My Favourite Bookshops – Blog Post 4 – Collins Booksellers, Main Street, Croydon

 

One day, in September 2014, I wandered into Collins Croydon to pick up a copy of Elyne Mitchell’s, The Silver Brumby, the stunning photographic version.

Collins Croydon wasn’t my regular bookshop back then but I’d been chasing a copy of this book for a friend and Collins Croydon were able to order it in for me. Typical of the customer service that this wonderful bookshop is famous for.

At the time, I was on the lookout for a West Highland Terrier to join me at the launch of Little Dog and the Christmas Wish and I’d exhausted my friendship base of Westie owners – ‘Angus is too old and grumpy’, ‘Fergus isn’t good with children’, ‘McDuff doesn’t like crowds’ etc. I’d just about given up.

But at Collins Croydon that day, when I was purchasing The Silver Brumby at the counter, I spied a dog lead attached to the cupboard and there was Harry. I would say it was love at first sight, at least for me and since that day Prince Harry (his full name) and I have had many adventures.

His wonderful owners, Mark and Laraine, agreed to lend Harry to me to attend the first

Little Dog and the Christmas Wish book launch on October 25, 2014 in the Block Arcade, Melbourne 

 

 

and when the book was chosen as the theme for the Myer windows, Christmas 2015, Harry was there beside me, never camera shy and always happy to be interviewed, appear on tv and jump into the Myer windows to really be part of the action.

 

 

Harry was there for the paperback launch in 2016 again in The Block Arcade and joined me at Myer Ballarat for the windows there in 2016

and for the Geelong Myer windows and parade in 2017

 

Harry hosted the westie day at Collins Croydon in November 2015.

Harry was also the illustrative model for the second little dog book, Little Dog and the Summer Holiday, for illustrator Robin Cowcher,

which was launched at Collins Croydon in October 2017, surrounded again by his westie mates.

My friendship with Harry (and Collins Croydon) has continued and the relationship that this great little bookshop has with customers is the thing that stands out. You only need to mention the name of a certain book and they will order it in for you. No request is too much trouble.

It’s the sort of old-fashioned bookshop where a few hours can vanish while you wander through the shelves, peering into books and checking out the lovely display of special cards, many from local artists and other book-related gifts including a wonderful array of jig-saw puzzles, perfect for a rainy afternoon. The upstairs floor is packed with older books and samples, all proceeds going to Beyond Blue.

And although Harry isn’t so sure about the cat thing, 

Collins Croydon will be hosting a book signing for my brand new book  A Cat Called Trim at midday on Saturday, 13 April – all details below.