There's a new face in our Hobsonville bookshop, and we're delighted to introduce you to Fran, our newest Bookstore Hero!
A passionate reader, aspiring author and lover of all things creative, Fran has joined our bookshop team, where she'll be working alongside Lizzy, Liam, Eve and Emily making sure everyone who visits Book Hero has a wonderful experience.
A lifelong love of books
Fran describes herself as a fast and adventurous reader, happy to explore all sorts of genres, although contemporary romance, romantasy, poetry and historical fiction hold a special place in her heart.
At the moment, she's readingΒ Tempests and Tea LeavesΒ by Rachel Morgan, which she's thoroughly enjoying.
"It's fast-paced, riveting and full of magic and Bridgerton vibes!"
Another recent favourite isΒ The Knight and the MothΒ by Rachel Gillig, which Fran describes as "witty, adventurous and un-putdownable!"
But what if a customer walked into Book Hero and asked Fran to recommend just one book?
"It would have to be, hands down,Β The SpellshopΒ by Sarah Beth Durst! Cosy fantasy, with talking plants, amazing characters and a beautifully written world. You cannot ask for more!"
And like so many of us, Fran has a rather ambitious to-be-read pile.
"I have a TBR pile so big it could probably fill the whole Book Hero warehouse!"
That's quite a claim, given the size of our warehouse!
We also asked what she'd buy if we handed her $200 to spend at Book Hero.
"Puzzles, Rolife book nooks and, of course, every special edition I can get my hands on."
Speaking of special editions, Fran has already spotted a few tempting titles on our shelves, including the beautiful editions of Rebecca Yarros'Β EmpyreanΒ series and theΒ Dungeon Crawler CarlΒ books.
From airport lounges to a book lover's paradise
Before joining Book Hero, Fran worked as a concierge in a lounge at Auckland Airport, having also held a variety of roles in hospitality.
But working in a bookshop has always been a dream of hers.
"What drew me to Book Hero was the calm and comfort I always felt when I walked into the shop. I've always dreamed of working around books, so when I was offered the job, I couldn't say no!"
And her first impressions of the bookshop and warehouse?
"I felt like I'd walked into heaven! The bookstore is a book lover's dream, with beautiful shelves stacked with amazing stories, puzzles and games. There's so much choice for our customers!"
The warehouse was another story altogether.
"It took my breath away. I felt tiny walking amongst the shelves of all the products we stock!"
Since joining the team, Fran has been helping customers in the bookshop, offering recommendations, restocking shelves and assisting with customer pickups.
She's also discovered just how much work goes on behind the scenes to get books into the hands of readers all over New Zealand.
"The amount of stock we can house in the warehouse, and all the hard work that goes into packing and shipping orders to our customers, has been a huge surprise. There's always something going on. It's a busy business!"
Making every customer feel welcome
With her background in hospitality, Fran knows a thing or two about looking after people.
Her favourite part of working with customers is meeting people from all walks of life, hearing their stories and learning new things from them.
So what does she think makes a great bookshop experience?
"A friendly smile goes a long way! Positivity is key, and knowing what to recommend is important too."
It's an approach that fits perfectly with what we're trying to create at Book Hero - a friendly, welcoming place where readers can browse, discover something new and enjoy talking about books with people who love them just as much.
And Fran has been enjoying getting to know her new colleagues, too.
"My favourite part has definitely been the team! Everyone is so positive, friendly and hardworking. I love working with everyone and creating new connections!"
An aspiring author with six books under her belt!
Here's something you might not know about Fran - she's not just an enthusiastic reader, she's also a prolific writer.
Fran dreams of becoming a published author one day, and she's already written five novels and a book of poetry, with another fantasy novel currently in the works.
When she's not reading or helping customers at Book Hero, there's a good chance you'll find her at her desk working on her latest story.
And writing isn't her only creative outlet. Fran also loves cross-stitch, clay crafts, making bookmarks and cards, cooking and baking. She's a keen swimmer, too.
"I like to keep myself busy!"
Welcome to the team, Fran!
We finished by asking Fran what she's most looking forward to about being part of Book Hero.
"I can't wait to be in a dream team, to learn new things and to be around books every day!"
We're delighted to have Fran on board. Her enthusiasm for books, creativity and genuine love of all things Book Hero make her a wonderful addition to our bookshop team.
Next time you're visiting our Hobsonville bookshop, be sure to say hello! And if you're looking for a cosy fantasy recommendation, we know just the person to ask.
You might enjoy books Fran love the most!
