Bookseller spotlight: Danica Beaudoin from Beachside Bookshop
What’s the first book that you remember having an impact on you?
The first book that I remember having an impact on me was one that I don’t even know the title of, and the reason that it made such an impression was because it was the first chapter book that I read on my own. Plus, it was a recommendation from a bookseller at my favourite book shop growing up that my dad and I would go to once a week.
Who were some of your favourite authors as a child?
My favourite author growing up in Canada was Lucy Maud Montgomery. I wanted to be Anne of Green Gables when I was a little girl.
How long have you been working at your bookstore? Can you tell us about the store and the community it serves?
I have been a bookseller at Beachside Bookshop since it opened in January 2016, and we are in the middle of moving around the corner from our original premises into a brighter, bigger space, and I could not be more excited. We have a fantastic community of readers that have been become friends over the years, and we love sharing all of life’s up and downs with them.
What drew to you becoming a bookseller?
I was drawn to bookselling because I have always been an avid reader, and after having many other jobs that left me feeling unsatisfied, I was lucky to discover that bookselling was the perfect fit for me.
What did an average day look like for you pre-COVID? And post-COVID?
Honestly pre-COVID and post-COVID have been quite similar, but with far more handwashing and anxiety since March. In all fairness we have been very lucky in the Northern Beaches of Sydney, and the shop was able to stay open with restrictions and safety measures in place. It has been heartening to see more children and adults find reading or come back to reading this year, and finding all different ways to get books into their hands while social distancing and self-isolating has been a welcome challenge.
What’s the best part about being a bookseller?
The best part of being a bookseller is being able to share my passion for books, reading, and storytelling every day at work.
Any memorable customer interactions?
I have had plenty of memorable customer interactions, luckily most of them have been positive, but my favourite are always when someone comes into the shop to tell me that they’ve absolutely loved the book that I recommended on their last visit.
What advice would you give someone wanting to work in bookselling?
I find it very funny how many people think that all I do at work is read, so my advice is that if you only want to become a bookseller so that you can read all day then you’ll be in for a shock when you discover that is the last thing that you’ll be doing as a bookseller.
Who are some of your favourite Australian authors?
Discovering so many wonderful Australian authors has been one of my favourite things about moving here over ten years ago. Kate Grenville, Tim Winton, Geraldine Brooks, and Craig Silvey were some of my early discoveries, and now I read so many Australian Children and Young Adult authors like Gus Gordon, Emily Gale, and Erin Gough.
Do you have any favourite UQP titles?
A few of my favourite UQP titles are The White Girl by Tony Birch, Untidy Towns by Kate O’Donnell, Because of You by Pip Harry, and Sick Bay by Nova Weetman.
How can we follow your bookstore online?
You can follow us on beachsidebookshop.com, on Instagram and Facebook.
