Local faces: Carl Gosling & Sophie Green

Last September saw the first anniversary of Real Magic Books, which is certainly the liveliest bookshop in town, despite being the only one! It’s actually the first one to open its doors in Wendover since the closure of Dennis Harrison’s Wendover Bookshop well over a decade ago.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of founder-owners Carl Gosling and his partner Sophie Green, Real Magic Books has established itself as a popular spot – on Kings Head Parade on the High Street, offering a wide range of unusual and attractive books, as well as bestsellers.

Carl and Sophie choose all the books themselves, and support local authors when they can. “We look out for exciting new books and the best and most interesting back catalogue titles,” they say. “Everything from classics right through to the most innovative new fiction.”

Carl describes it as a “general bookshop, taking a keen interest in new fiction and big new non-fiction titles, a big children’s selection, politics, nature, poetry, music, young adult and much more.

“I think lots of people simply come in to browse for inspiration rather than searching for a specific title,” says Carl. “We get lots of feedback about what a great shop it is to look around as most of our books are displayed face-out on the wall and tables, and easy to see. Lots of our customers come in and use our ordering service, we can get most books if they’re still in print within a day or so.”

The couple live in Wendover, and Carl was born here – Sophie was born in Manchester. They have three daughters, all currently at the John Colet School.

Carl says being local is the reason he wanted to open Real Magic Books: “Selfishly we wanted there to be a bookshop in Wendover, it felt like something that was missing from the High Street since the last one shut. Somewhere that sold books but also provided a space for wider cultural events and activities as well.”

With this in mind they organise events such as regular readings upstairs. “We have put on lots of author events since we opened, hosting events with big names like Irvine Welsh, the awarding-winning poet Salena Godden, Cold War Steve, John Niven, Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller and Emma Forrest,” says Carl.

“One of the highlights was hosting an afternoon event with women who write about food where we had practical sessions making kefir, food tasting and a panel of brilliant speakers. We have also welcomed international guests including Russian-American writer Kristina Korcheva Newberry over from America for the celebration of her book, Malaysian-Australian poet Omar Musa, Priya Hein, Gina Ruston and Sarah Wilson.

“We love working with small publishing companies and organisations like Rough Trade Books, Indigo Press and Stone Club whose aims we admire, to create exciting and inspirational cultural events. We have something on most weeks, including poetry nights, book launches and book groups, with two new book groups launching this year for non-fiction and children’s titles, alongside our existing fiction one.”

This includes the neighbours too. “We have regular events in partnership with our best mates and neighbours at Block and Butcher next door. They are the best people and we love living next door to them. Watch this space for more joint events this year!”

Carl works in the music business and so he’s instigated a series of live Real Magic Music Nights. “There were four nights last year, with three sold out at the British Legion and one upstairs at the shop,” he says. He’s got lots of experience to draw on: “I have been involved in a music venue called The Social in central London for the last 20 years, it is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. I also programme and run the Stonebridge stage at Glastonbury festival which is a late-night venue for cutting-edge electronic music and club culture.”

Sophie has an outside role too, working in events and communication for NatWest.

How do the couple manage to live with the steamroller competition from Amazon and other online booksellers? “We try not to think about it too much to be honest,” says Carl. “Amazon can’t compete with our connection to the local community, our recommendations, our enthusiasm, our author events and the feeling of walking into our lovely shop for a chat. Amazon does not support culture. Amazon does not love books or literature.

“I understand the appeal but I hope people value real life bookshops in their towns or they will keep disappearing. It is the best way to inspire the next generation, to show that books are beautiful, vital and exciting things which shape us and inspire us.”

Real Magic Books is open every day except Mondays, when you’ll be able to meet either Carl and Sophie or some days their assistants Will and Kate. See also www.realmagicbooks.com for events, a blog and an online book ordering service.

By Simon Eccles