Bestselling Harrogate author for Waterstones book signing

Award-winning journalist and naturalist Rob Cowen will be signing copies of his acclaimed bestseller Common Ground at Waterstones on James Street this Saturday, April 9.

The book tells the story of how Cowen spend an entire year exploring a single square mile of scruffy wood, meadow, hedge and river at the back of Bilton.

Despite its obscure subject matter, it’s received glowing testimonies from the likes of Alan Bennett, Michael Palin and Joanne Harris.

And the author, the book and, indeed, Bilton itself also featured in a recent episode of BBC TV’s Countryfile.

Described as “mesmerising” by Chocolat author Joanne Harris, Common Ground has been nominated for a string of awards since it was published in hardback last year by Random House.

A regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph, Cowen, who is married with two young children and lives in Bilton, is looking forward to meeting readers.

Rob said: “It’s great to be signing in my hometown and in a bookshop that has been a fantastic advocate of the book. I’m genuinely honoured and humbled that the book has struck a chord with so many people.”

Based on 150,000 words of intensive field notes, Alan Bennett may have hailed Common Ground as “a cracking book” but the author himself has been surprised by public affection for this nature book, cum history book, cum personal memoir.

Rob said: “I get letters and emails every week from people telling me how moved they were or how much the book means to them. That’s truly the best thing about being an author.”

Rob Cowen will be signing copies of his book from 11am to 1pm at Waterstones on James Street this Saturday.

Common Ground was shortlisted for the Portico Prize in October and is now in the running for the inaugural Richard Jefferies Society Writers’ Prize.