Medina Book Shop

BOOK LAUNCH 'Conscious Upgrade: Reprogram Your Subconscious, Activate Your Superconscious' with Jane Giles
2026-02-13 18:00 - 19:30 (Europe/London) | Medina Bookshop, 50 High Street, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7RR, United Kingdom
Jane, who lives and works on the Isle of Wight, has spent more than 20 years supporting clients through anxiety, phobias, low mood, confidence issues and life transitions. Throughout her career, she has repeatedly heard clients say, “Why has no one ever explained this to me before?”
That question inspired her to write Conscious Upgrade – a practical, accessible manual designed to help people understand how their thinking works, and how to consciously use it to create lasting change.
Written in the same clear, everyday language Jane uses in her therapy sessions, Conscious Upgrade explains how the brain “uploads” the information we feed it, and how this shapes behaviour, emotions and outcomes.
Drawing on two decades of clinical experience, Jane shows readers how to retrain neural networks and reprogramme the subconscious into a version they consciously choose.
Jane says,
“This book is about empowerment.
“When people realise they are not at the mercy of their subconscious patterns, real change becomes possible.”
The book is structured as a practical manual, meaning readers can dip into the sections most relevant to them rather than reading cover to cover.
It addresses over 30 of the most common issues Jane has worked with: anxiety, depression, social anxiety, phobias, confidence, self-esteem, motivation, addiction, health anxiety, sleep issues, IBS, pain management, unwanted habits, fears (including flying, needles, spiders and dogs), relationship challenges, weight loss support, smoking cessation and performance improvement.
Each chapter is supported by free hypnotherapy audios available on YouTube, transforming the book from something to read into an immersive experience.
One client describes the impact of Jane’s work,
“Working with Jane completely changed my life. She helped me understand my anxiety in a way that finally made sense, and gave me tools I still use every day.
“Difficult relationships that once felt overwhelming are now easy to navigate. I feel calmer, more confident, and in control.”

'The Reds And The Greys' BOOK LAUNCH with Edmund Matyjaszek
2026-02-18 18:00 - 19:30
On the Isle of Wight, for as long as anyone can remember, red squirrels have lived in peace and tranquillity UNTIL…a report came, their deadliest enemy, the grey squirrel had arrived! The animals of the island alone could not stop them. So the High Heron of Wootton, Guardian of the Isle, hatches a plan.
One night, he sends Red, the island squirrel, to the window of a lonely schoolboy who lives near the sea…..to start to marshal humans, animals, birds and horses to combine IN DEFENCE OF THE ISLE!
A published poet, author & playwright Edmund Matyjaszek has lived on the Isle of Wight for over 20 years and brought up his family there. He is a former Director and Trustee of the Poetry Society, and former Principal of Priory School of Our Lady of Walsingham. In addition to the professional stage, he has written and performed for schools, hospitals, charities and churches and frequently gives readings. Recent commissions include “Reporting from Jerusalem” and “The Passover Investigation” for Radio Maria England.

'A Summertime Murder' by Mary Grand BOOK LAUNCH
2026-03-09 18:00 - 18:30
Return to the beautiful coastline of the Isle of Wight in this engrossing and unputdownable cosy mystery!
Susan never imagined herself an amateur sleuth, and she certainly never goes looking for trouble, preferring days spent walking her loyal dogs Libs and Rocco, and maybe even a dip in the sea to cool off after this interminable heatwave.
When she hears of a break-in at the vet’s where her new neighbour works, Susan’s curiosity is piqued.
And then, a few days later, the lead vet, Peter, mysteriously disappears. They assume it’s business related until his body is washed up on the beach close to his clifftop home.
Susan is convinced he was murdered and slowly discovers that each of the small group of suspects has a motive. Is the killing linked to the break-in… or is this a crime of passion?
Once again, Susan finds herself piecing together clues in her search for the truth. Can she untangle the lies before someone else dies?

‘Fault Lines: 25 Unsettling Stories by 5 Island Writers’ In Conversation: Collaboration and the Sustained Short Story
2026-05-29 19:00 - 21:00
Structured around the themes of betrayal, envy, greed, guilt and secrets, Fault Lines explores
the hidden fractures in human nature through stories that move from the lyrical to the surreal,
the psychological to the speculative.
Chaired by Jean G-Owen of Naked Figleaf Press | Figmentum Books, the conversation brings
together all five contributors—Ian Caro, Emily Gillatt-Ball, Jean G-Owen, Crispin Keith and
Hillard Morley—to discuss the creative process behind the collection, the art of collaboration
and the idea of the sustained short story: how individual stories can accumulate into a larger
emotional and thematic architecture.
The evening will include readings from the collection, Q&A, and a book signing. Books will
be available to purchase on the night.
Perfect for readers, writers and anyone fascinated by the power and possibilities of the short
story form.
https://www.nakedfigleafpress.com/figmentum/faultlines

'IT ENDS HERE' author talk with Heidi Perks
2026-06-02 19:00 - 21:00
In this locked-room thriller, a peaceful marina town becomes the scene of a terrifying hostage situation when five strangers are trapped inside a café at gunpoint. Outside, their loved ones receive the worst phone call imaginable: someone they care about is in danger. As the hours tick by and tensions rise, it becomes clear that one of the five is hiding a secret they would kill to keep. With its evocative island setting and mounting suspense, It Ends Here brings the drama chillingly close to home.
Heidi Perks is the Sunday Times bestselling author of Now You See Her—a Richard and Judy Book Club pick—as well as the acclaimed thrillers Come Back for Me, Three Perfect Liars, The Other Guest and The Whispers. Known for her brilliantly constructed plots and her sharp insight into the darker side of human relationships, Heidi has become one of the UK’s most compelling voices in psychological suspense.
During the evening, Heidi will talk about the inspiration behind It Ends Here, why she chose the Isle of Wight as the setting for this gripping story, and how she crafts the twists and secrets that keep readers turning the pages. The event will include an audience Q&A and the opportunity to have books signed.
Whether you’re already a fan or simply love an unputdownable thriller, join us for a fascinating evening with a bestselling author whose latest novel brings high-stakes suspense to the Isle of Wight.
‘Original and twisty. I was gripped from the very first page.’
CLAIRE DOUGLAS
‘A multi-layered, hugely intriguing story with jump off the page characters – I couldn’t stop turning the pages to find out
what was going on, loved it!’
ANDREA MARA
‘Packed with secrets, twists, and smart reveals, this pulse-pounding thriller kept me guessing until the final page’
LUCY CLARKE
‘An intense, immersive thriller filled with enough secrets and lies to keep you guessing right to the very end’
TM LOGAN
‘I loved this book. A human story with believable characters and no gratuitous gore. Just my cup of tea.’
JANE CORRY
‘Tense, twisty and unputdownable’
ASIA MACKAY
‘A refreshing take on the ‘whodunnit’. Emotional, tense and twisty, as we’ve come to expect from the brilliant Heidi Perks.
This is definitely her best yet. An absolute must-read!’
CAZ FREAR
‘Perks combines taut suspense with an extraordinary understanding of human nature and high-stakes relationships. Every
page tightens the grip on an utterly propulsive plot … immersive, insightful, and impossible to put down. I was hooked from
the very first page!’
AMANDA CASSIDY
‘A gripping exploration of how well we know the people we love.’
KELLY MULLEN
‘Compulsive and gripping, brilliantly constructed. Heidi Perks is at the top of her game’
SABINE DURRANT
