Jen Campbell – författare

Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops was a Sunday Times bestseller, and could be found displayed on bookshop counters up and down the country. The response to the book from booksellers all over the world has been one of heartfelt agreement: it would appear that customers are saying bizarre things all over the place - from asking for books with photographs of Jesus in them, to hunting for the best horse owner''s manual that has a detailed chapter on unicorns.Customer: I had such a crush on Captain Hook when I was younger. Do you think this means I have unresolved issues?More Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops has yet more tales from the antiquarian bookshop where Jen Campbell works, and includes a selection of ''Weird Things...'' sent in from other booksellers across the world. The book is illustrated by the BAFTA winning Brothers McLeod.

Every bookshop has a storyWe''re not talking about rooms that are just full of books.We''re talking about bookshops in barns, disused factories, converted churches and underground car parks. Bookshops on boats, on buses, and in old run-down train stations. Fold-out bookshops, undercover bookshops, this-is-the-best-place-I''ve-ever-been-to-bookshops.Meet Sarah and her Book Barge sailing across the sea to France; meet Sebastien, in Mongolia, who sells books to herders of the Altai mountains; meet the bookshop in Canada that''s invented the world''s first antiquarian book vending machine.And that''s just the beginning.From the oldest bookshop in the world, to the smallest you could imagine, The Bookshop Book examines the history of books, talks to authors about their favourite places, and looks at over three hundred weirdly wonderful bookshops across six continents (sadly, we''ve yet to build a bookshop down in the South Pole).The Bookshop Book is a love letter to bookshops all around the world.''A good bookshop is not just about selling books from shelves, but reaching out into the world and making a difference'' David Almond(The Bookshop Book includes interviews and quotes from David Almond, Ian Rankin, Tracy Chevalier, Audrey Niffenegger, Jacqueline Wilson, Jeanette Winterson and many, many others.)

Modern fairy tales of magic, outsiders and lost souls.''A gem of a book ... deeply moving'' Stylist''A darkly clever, beautifully written and deliciously twisted collection of modern fairy tales'' Red''Campbell writes beautifully'' Grazia''These days, you can find anything you need at the click of a button.That''s why I bought her heart online.''Spirits in jam jars, mini-apocalypses, animal hearts and side shows.A girl runs a coffin hotel on a remote island.A boy is worried his sister has two souls.A couple are rewriting the history of the world. And mermaids are on display at the local aquarium.The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night is a collection of twelve haunting stories; modern fairy tales brimming with magic, outsiders and lost souls. ''What a book. It''s so strange and magical and the writing is just beautiful. I loved it'' Louise O''Neill ''Enchanting and illuminating'' Carys Bray''Like walking through a mirror'' Rachel Joyce''This book is full of character and magic, and I found myself mesmerised'' Claire Fuller''These stories are weaved together like silvery fishing nets. Like shimmering, jewel-bright worlds'' Helen McClory ''Magical and sinister at the same time'' Kirsty LoganFrom the author of Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops series and The Bookshop Book.

''Can books conduct electricity?''''My children are just climbing your bookshelves: that''s ok... isn''t it?'' A John Cleese Twitter question [''What is your pet peeve?''], first sparked the "Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops" blog, which grew over three years into one bookseller''s collection of ridiculous conversations on the shop floor. From ''Did Beatrix Potter ever write a book about dinosaurs?'' to the hunt for a paperback which could forecast the next year''s weather; and from ''I''ve forgotten my glasses, please read me the first chapter'' to ''Excuse me... is this book edible?'' This full-length collection illustrated by the Brothers McLeod also includes top ''Weird Things'' from bookshops around the world.