The Rocky Outcrop Writers Tour

Writers in vans, eh?

March 25, 2013 · by invisiblehopemoon ·

Man with surfboard and books, Unity Books, Wellington.

One of the best things about the Rocky Outcrop Writers Tour was meeting the people who run bookstores. We were incredibly impressed with their energy and enthusiasm and resilience. And we wanted everyone to know about them and to support them, because if you don’t buy actual books from actual brick-and-mortar bookshops, you can’t expect these spaces to go on existing. Each of the bookstores below – Hedleys, Paige’s, and Unity – bring life to their cities or towns. They’re community centres, places to drift from book to book, to discover new things for yourself and others. They’re monuments to the importance of reading.
Now, this isn’t an argument against e-books (we three writers have Kindles or tablets of some sort) but it is a request to pause before you hit buy from The Book Depository. Yes, the books are cheaper and the postage is free, but among other things, you don’t get to chat with the friendly English guy at Unity about Henry VIII and whether he’s the reason Hilary Mantel is finally reaching a broader audience. You don’t get to smell the fresh print, to see what books other customers have tucked under their arms, to come across an unfamiliar author and end up reading their entire back catalogue. You don’t get to bump into your friend and go for a coffee. And your bowels just don’t relax in quite the same way as they do in a bookstore.*
We asked David Hedley (Hedleys Books, Masterton), Lesley Stead (Paige’s Books, Whanganui), and Tilly Lloyd (Unity Books, Wellington) a few questions about the business of bookselling in New Zealand.

Dave Hedley and Eric Clapton, Hedleys Books, Masterton.

David Hedley, Hedleys Books

Tell us about your background. We understand Hedleys has been around a while.
Yes, I’m the third generation. The business started as the Dominion newspaper agency on Dominion Day in 1907 with my grandfather collecting the newspapers from the train and selling from his pushbike. He later set up a ‘depot’ and added in ‘fancy goods’. It was my father, Alex Hedley, who revved up the book side in the 1950s and 1960s when books became available in large numbers at affordable prices.
What’s the best part of your job?
The bit I love is the deluge of new titles that constantly arrive – so many books, so little time.

What’s your take on the state of book-selling in NZ?
The New Zealand public will decide if they want booksellers in this country – we are still keen!
In your opinion, what is it that makes a great book great?
A great book has to connect with its readers, there are many well written books, and there are many best sellers, but a great book brings it all together and makes an impact on its readers and, in turn, the community.

The rest here.