Launching Access Adventure at Waterstones Bradford

I still can’t quite believe I got to launch Access Adventure at Waterstones Bradford. It honestly couldn’t have been held anywhere more special.

If you’ve never been, Waterstones Bradford is inside the incredible Wool Exchange on Hustler Gate — a stunning Victorian Gothic building built between 1864 and 1867 when Bradford was at the heart of the wool trade. The building itself is breathtaking, full of history and character, and since becoming a bookshop in 1996 it’s become known as one of the most beautiful bookshops in the UK. You walk in and immediately feel it. It’s one of those places that makes you want to slow down, look around, and stay awhile.

And that’s exactly what Andy used to do.

It was his favourite bookshop and, honestly, once he got in there you could never get him back out again. He loved wandering around the shelves, spotting books he’d never heard of, and just being in that space. So when I was thinking about where to launch Access Adventure, nowhere else felt right. Having the launch there felt really emotional and very fitting. I know he would have absolutely loved the evening.

The best part of the night, though, was the people.

My dear friend Diane Pyatt

Thank you so much to everyone who came along, bought the book, shared stories, gave hugs, and supported me. It meant more than I can properly put into words. It was especially lovely seeing so many of the people who are actually in the book. So many of the adventures, memories, and moments in Access Adventure happened because of the people around me, so having them there made the whole evening feel very real and very special.

For anyone who hasn’t read it yet, Access Adventure is about breaking barriers and proving that adventure should be for everyone. It shares stories from my journey, the challenges along the way, the funny moments, the difficult moments, and the incredible people who helped make it all possible. At its heart, it’s about accessibility, resilience, friendship, and finding joy in adventure no matter what obstacles are put in front of you.

The whole evening was warm, relaxed, emotional, and full of laughter — exactly what I’d hoped for.

Launching the book in a real bookshop also reminded me how important these places are. Independent bookshops and shops like Waterstones do so much more than just sell books — they create community, host events, support authors, and give people spaces to discover stories they might never have found online. In a world where it’s easy to click on Amazon without thinking, nights like this are a reminder of why bookshops matter so much. There’s something special about walking through the doors, chatting to staff who genuinely love books, and supporting places that keep reading alive in our towns and cities.

I came away feeling incredibly grateful. Thank you again to everyone who came along and to the wonderful team at Waterstones Bradford for hosting such a memorable evening. It’s a night I’ll never forget.

To purchase the book from Amazon: https://www.waterstones.com/book/access-adventure/debbie-north/9781844867240