Script Haven

LAST OF OUR SUMMER BREAKS (because it's kind of Autumn now...)

We'll be closed due to private events Friday 25th - Mon 28th Sept, reopen as usual Tues 29th Sept.

TUESDAY 29th Sept 7:30pm

42Worcester is the Worcestershire 'alternative genre' monthly Spoken Word event covering gothic, horror, sci-fi and fantasy. It is held on the last Tuesday of every month— both real-world and online, it opens at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. This is the only Spoken Word night for Gothic Horror, SF, Fantasy, Alternative Genre, Weird Stuff in the UK (possibly in the whole world!).

Full details here: https://fb.me/e/7Xn0nKRE2

FRI 9th OCT

Built on nearly four decades of research, this fascinating anthology is a vital guide to understanding the ways in which British householders used magic and ritual to protect their homes from perceived or spiritual threats.

Wayne Perkins begins the book with a discussion on the socio-economic, political, and cultural contexts of the ritual building phenomena. This is followed by useful exploration of the supernatural beliefs which permeated the Early Modern Period, including a brief outline of the Laws of Sympathetic Magic.

for tickets visit: https://wegottickets.com/f/24392

Wednesday 30th September 7pm

Join us for a magical evening of spirit, messages, and meaning with psychic Melanie Kellaway.
Melanie is an international professional psychic medium and best-selling author of 'Connection Is Key' with over a decade of experience in the industry. She has also been featured in multiple magazines including 'Fate and Fortune' & 'Fate and Destiny' sharing her journey and guidance within womanhood and spirituality.

For tickets visit: https://wegottickets.com/f/25128

So now I can reveal the other part of my retirement plans - I am selling my beautiful flat (below) and moving onto a narrowboat to concentrate on writing and creativity, and continue to support amazing independent creatives in any way I can.

So, if you know anyone who might be interested in this property shout out!

This is the statement I never wanted to write; devastation doesn’t even begin to describe it.
😔
But I’m done.
🥺
That’s probably the most accurate place to start.
❤️‍🩹
I’ve spent so much time listening to people talk about wanting community, a space to switch off, external organisations saying how much they want independents on the high street. I’ve exhausted myself trying to figure out how to build and maintain it.

Some still have the fight and energy to do this; that’s great and I’ll walk alongside and support them to the hilt.

But I can’t keep exhausting myself.

This realisation hit me deep this week, so deep that I can almost feel my whole body going “FINALLY you’re listening!”

So, I’m retiring in a few months. The final date depends on certain factors aligning, so I’ll keep you updated here and on our other channels. Any events that are booked in WILL CONTINUE – for ticketed events this is subject to ticket sales, so please help us support these amazing indies and book ahead so we know we can still host them. Our regular poetry and writing groups are also continuing until there is a clearer idea of dates.

In the meantime, I’d like to think you’ll stay awhile, pop in for a book and a brew, because until the doors are finally closed, I’m still here, and still have hugs to share.

I’ve taken the time to think about what I truly want for the rest of my life.

I want my soul back.

That’s it.

I don’t want to spend the next ten years trying to convince people who say they want something to participate in and then seem to vanish when we put it in place for them.

It has been an honour and a privilege supporting people and groups to develop and grow, many launching their own creative endeavours. But while our loyal customers and groups have shown incredible love and support, sadly that alone isn’t enough to sustain Script Haven in this challenging retail environment.

This has never been “just an expensive hobby” (yes, people have actually said that). I didn’t just put my home on the line, my physical and mental health, but my soul. Nor has the recent move been a failure. It was a small plug in a very large dam, that can no longer be held back from bursting.

And take a moment to consider this – this is the 3rd independent bookshop in the city to close its doors.

The third.

Then consider all the individual independent businesses that have closed in the last 12 months; those that are planning to do so in the next 12.

What does that say about how people really want this beautiful city to be?

I no longer have the energy to deal with the politics, squabbling, gatekeepers and the constant fighting for the small guy to be heard, only to be drowned in the noise.

I’ve spent three years trying to build this into something the city could embrace, and along the way, I started designing myself out of the life that truly matters.

And moving on to something simpler isn’t failure.

Acceptance and release is a natural part of life. Unfortunately, I just had to reach burn out to accept that for myself.

All I truly desire is:
- Waterways that embrace nature and peace;
- Time to cherish and live life, to be with family and friends;
- Silence to hear the birdsong on summer mornings, to feel the autumn rains, hear the stories carried by the winter winds, and to witness the renewal of life in spring.

That’s all I need.

This is a truly beautiful life and I believe perhaps that’s what I’ve finally realised I was trying to create all along.

Am I sad and sorry this has come to pass?
There are no words to describe the depths of despair I feel right now.

Am I grateful to everyone who has been part of Script Haven’s story?
Immeasurably. These are the times you realise just how much love your heart can hold.

Am I hopeful for a quieter, gentler future?
I think so….

Leena
xx

Today, The Bookseller and its sister magazine The Stage are calling on the government to take urgent action on business rates to protect the UK’s bookshops and theatres. 👇

WEDS 21st OCT 7pm - in conversation with Scott Jenkins

Author Scott Jenkins was born and bred in Worcester and is very passionate about the city and its rich history.
His debut novel “The Trouble with Terry Winter” is a character-driven mystery set in Worcester. It follows a quiet printer whose life is upended after the death of his estranged best friend, leading him into a decades-old mystery involving jazz records, hidden secrets, and an obsession that refuses to stay buried. It's a story about friendship, grief, memory and the extraordinary things hidden inside ordinary lives.

for tickets visit: https://wegottickets.com/f/25130