Friday 30 July 2010

Book Signing

As a new and relatively small business, we understand the pressures and challenges of trying to put ourselves on the map and for Quench to become a widely-spread and well-loved name. It is for that reason, and for many more, which we readily support local and budding authors.

One of those said authors, whose books our Reading branch have stocked since November 2009, is journalist and broadcaster John Madeley. Currently residing in Caversham, Reading, Mr. Madeley specialises in social development issues such as international trade, aid and human rights. His passion for a fair and peaceful world has led him to write a number of books on these topics, but it is only his latest publication which has reached the Christian market.

Beyond Reach?, set in 2005, is a novel based on the Make Poverty History campaign. In it, Madeley addresses modern ethics, politics, relationships and the meaning of life. Here are what some have said about the book:

"A gripping and inspiring story of forbidden love and the struggle for justice" - D. Rhodes

"Truly a great marriage of entertainment and purpose" - Rev. P. Wedgewood

"A revealing story about a scandal of our time, witty, sharp and above all urgent" - R. Boycott

It is a great pleasure, then, for us to have John Madeley join us - at our Reading branch - for a book signing event on Saturday, 7th August. He will be selling and signing copies of his new book between 2 - 4 pm as well as happily answering questions about his journalistic work and life as a succesful author. It would be a great opportunity for all, not only to support a local author in difficult times, but also for those who are interested in writing, journalism and fair trade.

Please do come along if you can make it. We would love to see you there; supporting both Quench and John Madeley as we strive to stay afloat in a struggling industry.

Quench
60 London Street,
Reading
RG1 4SQ
0118 9576078

Tuesday 20 July 2010

New Beginnings

Welcome to our new Quench blog!

We are excited to be so involved with you - our friends, loyal customers and faithful suppliers - through Facebook, Twitter and now Blogger! I think we are more privileged than we realise to be living in times such as these, with countless Christian resources at our fingertips to help us in all areas of our walk with Christ. From websites like Bible Gateway providing us with different Bible translations and Sermon Audio offering sound, biblical preaching, to podcasts, blogs, Christian newspapers/magazines etc... the list goes on!

As you may know, we are a chain of 5 Christian bookshops who were formerly under the management of St. Andrews. Now, a new and thriving company, the shops at Reading, Maidenhead, Wokingham, Slough and St. Albans aim to bring about a fresh, modern approach to a Christian presence on the high street. As our website states, we want to be a lamp-stand in the retail world and offer excellent customer serice as well as a dynamic product range. We hope that those of you who have supported us over this past year have experienced this and are seeing the positive changes which we are gradually implementing.

As Christians, we should be making the most of our opportunity to grow in faith by taking advantage of these resources that have only recently become readily available to us thanks to modern technology and the internet. Yet the importance of having a physical place in which to browse the latest books, CD's, DVD's, gifts and cards and to meet with local Christians should not be discredited. There will always be a place for the Christian bookshop on the high street - especially for evangelistic purposes ("How can they hear about [Jesus] unless someone tells them?" Romans 10:14, NLT)

We're looking forward to this exciting, and no doubt challenging, journey and we hope you will be right there with us - growing in understanding and faith, learning to trust God even in the hard times, and praising Him through to eternity.