Sally Battson and Jenny Ainge are celebrating the first week of operation for their new independent bookshop, The Next Chapter. 

“It’s been fabulous,” Sally said. “What’s been really gratifying is the great feedback both about the space and the book selection.

“Someone came in during the first couple of days and said, ‘How great - [this] is the only thing Wanaka needed to make it perfect!’”

The pair has turned what they described as a “glass container” in front of Cinema Paradiso into a cosy and inviting space, and filled their limited shelves with a carefully curated selection of books. 

“Our criteria is: ‘Do we really want to read it or do we know someone else who would?” Sally said. 

While they’ve covered all the bases - you’ll find classic children’s books and renowned authors, as well as lots of unexpected finds and burgeoning Kiwi writers’ work - they’ve also tailored the selection to a Wanaka audience. 

The bookshop features a carefully curated selection of books for readers of all ages. 

“We have a dedicated mountaineering and sports section,” Jenny said. There’s also a substantial cookbook collection “because Wanaka is a place full of very competent home cooks.”

The pair hopes the bookshop will become part of the Southern Lakes cultural scene. 

The Next Chapter will hold readings, book launches, and author Q&As, and there will be at least one - perhaps two - dedicated bookshop book clubs.

The first event is coming up on November 19, with author Sara McIntyre, who wrote Observations of a Rural Nurse.

While bookshops can be a risky business, Jenny and Sally say they’re buoyed by the huge amount of support they’ve received from within the community, and encouragement and advice from other bookshop owners around the country.

The first week has seen people from Wellington, Invercargill, and Auckland, as well as lots of locals, come through the doors. 

“It’s lovely to be able to have conversations with all these people about books,” Sally said. “We are really involved in our selections because they come from a place of real interest.”

Is there still a place for books, in a world where time spent looking at screens is ever increasing? 

Absolutely, they say. 

“There’s still something about the tactile nature of books that speaks to people of all ages,” Sally says. 

For Jenny, there is a calm to books that can’t be matched elsewhere. 

“One of the things I love about bookshops and reading is it isn’t loud - it doesn’t assault the senses.

“I hope books and this shop can provide people with a little bit of respite.”

The Next Chapter bookshop is located at 72 Brownston Street, Wanaka. 

PHOTOS: Wanaka App