Despatches from a mother who started late (and is running to catch up)

Blog to Book - Fashionably Late

I am writing Fashionably Late, an irreverent guide to having children later in life. Did you become a mother over 35? If so, and you'd like to tell me your story please contact me at mail@motheratlarge.com.

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Children's bookshop opens in Edinburgh

Like all right-thinking people, Va-vay and I love bookshops; maybe it's the thrill of knowing something I find there might change my life, the studious atmosphere, the smell of paper and ink, neat rows and shelves of books. We even went to one (Borders at 120 Charing Cross Road) on a first date together. So we're delighted that Vanessa from Fidra Books is opening a shop specialising in children's books here in Edinburgh, at 219 Brunstfield Place. The shop opens on Saturday 10 November and we can't wait to spend Saturdays there browsing and buying books.

Despite being a City of Literature and home to the annual International Book Festival, Edinburgh suffers from an acute shortage of bookshops, unless you count the many charity shops in Stockbridge that sell second-hand books. Last year's closure of the much-loved Ottakers' store in George Street has left a gap in the lives of book-lovers. So news that Vanessa is opening up her store couldn't be more welcome.

While we were in France we enjoyed visting a children's bookshop in Avignon, where I ended up spending far more money than I really intended on several books, including one about a little girl called Mouflette Papillon and one of the popular Babarpapa titles. Now I'm even more excited about the Fidra bookshop opening.

Fidra Books is an independent Edinburgh-based publisher that specialises in reprinting neglected children's classics by authors including Josephine Pullein-Thompson, Elinor Lyon, KM Peyton and Victoria Walker. Vanessa, a fellow Edinburgh blogger, will also be running her publishing business from the new shop, a bit like Persephone Press does in London.

Vanessa's promised that when Fashionably Late, the book I'm writing about becoming a mum later in life, comes out, she'll have me round to her shop to do a reading for new mums and mums-to-be. I'm still at the stage of roughing out my chapter headings, but that's an incentive to keep me on track if ever I heard one.

Long before that, I'm looking forwards to the shop's launch on 10 November, when the doors open for business and Vanessa will be giving away lots of Maisie Mouse gifts to the first customers over the threshold. There will also be the chance for children to meet some of their favourite characters from books in real life.

Oh, and that's Christmas sorted then.

Posted 12 October 2007 14:28

Blogging Books Edinburgh Festival Fun Out and about

Comments

Vanessa said:

"some of their favorite characters from books in real life"!!! I'm working on it but no promises if only because friends seem unwilling to dress up!

Posted 12 October 2007 14:55

iota said:

A lovely new bookshop. What could be better news? Except perhaps that it's ok to drink alcohol when pregnant. Whizz on over to Alpha Mummy, M@L, and read yesterday's post. It's just your kind of subject matter, and frankly I'm far more interested in what you will have to say about it than the original post.

Posted 12 October 2007 15:51

Mother at Large said:

Vanessa, Beanie's Granny might be willing. She is game for anything like that. Let me have a word.

Posted 12 October 2007 17:36

Mother at Large said:

Iota, if I could get pregnant in the first place that would be a good start. I didn't touch a drop the entire time I was pregnant with both Beanie and the baby I lost. Seems only right to make up for it (a little bit) now.

Posted 12 October 2007 17:44

potty mummy said:

I loved our local kids book shop - although unfortunately it's now closed down. One thing though - can you ask Vanessa to make sure there is plenty of buggy access between the book shelves? It's just a bee in my bonnet but given their target market I'm always surprised that doesn't occur to a lot similar retailers...

Posted 12 October 2007 18:48

Mother at Large said:

Potty Mummy, sure Vanessa has already thought of buggy access, but might mention to her just in case. Space isn't at quite such a premium up here in Edinburgh as in London - it's generally easier in cafes/shops/restaurants etc.

Posted 12 October 2007 18:55

iota said:

M@L, it was the "latest scientific advice" angle in the story that made me think of you. More gurus...

Posted 12 October 2007 20:08

21st Century Mummy said:

This sounds a wonderful shop. I wish we had something similar in Bury St Edmunds. I love the idea of you reading to mums.

Posted 13 October 2007 07:29

Omega Mum said:

Heard Andy Hamilton on last night's New Quiz saying that the only time to get worried about drinking in pregnancy is when you hear the foetus singing 'Show me the way to go home,' from the womb. Sorry - nothing to do with bookshops, more with Iota's comment.

Posted 13 October 2007 10:46

Omega Mum said:

Posted 13 October 2007 10:46

DJ Kirkby said:

I have blogged about 'Fashionably late' and will post it on Monday.

Posted 13 October 2007 11:04

Helen said:

Iota, sorry, yes, I know and I did read the Alpha Mummy posting. I am personally very confused about alcohol limits in pregnancy - these surveys don't help much, do they.

21st CM, maybe Vanessa will open up in your neck of the woods one day.

Omega Mum, oh, that's all alright, then.

DJ, can't wait to read your posting - thank you.

Ps - this is still me, M@L. I've decided to use my real name.

Posted 13 October 2007 11:52

Mother at Large

Welcome to this site. It's based on my personal experiences of becoming a mother a little later in life. If, like me, you waited a while to have children you're in good company. More and more of us are waiting until our late 30s or even 40s to become parents. Some might even say we're fashionably late.

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About me

Mother at Large dreams of crossing the Pyrenees with her young daughter. For now, getting to playgroup takes all her energy. To find out more read her full profile.