Charity bookseller publishes first novel

Graeme Smith, a Maintenance Assistant from the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust Estates Department who is well known around Heavitree Hospital for his successful charity book stall, has just published his very first novel - The Awakening of Abraham Brown.

Over the past five years Graeme has raised over £10,000 for charity by wheeling out his charity trolley, stacked mainly with books and some bric-a-brac, into the main entrance foyer of Heavitree Hospital. Patients and staff kindly donate items to the stall each week, which supports two main charities, the Devon Air Ambulance and Children's Hospice South West. 

Other charities that have benefited from the stall’s proceeds in the past are the NSPCC, BBC Children in Need and several smaller children's charities.

Now Graeme’s love of books has seen him write one of his very own. His new book, published by Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd, is set during the Second World War. It follows three American servicemen who are captured by a group of Nazi soldiers whilst separated from their platoon in southern France.

Graeme said: “I cannot thank the staff enough at Heavitree Hospital for their support and generous donations to the stall over the years. I am always amazed at the amount of books that are donated and bought each week and I am delighted to have had my novel published as well.”

The Awakening of Abraham Brown can be purchased from Amazon or ordered in-store at W H Smith or Waterstones.