/05/2026

Tomorrow’s event with Ben Rawlence still has a few tickets - come along!

Ben, a parent & nature writer, writes to his daughters about climate guilt, the future, the joy of our planet, birds and walks and wonky vegetables, and extraordinary events of climate.

Ben will be signing books after the event.

09/05/2026

Happy Pride Exeter! Here’s to the books and the writers and the stories they share 🌈

Independent bookshop / Exeter / q***r books

06/05/2026

Thanks to Yale who have made us their bookshop of the month for May!

1. When you opened Bookbag in 2020, what was your vision, why a bookshop? We (Charlie and Malcolm) have always loved bookshops and visited so many over the years. We were also inspired by records shops, libraries, music venues, coffee shops and community spaces. Bookbag is housed in an arcade in Exe...

01/05/2026

Three children’s books from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Epic Welsh fairy tales from long ago tell of the spaces between the Real World and the Otherworld in The Mab, retold by authors like and , and each has a Welsh translation by its side, by

In The Twelve, Libby disappears on the stroke of midnight on Winter Solstice and only her sister & a mysterious boy remember she ever existed. Danger and secrets, by Liz Hyder

The Candleman is a classic from
Meurig’s soul is trapped in a small white candle, and if the candle burns out, they will die. Only river-goddess Hafren can help - but you do not want to mess with her. Eerie and terrifying.

29/04/2026

Culture round up

Things to read .shop

Markets to go to

Book events! .shop

Art to look at

Playlists to listen to .shop

28/04/2026

Book bundles are here...

26/04/2026

Read the Women’s Prize shortlist, the International Booker Prize, or the Jhalak Prose shortlist. Every year we offer a bundle price on book shortlists so you can shop all 6 books for less and choose your winner*

*they’re all winners. If you’ve written a book at all you are a winner 🏆

24/04/2026

Our creative neighbours have made flags to dress McCoys Arcade for pride

If you haven’t visited, McCoys Arcade is Exeter’s independent shopping destination for books, brunch, vintage, teas, hi fi, eco fashion, ceramics, artisan makers and beauty, while also being a space that celebrates sustainability and community

22/04/2026

Earth Day reading 🌱

When we opened Bookbag in Exeter, a city surrounded by countryside, sea and moor, we realised how much people here love the abundance of nature, and appreciate nature writing.

In the bookshop or available online: nature, climate writing, climate fiction and children’s books

22/04/2026

Can we recommend a classic book? Yes, we can. We were talking about book covers today and how the original artwork on Penguin Modern Classics, often dating back decades, is timeless.

Visit Bookbag indie bookshop in Exeter today knowing our curation is 50% love for the author and 50% covers

19/04/2026

This April, as part of a cultural exchange organised by Bookbag joins Tartu (Estonia), Krakow (Poland) Kozhikode (India), and UK cities Edinburgh, Norwich and Nottingham to host a Melboune-based writer in residence.

Bookseller Sirisha has been getting to know Claire, whose work focuses on war trophies and the political economy of memory, her broader writing engaging questions about veterans’ and Indigenous peoples’ voices in Australia’s commemorative culture. Claire is also an award-winning visual artist and poet, and her work is tied to both Country and her research. Being neuro-divergent also shapes Claire’s writing. You can read the first piece, Finding Humanity in a World That Moves Too Fast, on our blog (link in bio) and more writing and poetry throughout the month.

Thank you Claire, and to for sharing the original opportunity last year!

17/04/2026

Fresh in from your friendly independent bookshop. Signed Deborah Levy, trad wife thriller lit in Yesteryear, Black culture in We Were Here, fiction and non fiction, and more!

15/04/2026

Great event last night celebrating and The Othered Woman. Thanks to Asha for hosting, and plenty of copies available at Bookbag!

Book launch / Exeter

08/04/2026

Our children’s section is small and selected with love. Picks this holiday include On The Edge, a novel for teens set in south Devon and the struggle for community amongst the second home owners, and graphic novel Alan from local author Tom McLaughlin.

Last week we welcomed Kyra on work experience from Exeter College (hey Kyra!) and she wrote an excellent blog for us on Holly Jackson so look out for this too.

We don’t carry all the children’s book series, but if you know the books you’re looking for then send us a message and we can order them in, fast.

07/04/2026

Join us for an in-bookshop event with writer and activist Ben Rawlence, author of The Treeline and launching new book Think Like A Forest.

Ben first began writing to his eldest daughter before she was born, sharing what it means to raise children in a changing world. Twelve years later, these letters tell the story of one father’s attempt to navigate the contradiction of raising children within an economic system that seems hostile to all life, and not only humans.

Climate change poses a fundamental challenge to parenting. What knowledge should we pass on? What future are we preparing our children for?

In the book Rawlence, and his daughters, remind us that learning to see the world through a child’s eyes might hold the key to how we parent, how we live, and even to the future of our planet.

Ben will be signing copies after the discussion.

Tickets are £5 / £22 including the book via our website / link in bio / on eventbrite

Independent bookshop author event / nature writing / climate

06/04/2026

‘And my favourite thing about fiction is this: it allows you to travel without leaving your room. It stretches your empathy. It complicates your understanding. It gives you ancestors, sisters, brothers, lovers, cities, and histories.‘

New blog from Shalom, a Masters student at Exeter, on the website now!

To write a blog on anything books related, get in touch

Independent bookshop
Global stories
Read books
Shop local!

03/04/2026

We’re open today long weekenders 📕

Independent bookshop
Exeter

27/03/2026

Fiction picks for the weekend.
Email or message ahead to have a copy waiting for you or come on in & browse
🍋 🌺 🐋 🌊 🐟

Exeter / independent bookshop / book recs / translated fiction

23/03/2026

Join us in celebrating the launch of an immersive journey of healing through plants, beautifully written by local author, eco-psychotherapist and herbalist Brigit Anna McNeill.

‘The wild is never finished. It insists on returning, on reweaving, on remaking what has been broken. And it was the wild that first taught me I could do the same. I didn’t come to plants as a scholar or a healer. I came as someone who had forgotten how to belong to herself. I came raw, fractured, emptied out by years of surviving. I came because I needed to find away back into my own body.’

In a series of chapters, exploring the wildlife, folklore and medicinal properties of common wild flowers and trees, Brigit Anna McNeill tells her own story of recovery and rewilding.

Herbalist, trained therapist, and popular Instagram and Substack writer McNeill explains how the natural cycle of dispersal, growth and bloom can inspire our recovery from trauma, stress and illness. By weaving together both the beauty and psychology of reciprocity and non-human connection, she deepens our interaction with the wildness to be found both in the city and the woodlands beyond.

Tickets via our website
Bookshop event
Nature talk
Exeter, Devon

21/03/2026

Good lighting season 🌞

New books including Finding Albion: myth, folklore and the quest for a hidden Britain and happy publication week to Shahed Ezaydi and The Othered Woman. Shahed is coming to Bookbag to talk about her book on Tuesday 14th April - book tickets via our website.

Shop indie shop local shop Exeter’s independent bookshop 💚