All sorts of books find their way into second-hand stores.
However, it is not only books – the buildings that they’re located in become a repository for the mementos of the lives of their former owners.
One such item received at Paisley's Abbey Books is a copy of a notebook belonging to one of the town’s most famous sons, John Byrne of Slab Boys fame.
The book gives an intimate look into the life and working process of the playwright and artist and will be the centre-piece of next week’s Abbey Books Summer Festival.
“Every book that comes in has a story,” said non-fiction author Brian Hannan, who’s organising the event.
He continued: “Not just what is conveyed on the pages of the book, but all sorts of amazing things that fall out of the books: postcards, letters, even a one pound note. They’d been used as bookmarks at one time and they’re so interesting. Intimate objects that meant something to somebody at the time.”
The festival, which will take place at the Wellmeadow Street bookshop, will see Paisley’s writers from the past and present celebrated across four days, beginning Thursday, June 8, with a talk from Brian who will present the notebook, which includes drawings relating to the staging of the Slab Boys in New York, as well as an early draft of Tutti Frutti, Byrne’s BAFTA award-winning series for BBC Television.
Friday will see the book launch of two Buddie authors, with Graham Fulton signing copies of his The Renfrewshire Victoria Crosses from 12.30pm followed by a signing by Helen Natahniel-Fulton who has just released her new book Outside of Eden.
On Saturday, Chiara Kelly, Jeff Holmes and Steven Veerapen will be signing copies of their books: In My Words, 16 Incle Street and Tudor Murder Mystery of Judgement Fallen.
On Sunday, the festival will set about creating the next generation of Paisley authors, with several creative writing sessions taking place, as well as a talk about Paisley’s “all-time best selling novelist” who died earlier this year, Evelyn Hood, delivered by her son, Simon Hood.
“We want to promote local talent,” said Brian. "We don’t want stars coming from outside of Paisley who have already made their name, the Paisley Book Festival already does that.
“We’re running this as a kind of preamble for a bigger event next year. So, if this works, then we can do something much bigger, which would be quite good for the west end of Paisley, which doesn’t have anything like this.”
The book signings are free, and the other events cost £10 to attend. Tickets can be bought from https://bit.ly/43BmRGh
For the full timings of the events, visit www.abbeybookspaisley.co.uk/BookFest.aspx
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