Wānaka bookshop Next Chapter celebrated its third birthday in October underlining the important role it plays in the community.

Owners Jenny Ainge and Sally Battson have been overwhelmed with the support from local and out-of-town book lovers which has reinforced the continued growth of the independent store.

“It is hard to believe we have now marked three years in business,” says Sally. “With the recent extension to our container-style store which has doubled our space we are able to offer a much better service which is appreciated by our large customer base throughout Central Otago.”

The extension caters largely for an expansion of the children’s book section and with the improved display there has been a significant uptake not only in picture books but also young adult fiction.

“We now also have space to host our own book clubs – both fiction and non fiction –  along with  children’s reading sessions and small events,” says Sally. “One of our more successful recent sessions was with Lyttelton writer Joe Bennett promoting his memoir From There to Here. This was hugely popular and we plan to hold more author talks.”

A Lilliput library designed as a miniature version of Next Chapter has recently been installed outside the store by the Community Workshop providing books particularly for backpackers and other visitors to Wānaka.

BookHub Encourages Local

A recently launched Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand initiative – BookHub – represents New Zealand independent bookstores and is designed to encourage book lovers to support local. Next Chapter co-owner Sally Battson says people can search for a book and immediately see the store closest to them with copies in stock.

“It’s a wonderful concept and will provide more support for the country’s independent bookstores, giving people the option to shop locally and convert them from buying books online from faceless overseas monopolies.”

A Booksellers spokesman says there will be almost one million titles available on the site, enough to meet everyone’s expectations. “We particularly want BookHub to be the e-tailer of choice for New Zealand published books given their synergies with a New Zealand bookselling site.”

Next Chapter recommended summer reading

Fiction

Axeman’s Carnival by New Zealand author Catherine Chigley

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

Non Fiction

Everest Mountain Guide – Following the career of prominent Wanaka mountaineer Guy Cotter

Fungi of Aotearoa – a curious forager’s field guide

The Wager by David Grann – a story of shipwreck, mutiny and murder