Sam Kelly is a bookseller at Readings Doncaster and the spark that drives the Doncaster middle fiction book club. Here, she chats about the favourite parts of her job, books that have changed the way she thinks, and what’s on her reading pile right now. Sam also runs the website Retrieve-a-Book, where she posts young adult and middle-fiction book news, reviews and recommendations. What is you…

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Freya Howarth is a bookseller at our St Kilda store. Here, she chats to us about the best parts of her job, talks about books that have changed the way she thinks, and why bookshops should always just be a little bit haunted. Tell us about a book that changed the way you think.

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. I’m not sure if it’s quite right to say it changed the way I think, so much as…

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Fiona Hardy is a woman of many talents: bookseller, Readings Monthly’s crime fiction columnist, co-host of the Readings podcast episodes Good Cop, Bad Cop and the soon-to-be published author of the eagerly anticipated middle-grade novel How to Make a Movie in Twelve Days, (available September). In what little spare time she has, she also blogs about children’s books at Fiona The Hardy. Here she …

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Kathy Kozlowski is a children’s book specialist who has worked in children’s literature for more than 40 years. Here, she shares the changes she’s witnessed in the book industry and which authors she’d invite to a dinner party. Why did you decide to work in books and what is your favourite part of the job?

It was a light bulb moment during university when I realised that if I worked with chil…

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Amanda Rayner is a bookseller and returns officer at our Carlton bookshop. Here, she shares what books are on her TBR pile, her most formative read and which fictional world she’d choose to be trapped in. What is your favourite part of your job?

I love working in an industry where your knowledge expands every day, but there is always more to learn. I’ve met some of my closest friends while wo…

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Claire Atherfold is the Children’s Book Buyer at our newly renovated State Library bookshop. Here, she shares what books are on her TBR pile, and which authors she would invite to a dinner party. Why did you decide to work in books?

Books have always been a large part of my life. From a very early age I have memories of my mum reading to me, and of totally getting lost in the tales and advent…

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Mike Shuttleworth has worked as a bookseller at our Hawthorn shop for close to four years but he’s been an advocate for youth literature for far longer – organising events and writing about youth literature since 2002! We chat with him about literary trends, weird bookshop queries, and which book he would choose to be trapped inside of. Why did you decide to work in books?

I went to universit…

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Gabrielle Williams has worked at Readings for the past six years where she juggles dual roles as a bookseller at Malvern shop, and as the Grants Officer for the Readings Foundation. She is also an award-winning author of young adult novels, most recently including the funny and heartfelt My Life as a Hashtag. Here, she shares some of her favourite recent reads and some advice on how customers can…

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Dave Clarke is our Music & DVD Manager. Here, he shares some of his favourite musicians and most memorable moments from working at Readings over the past 16 years. Why did you decide to work in music? And how did you end up at Readings?

I did a work experience week at my local store – Pet Sounds in Malvern (which much later became Readings Malvern) – back in August of 1984. Dave, the owner, l…

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Judi Mitchell has worked at Readings for close to 20 years. At the moment, she juggles four different roles: Senior Customer Service Officer, Staff Trainer, Digital Content Assistant and the Editorial Assistant for the Readings Monthly. Phew! Here, she tells us her favourite thing about working at a bookshop, and what books are next on her TBR pile. Why did you decide to work in books?

I’m no…

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