Charity Fundraiser: The Ship's Cat - Alex Howard - 16th June

Join us for a special fundraising event in support of Dunbar Harbour Trust. We'll be joined at The Harbour Chapel in Dunbar by author Alex Howard for a Q&A about his new novel, The Ship's Cat, followed by a book signing.

Purchase a copy of The Ship's Cat from Night Owl Books (RRP £16.99) for a free ticket to the event (admits one).

We'll be donating £5 from every copy sold to Dunbar Harbour Trust.

Alternatively, please select a 'donation only' ticket option (admits one), and we'll donate £5 to Dunbar Harbour Trust for your ticket.

Please note your copy of the book will be available for collection/delivery after its publication on the 7th May - select 'local pick up' at the checkout if you would like to collect your copy from Night Owl Books.

Event times:

Event: 19:30 - 20:30, followed by signing.

Doors: 19:15.

FAQs

- Will I be sent an e-ticket before the event?

Please note that we will have a guest list on the door on the night of the event, and you will not be sent an e-ticket for it - simply let us know your name/the name of the person who booked your ticket when you arrive, and we'll check you in! 

- Can I collect my book at the event?

Copies can be collected on the night at the event, or alternatively if you would like to read the book before attending copies can be collected or posted to you in advance. Copies will be available for collection/delivery around publication day, 7th May 2026.

A note on Covid precautions: if you feel unwell on the day, please err on the side of caution, and please take a lateral flow test before attending, if you can.

About the book:

From the bestselling author of The Ghost Cat comes an epic new adventure for cat lovers.

'Uplifting, charming, funny... Written with such a light and witty touch, it is not only a unique read, it is life-affirming.' - Sue Lawrence 

Archie is a canny street cat who has no faith in humans. A cat can only trust himself, after all.

But when he takes shelter from the cold near an airfield, he finds himself aboard a flight that will set him on an epic sea voyage - one that will take him farther than he's ever been and challenge everything he thinks he knows about 'home'. Determined to return to the shores of Blighty, Archie must rely on the generosity - and vessels - of humans on his way. With his unique polydactyl paws, each with an extra toe, Archie discovers he is not only a useful companion aboard fishing boats and luxury yachts, but also something of a lucky talisman.

From the sun-drenched harbours of the Mediterranean to the bustling decks of ocean racers and narrowboats of Edinburgh's Union Canal, Archie becomes a legend among sailors as he tries to make his way back home. But is home a place, or a person?Embark on this odyssey with Archie the stray and get swept away on this heroic, feel-good tale of unlikely friendship on the high seas.

Hardback, 304 pages, published 7th May 2026.

About Alex Howard:

Born in London, Alex Howard moved up to Scotland for his degree in English Literature at the University of Edinburgh. Completing the MA (Hons) with a first, he went on to pursue a PhD in 20th century poetry, from which his academic book Larkin’s Travelling Spirit (Palgrave, 2020) emerged. Alex has also been published in the likes of New Writing Scotland, Gutter, The London Magazine and Orbis, including being invited to read at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, before winning a place in The Charles Causley Poetry Prize.

About Dunbar Harbour Trust:

Dunbar Harbour Trust was established by the Scottish Government in 2004.

It is a charity registered with the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator (OSCR).

The purposes of the organisation are laid down in law –

(a) operating the harbour for the benefit of all its stakeholders including both port users and the local community;

(b) maintaining and improving the harbour facilities;

(c) attracting new uses of the harbour and new business to the harbour;

(d) advancing public education concerning the harbour; and

(e) providing facilities in the interest of social welfare for recreation and leisure-time occupation.

For further information on Dunbar Harbour Trust, please visit https://dunbarharbourtrust.co.uk/