By Raia Flinos
A local couple’s travelling bookstore has quickly grown into a series of literary events, bringing together the community to gather around books. Bookneck was started in June by Carolyn Watson and David Moore, who began their careers as writers. “If you’re a writer, then you’re a reader,” said David.
The couple’s relationship began long-distance, fuelled by their shared love of reading and words. Eventually, David moved from the US to Australia, and the couple now reside in Frankston South. Carolyn said they had always dreamed of opening a second-hand bookstore. “Retail spaces are obviously very difficult to come by in high foot traffic areas, and for a price that we could afford. So, I was noodling over this and thinking about what do people do when this is an issue for them? And I thought of restaurants and how they often begin as food trucks.”
From this concept, Pippi was born; a converted Daihatsu Hijet named for Pippi Longstocking. “Pippi Longstocking always says, ‘I have never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that,’” said Carolyn. “And that’s kind of the energy we’re bringing to Bookneck.”
The travelling bookstore has quickly become more than just a place to buy books. Over the past few months, Carolyn and David realised literary events were a way to bring the community together. “We knew right away we were onto something special,” she said.
“Not just the novelty of the truck but the magic of the concept and the opportunity to nurture people’s love of literature and reading; to forge connection through events and press truly great books into the hands of readers across the peninsula.”
They sold out the first event of their Winter Parlour Series at Mount Martha House, a workshop on the lost art of keeping a commonplace book.
Their next two parlours are set and selling for September and October. The 11 September event is ‘The Artist’s Sketchbook & the Secret Language of Flowers’ and will feature local artist Susan Robson and the 9 October event will be a Regency Assembly (dance) where they will “attempt” Regency dancing led by local dance teachers.
“I think we’ve found our niche kind of by accident, in terms of it being more of a literary experience that’s rolling around, in the sense that we really need to create an event wherever we go,” said Carolyn.
David said one of the upcoming events they are most excited about is The Literary Picnic, a celebration of author Joan Lindsay. The event will take place on 14 February 2027 at Mulberry House in Langwarrin South, where the Picnic at Hanging Rock author lived. “We’re working with the National Trust, and I have an author, a First Nations representative storyteller, and a Joan Lindsay academic expert,” said Carolyn. “They’re all going to be doing a panel with me at the event, and it’ll be a beautiful literary picnic at Twilight and Pippi will be there and it’s just going to be a magical evening.”
I think we’ve found our niche kind of by accident, in terms of it being more of a literary experience that’s rolling around
Carolyn said tracking down Pippi is part of the fun. They pop up at markets, breweries, cafes, and community events, and are beginning collaborations with a number of local organisations. “We quickly realised that no walls meant no limits. We’re limited only by our imagination and our vision for gathering people around books, and the venues themselves, and finding places we can work with that share that vision.”
They have started the Un-Book Club, a monthly gathering where everyone brings along any book they are currently reading. “That means there’s no homework, there’s no trying to finish the chapter by Thursday or anything like that,” said Carolyn. “So that sort of takes the pressure off, and we will be parking the truck there so people can browse as well.” The club will be held the first Thursday of every month at Blue Mini Café in Rosebud.
Carolyn said they feel like people are seeking a sense of community and connection. “And in a way, that’s what we’re really creating. It just happens to be that books are a connecting factor. Each of our formats invites people to experience books in a different way, whether through conversation, creativity, storytelling or simply the joy of browsing.”
And where did the name Bookneck come from? David and Carolyn say, ” If you spend enough time with your head tilted to the side, scouring bookshelves for things that make you whisper ‘Wow!’ in reverent tones, and you’ll end up with a pretty wicked crick in your neck, a bookneck, if you will.”
You can find out more information about upcoming events for all ages and sign up to the newsletter, Notes from the Margins, on their website or on Instagram.
