Bestselling author returns to West Norfolk to help charity

A bestselling author is returning to a popular Downham Market book shop for a special event later this month.

Heidi Swain, a Sunday Times Bestselling author, will be in No8 The Old Bookshop on Saturday, April 27th, for a ‘meet the author’ event. Heidi’s works include ‘The Cherry Tree Café’, ‘Summer at Skylark Farm’ and ‘A Taste of Hope’.

Manager of No8 The Old Bookshop, Sarah Cox, said, “Heidi first came to Downham during the first WordFest week we held in September, and she was a really popular visitor. We want to keep the events going throughout the year, and Heidi has kindly agreed to a return to No8 to meet and greet local bookworms.”


The event will run from 10am to 12.30pm and is free to attend. Refreshments will be provided courtesy of Downham’s Morrison’s supermarket. There will also be the chance to buy a signed copy of Heidi’s new romantic fiction book ‘The Holiday Escape’, which is due to be released on April 25th.

  Heidi's new romance-fiction 'The Holiday Escape' will be released on April 25th

“We want to keep momentum from WordFest running throughout the year, and everyone is very excited to see Heidi again, it’s going to be a lovely event. Bringing authors to No8 and the town is a key part of WordFest and our bookshop is the hub for literary activities in the area. We want to spread the word and help put Downham on the map as a brilliant place for book lovers,” added Sarah.


Heidi Swain’s visit follows another top author, as C.L. Miller visited Downham last month with her debut novel ‘The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder’.

Downham Market WordFest Week is back this year and will run from September 16th to 22nd. The event will be packed with meet the author events, book launches, poetry and the return of the popular Bookish Quiz. This year will also see the additions of a murder mystery evening with ‘Death in Downham’. Full details can be found on the West Norfolk Deaf Association website, www.wnda.org.uk or on the Downham Market WordFest Facebook page.


The bookshop is part of WNDA, a charity which provides help and support for thousands of residents across the area who have hearing issues. With audiology services, social groups, courses, baby and youth services and facilities hire, the charity offers a wide range of options to help the D/deaf community.


Based at the Deaf Centre in King’s Lynn, the charity runs clubs in Downham, Snettisham and Swaffham. The Kenny Deaf Swim School is a unique service for D/deaf children and is run by Oli Kenny, a Team GB member and advocate for the D/deaf community.