Why We Only Stock Australian Authors (and Other Bookish Things We Get Asked)
We’re a proudly independent bookstore and record shop in South Australia, and we’re doing things a bit differently. This post is for anyone who’s ever wondered why we stock only Australian authors, how we choose our titles, or how we run things behind the scenes.
Do you only stock Australian authors?
Yes! We exclusively stock books by Australian authors, across all genres. It’s something we’re really proud of.
We believe Australian voices are powerful, moving, and deserve more shelf space. Our authors tell stories grounded in this place, urban, rural, strange, romantic, raw, and we want to celebrate that. We stock a mix of literary fiction, romance, crime, kids’ books, and more.
Why do you only stock Australian authors?
Because the Australian book industry matters and it’s worth supporting. And we have so many amazing talented writers we can fill an entire book shop with them.
Buying Australian isn’t just a patriotic decision. It’s about sustaining a vibrant, local creative economy. Australian authors often face limited publishing opportunities, smaller print runs, and less international reach. By championing them, we help ensure their stories get told, read, and celebrated.
Our authors also do incredible things: win global awards, push genre boundaries, adapt works into film and television. For example, Diana Reid, author of Love & Virtue, is writing the screenplay for an upcoming Jane Austen adaptation. That’s the calibre of talent we’re talking about.
When you shop with us, you’re not just buying a book. You’re investing in the future of Australian storytelling.
How do you decide what books to stock?
We handpick every book in the store.
That means we don’t buy in bulk, we don’t follow a generic list, and we absolutely don’t just stock what’s trending. We choose titles based on:
- What we’ve read and loved ourselves
- Recommendations from our customers
- What’s making waves in book clubs, online communities, and among local readers
- Suggestions from authors, publishers, and friends
We also take cues from your feedback. If you're on our email list or pop into the shop and say, “Have you read…?”, we’re listening. And we often order in based on those suggestions.
Why books and records?
We get this one a lot.
One of us (hi, that’s me, Kate) is a lifelong bookworm. The other (Neil) is a music tragic with decades of radio and DJ experience. We realised quickly that a lot of people love both.
We’ve seen it in-store all the time, someone browsing the record crates while their partner flicks through novels. Online, it’s the same. Collectors tend to collect. And there’s something special about physical things. Books and records. Real stuff you can hold.
So we said, why not both?
Is everything full price?
We try to keep our prices fair, and in some cases, we offer discounted pricing on new release titles.
But no, we’re not trying to compete with huge chain stores, and we’re not trying to be them. We don’t order in bulk, we don’t receive the same publisher deals, and we don’t have a warehouse. We’re a small indie store that curates every title based on quality and community interest, not sales volume.
A good book is like a good bottle of wine, it might cost a little more, but the experience stays with you. Books are something you keep, pass on, revisit, and reread. They're an investment in imagination.
Do you offer gift cards?
Yes, we do! Our digital gift cards can be used online and make a great gift for book lovers (or anyone who’s tricky to buy for).
Do you support Australian authors beyond stocking their books?
Absolutely. We regularly feature interviews, Q&As, and guest posts with authors on our blog.
Michelle Prak – Interview →
Amy Matthews – Interview →
Bethany Clark – Interview →
Anything else?
Probably heaps, but we’ll save that for Volume 2.
We’re not a warehouse. We’re not a chain. We’re a couple of collectors running a fiercely independent bookstore and record shop from Adelaide and the Yorke Peninsula. We are building crates and shelves we believe in and would buy from.
