We decided to play the Q&A game with the ABC staff, and asked all sorts of bookish questions. In the coming weeks we will be posting their (sometimes cheeky!) answers here on the blog, so you can learn a little more about us.
Enjoy!
This time around we talk to Naomi, part of the duo responsible for our Booklover Boxes, writer for the blog and buyer for Law & True Crime, Mythology & Religion, Romantasy and Fantasy in our stores in The Hague and Leidschendam.
What are your top 3 favorite books or authors?
At the moment, my favorite authors are India Holton, Alice Coldbreath and Jackie Lau. I will read anything they publish, no questions asked.
What is your favorite genre to read?
Romance all day, every day! I actually read in every genre, as long as there’s a romantic plot. Some of my favorite subgenres are historical mystery romance, contemporary romance and fantasy romance.
Do you have any reading tips for our customers?
Don’t do as I do and “read just a little bit in bed”, because it always ends with me finishing my book at 2 am. I do love reading in bed, since that’s the only time I don’t (need to) have a tv show or music playing in the background and I can just focus on reading. I also love reading when it’s raining outside, underneath a blanket, with an instrumental playlist on in the background (because otherwise I would just be singing along).
What is your favorite part of being a bookseller?
I like giving recommendations, but it’s a little hard when people are looking for something that’s outside of my own interests. I do my best work when asked about romance titles, or within the sections I buy for.
What’s your secret for choosing the books you buy for your sections?
What seems interesting to me, what is relevant right now, what are some classics that I should always have in stock? It also depends on the section, for example Law & True Crime doesn’t move very fast so I limit myself to the basics and some newer titles I think are interesting. Romantasy, on the other hand, is very popular. I need to have the current BookTok favorites in stock, and I also like to have some lesser known books on the shelves.