A WELLINGTON bookshop is preparing to welcome the ‘Queen of Historical Fiction’ for a book signing and promotional event. 

Emma Carroll will be visiting Bookshop by the Blackdowns at 12pm on Saturday, June 18 - the first day of Independent Bookshop Week. 

Emma will be promoting her new book Escape to the River Sea, which was written during lockdown. 

It was inspired by Eva Ibbotson's 2001 adventure novel Journey to the River Sea and can be read as a sequel or a standalone story. 

Escape to the River Sea is set in the Amazon Rainforest in 1946 and follows Rosa and her friends on the trail to find a supposedly extinct creature deep in the forest.

Author Emma is a former news reporter and secondary school teacher who currently lives in Somerset with her husband and two Jack Russell terriers. 

She is also the author of Frost Hollow Hall, The Girl Who Walked on Air, In Darkling Wood, The Snow Sister, and Strange Star. 

She says her books are “for anyone of any age – although you’ll probably find them in a book shop or library in the 9-12 section”.

Somerset County Gazette: Bookshop by the Blackdowns opened in November. Picture: Tom LeamanBookshop by the Blackdowns opened in November. Picture: Tom Leaman

A Facebook post from the bookshop said: “Join us for Indie Bookshop Day (June 18) at 12pm as we welcome ‘Queen of Historical Fiction’ Emma Carroll to Bookshop by the Blackdowns.”

The shop will be pre-ordering hardback copies of Escape to the River Sea ahead of Emma's visit. 

Anyone interested in getting their hands on a copy ready for the signing can message Bookshop by the Blackdown's Facebook page or visit the shop at 2 South Street.

Bookshop by the Blackdowns opened on November 26.

The shop is owned and run by the D’Rozario family, who have lived in Wellington for around 10 years. 

The independent business offers a “carefully curated and handpicked” range of books catering for people of all ages.