Raumati author Mandy Hager says ‘LOVE OUR LOCAL BOOKSELLERS!’

Recently she launched a new book at Paraparaumu library, called Ash Arising, and was very grateful to have local booksellers Kaye and Rob Clarke from Paperplus there to sell some books.

Mandy says ‘When we moved to Kapiti seven and a half years ago, we left behind favourite independent bookshops in Wellington and I worried that there seemed to be no local bookshops that supported their local writers in the way those independents do. How wrong I was!

Dedicated to books

‘Kaye and Rob have been dedicated booksellers here for nearly forty years (watch out for their 40th birthday celebrations next year!) and have done a stellar job at supporting local writers and showing a wonderful commitment to nurturing local book-lovers’ needs.

‘It’s a hard business, one that requires huge amounts of hard work and capital outlay with surprisingly modest returns. That they have stuck with it, and remain committed to serving their community’s reading needs, is a wonderful thing — and something we should not take for granted.’

Support them!

Finally, Mandy says:’ I urge you to support them – both by buying your books from there and by letting them know how much they are valued. Make them your first port of call for birthday presents, thank yous, treats, work, special gifts  . . . and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, ask them to order it in, rather than going online.

‘Yes, you may pay the price of a coffee or two more than buying from those online dealers, but Kaye and Rob’s support of our community deserves our commitment to them in return.’