Chapter 2: A new bookseller at Collins Thirroul

When Amanda Isler and Deborah Thompson opened Collins Booksellers Thirroul in 2018, it was the beginning of a new era for book lovers in the Illawarra.

In the years since, the sisters have thrown their weight behind local authors, organised numerous book launches and talks, and in doing so, have created and nurtured a thriving literary community.

In May this year, they announced that they had sold the business in the Anita's Theatre building. But book lovers everywhere needn’t have worried because Amanda and Deborah have handed the bookstore’s reins to James Tierney, someone they’ve described as “a true bookseller”.

And that’s no hyperbole because if anyone knows books, James does. He's had extensive book-industry experience, including as manager of two much-loved community bookstores: Bookoccino in Avalon and Gleebooks in Glebe.

James and his partner Vanessa moved to Bulli after having visited the area several times over the years to see friends – including Australian journalist, radio and television broadcaster and long-time friend of the Flame, Caroline Baum.

“We’d come down and visit, usually via the train, so it was a spectacular journey through the Royal National Park," James said.

“We'd visit friends and do walks in the area, so when we wanted to buy a place together, this was a logical place to look at.

“And we were very lucky to buy a 101-year-old house in Bulli, which we're very, very slowly doing up.”

The couple bought the house about 18 months ago and James has been commuting to his job as Gleebooks manager during that time.

So, what does James have in store for Collins Booksellers Thirroul? 

“At the moment, my main theme is continuity. I have deep respect for what Amanda and Deb have built up.

“I've been in the book trade for nearly 10 years as a manager generally, [this will be my] first time as an owner. 

“I know how much work and foresight it takes to run a business in a regional location, so I've just got enormous respect for what they've built up – not least as I'm meeting customers through this process, because I've been working in the store, at least Sundays and some Wednesdays. 

“I'm meeting all members of the community that they've built up through these eight years. And they [the customers] are incredibly grateful for the bookshop, for Amanda and Deb's efforts. 

“I'll just keep things going as they are, and next year might be time – once I know what I'm doing – to look at doing things differently. But, again, it'll be about providing the same sort of community institution that Deb and Amanda have built up. I don't want to muck that up.”

Readings, book launches, and other events will remain a Collins’ mainstay, James says.

“I think events are super important. I’ve just come from managing Gleebooks Glebe, which has had a very important events program for nearly 50 years, so I've seen what that does in a city location in terms of bringing people through the doors for the chance to meet an author and hear a somewhat more intimate story about the authors themselves and the books than they might get from the newspapers or the radio. 

“I'll definitely be continuing the events program, if anything, I'll be looking to strengthen it in any way we can. I'll just keep on inviting really interesting authors – on the back of their latest fascinating book – to Ryan's or Coledale or whatever appropriate venue I can get access to.

“It's just good for my soul, it’s good for the community to have access to people of that quality, in the community and just to ask questions and get a conversation going.” 

James has been regularly working a day or two each week at the Collins Booksellers Thirroul through June and July but officially took over on Saturday, August 1.

“I'll be working Wednesday through to Sunday, so people can find me in the bookshop most days.”

What’s James reading?

“I’m reading a non-fiction book by Lauren Elkin. It's called Vocal Break [On Women, Music and Power, Penguin Australia]. 

"She's an American writer who's lived in France and in the UK and she trained as a professional singer, so she could do opera, but she could also do punk rock. 

“This is a book on women music and power, so it's about how literally to find your voice through singing and what that means while being a woman in particular. It's really good.

“And the other one I can recommend is Petronella McGovern’s Every Time She Wakes. 

“Every time she [the main character] wakes it’s kind of like – do you remember that Gwyneth Paltrow film Sliding Doors? – so this has six different scenarios where when she wakes, she wakes up in a slightly new scenario. 

“And it's really grippingly written that each time she wakes and finds herself in a slightly different world. 

“It's really interestingly done. So I'd highly recommend that one too.”