In 2009 it will be 70 years since the outbreak of the Second World War and we have been searching our archive for wartime material illustrating how ordinary people in Brighton were affected by the war. We re-discovered Brighton Behind the Front, an excellent source of reminscences and documents, and decided to reprint it (see below) and to make Brighton at War the theme for our 2009 calendar.

In 1990, when Brighton Behind the Front was first launched, QueenSpark had published 24 books, mainly local biographies, but also books of poetry, prose, history and politics. Many of them sold out one or more editions. The post popular books could have sold out many more editions and it is with great pleasure that, 70 years since the outbreak of the Second World War, we can include a new edition of Brighton Behind the Front amongst our list of books in print.

Following the precident set by Who was Harry Cowley, QueenSpark is delighted to announce that another of its most popular titles, Back Street Brighton is back in print. Originally produced in collaboration with the Lewis Cohen Urban Studies Centre, this is a sequel to Backyard Brighton incorporating photographs taken by the Environmental Health Department in the late forties and early fifties of houses in Brighton scheduled for demolition in the fifties and sixties.

Each photograph in the book is accompanied by reminiscences of families who lived in the houses which, unlike the narratives in Backyard Brighton, are generally positive - with many people expressing fond memories of the era and viewing the demolitions as a beneficial experience for the area.

For thirty-five years QueenSpark Books has been working with local people to tell their stories. The Deckchair Guide to Brighton & Hove features excerpts from many of our out of print titles and uses both new and old photographs and text to highlight how the city has changed. We hope that together they offer the reader a unique glimpse into the life of one of the UK's most dynamic and interesting cities.

To create this guide, hundreds of local people responded to polls on The Deckchair website to share their knowledge and opinions of Brighton & Hove. Many others volunteered their time to canvas local people, source images, and write about why they love this city (warts and all).

On The Deckchair, our literary website for Brighton and Hove, you can look up books about Brighton, novels set in Brighton, books by Brighton authors and much more. You can also make your own contribution on the website or get more involved by contacting Sarah Hutchings.

Depending on the projects we are engaged in at any given time, QueenSpark offers volunteer and training opportunities in many areas of our work. We are also committed to sharing the processes that inform what we do with others engaged in community publishing and history work. To find out about other volunteer activities, contact John Riches.