Thanks to Cath and Dr Seuss for this week’s black board quotation.

“Better than read, re-read!” Such a great idea… Let’s keep the ‘River of books’ flowing! rereadlibrerialowcostoficial And the designs on the bags are created by an extraordinarily creative book illustrator. @carolineselmes @ReReadliberialowcost #booksky

While I've been waiting in train stations for my platform to be announced (insert many hours!)... I've been listening to I Want Everything by Dominic Amerena. RR has a partnership with LibroFM so if you want to support your local independent bookshop: libro.fm/readersretreat #booksky @libro.fm

Blackboard quotation of the week. #booksky

I picked this up in a second book shop in Dubai. I’m spending an afternoon by the pool learning about play writing. #booksky

The writing retreat has moved location… a terraza in a lovely hotel outside of Cordoba, Spain. It won’t be long before it is too hot and I will have to go for a swim! #booksky

Another lovely location in Cómpeta for writing. #booksky

Day 4 of the writing retreat. In between writing bursts, this collection has been the perfect companion. Just the right size story morsels from so many incredible authors across history and the globe. #booksky

Day 2 of the writing retreat and I have found my space. #booksky

Day 1 of the self-constructed writing retreat at Casa Maroma Cómpeta in Andalucia. I’ll just read one more chapter of this book that came highly recommended by an experienced bookseller at Librería Luces and then get started! www.casamaromacompeta.com #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

I spent the day today in Malaga visiting the bookshops that I had only ever seen on social media. It was great to talk about the success of the 2025 Global Book Crawl in person and plan for 2026. #booksky #globalbookcrawl @librerialuces.bsky.social #diaryofacoastalbookseller

The Buecher Bender bookshop in Mannheim Germany has been operating for 250 years and this bookseller has been working her for 40 years! #booksky www.buecher-bender.de #diaryofacoastalbookseller

Colm Toibin and Charlotte Wood were the rockstars of the 2025 Sydney Writers Festival according to Michael Williams. This podcast is about what makes a writer. I highly recommend it - A wonderful entertaining listen. \https://omny.fm/shows/sydney-writers-festival/making-a-writer #booksky

In Germany, they don't just have street libraries - they have 'Houses of Literature'. All the books in this 'Literaturehaus' are available for people exchange or just take. Wow! #booksky

This is one of the most stylish bookshops I have ever visited. @literatur_moths is in Munich’s old town. #booksky

In this quaint town outside of Munich where people ride their bikes and drink coffee on sidewalk cafes, I found this gorgeous bookshop. A combination of new and used books with a selection of art works… The name translates into ‘Chapter Two’. Www.kapitelzwei.online #kapitelzwei #booksky

Dubai’s biggest mall has a massive bookshop: Books Kinokuniya. There is a map and an information desk to help you find your way around. The quality and range of books and gifts is astounding. The displays are impressive. #kinokuniya #booksky #diaryofaruralbookseller

Quote of the week! #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

The Potts Point Bookshop won ABIA Bookshop of the year. If you want to hear more about the art of hand selling books… listen to Anna talk with Jaye on The Booksellers Podcast episode 20: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/t... #booksky #disryofacostalbookseller

Gertrude & Alice in Bondi has great coffee, delicious food and so so so many books. It has a really similar vibe to The Press Book and Coffee House in Newy. Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore The Press Book House #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

My feature table this week has a focus on birds. Beautiful selection of fiction, non-fiction, children's and reference books... Plus I feature the talent of local artist Emma Bowen with her quirky cards. @artwork_by_emma_bowen #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

The Quick Brown Fox bookshop created such a welcoming space for children of all ages (with a carefully curated selection for those that would consider ourselves to be young at heart!) quickbrownfox The Quick Brown Fox #booksky

Not only does Scrumptious Reads have a great selection of books and stationery but they have an art gallery with space for workshops - and they even host dinner parties! How totally SCRUMPTIOUS is that!!! @scrumptiousreads #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

When you are on holidays, even an owner of a bookshop can’t help but pick up a little something from another bookshop! @maryryansnewfarm #booksky

I love that Riverbend Books has a space for book clubs and writers embedded in their beautiful store. #booksky

What a panel line up for the final day… Madeleine Gray, Erin Hortle, Bri Lee and Kate Mildenhall. All these writers have books coming out before Xmas. #booksky

Congratulations to the winners! #booksky

Gulp. Trent Dalton has us booksellers in tears… from laughter and from joy. His speech started with “It happened in a bookshop…” ‘Gravity Let Me Go’ is coming soon. #booksky

I had the privilege of meeting Jessica Townsend. I told her how much I loved hearing about her writing process on the Good Reading podcast. I’ve recommended the podcast to a couple of teenager writers who are dealing with neurodiversity. goodreadingmagazine.com.au/podcasts/jes... #booksky

Fans of Sofie Laguna are going to be blown away by her new novel ‘The Under World’. Sofie is talking about her writing process and she has captivated the audience. @SofieLaguna @sofielaguna @bookpeopleau @BookPeople #booksky

The Book People conference has kicked off with an excellent presentation by Sally Rippen. She is talking about different ways to share stories. Very inspiring. www.sallyrippin.com www.childrenslaureare.org.au #booksky

A BOOK TREE HOUSE!!!! Could there be anything more delightful??? Where the Wild Things Are and Avid Reader Bookshop are next door to each other in Brisbane's west end. #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller @avidreaderdavis.bsky.social

The Book Room At Lennox Head has some crazy book sculptures hanging from the ceiling. Gives you that feeling of wanting to fly away into another world. @thebookroomcollective The Book Room Collective #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

Day one and I’ve hit the jackpot - Only 11km from the Pacific Highway - Bellingen has the ‘Alternatives Bookshop’. An extraordinary bookshop that I adored. alternatives.bookshop www.alternativesbookshop.com.au #booksky

My own version of the #globalbookcrawl starts tomorrow. First stop Brisbane for the Book People conference and then onto Germany and Spain. I’ll be posting photos and creative ideas from all the bookshops I visit. #booksky #globalbookcrawl #diaryofacoastalbookseller

I’m driving from Port Stephens to Brisbane next week via the coast. What book shops should I visit along the way? #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

New book going straight to the 'Books on Books' shelf: Molly Masters' -'Bibliotherapy: Books to guide you through every chapter in life'. #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

Long weekend? Immerse your self in a classic. www.backlisted.fm/episodes/150... #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

Ethel Turner has been called the Australian 'Louisa May Alcott'. She had an extraordinary life with more sexual tension than an Jane Austen novel. We learnt about all this from the incredibly engaging and utterly entertaining Abbey Lane! susannahfullerton.com.au/ethel-turner... #booksky

Now this looks interesting… “Stop wasting your talent and start making a difference” #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

My first encounter with Curtis Sittenfeld and I am enthralled with her writing. #booksky @csittenfeld.bsky.social #diaryofacoastalbookseller

Andrea Goldsmith’s The Buried Life is going straight to ‘Alison’s Picks’ shelf. #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

Annette Kellerman's story is definitely worth diving into. #booksky #diaryofacoastabookseller

If you enjoyed Rogues Heroes on SBS On Demand you might like to read the book. www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-... #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

I heard about this book on the Backlisted podcast: www.backlisted.fm @backlisted.bsky.social #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

My favourite beach in Port Stephens. #diaryofacoastalbookseller

Thanks to my colleague Cath for selecting this week’s blackboard quotation.

What is the connection between Emily Dickinson and Taylor Swift? Find out in this podcast from the Secret Life of Books. www.secretlifeofbooks.org/podcast-1/ep... #booksky @slobpodcast.bsky.social

The Ministry of Time is back in stock and has a gorgeous new cover. #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller

Is anyone willing to go to Sydney with James Bradley in the near future? (I loved Deep Water as a non-fiction... ) #booksky #diaryofacoastalbookseller