Author Event: Anna James (ALICE WITH A WHY)

We are overjoyed to welcome #1 New York Times bestselling, UK fantasy author Anna James to Old Town Books for an unforgettable trip through Wonderland and a celebration of the magic of storytelling!

You may know Anna for her bestselling Pages & Co. series; now prepare to fall in love with her new standalone fantasy, ALICE WITH A WHY, a brilliant reimagining of Lewis Carroll’s classic, set on the heels of World War I and starring Alice’s granddaughter. The illustrated novel, full of riddles, word play, and eccentric characters, is designed for 8-12 year olds but would also make a wonderful family read-aloud for younger and older kids alike! Published first in the UK, the book has already received tremendous acclaim and was named Blackwell’s 2025 Book of the Year.

Anna will be in conversation with our own Anna Taleysnik–an Anna James superfan!--who will ask her about her love for Lewis Carroll’s classic, the inspiration for ALICE WITH A WHY, her writing process, and some of her favorite fantasies. Following the conversation, Anna will take audience questions and personalize books.

Tickets include a signed hardcover copy of ALICE WITH A WHY (with an option to add up to two free companion tickets with no book). Anna’s other books will also be available for purchase. Attendees are welcome to bring books from home to be signed as well.

Parents or guardians of children under 12 are required to remain on-site throughout the event. We invite adults to attend the event by purchasing a free companion ticket or they may visit our adult bookstore next door.

About Alice With a Why:
England, 1919. Alyce–with a Y–is sent to live with her grandmother, the original Alice, after having lost her father in war. When a mysterious invitation to a tea party hits her square in the face, Alyce realizes her grandmother’s strange stories of a place called Wonderland might have some truth to them after all.

Soon Alyce is tumbling down into Wonderland herself, but the place she finds is not the colorful world she's heard stories of, but a world trapped in its own war. The Sun King and the Queen of the Moon are fighting over a stolen hour, and soon Alyce is tasked with setting it right. With the help of the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and a Sailor Fox, Alyce will have to solve Wonderland’s problems and, eventually, find her way back home.

About Anna James:
Anna is a writer and journalist, as well as the author of the Pages & Co. and Chronicles of Whetherwhy series. She was a school librarian before joining The Bookseller as their book news editor. She now writes for a variety of newspapers and magazines, as well as chairs events at bookshops and literary festivals across the UK. She lives in north London, in a flat full of books.