Livre Eclectica began as an Etsy store in 2021. I was living in Perth at the time and had a conversation with my brother about his years of collecting militaria, guitars, sheet music and other things. My brother was a very talented man, with a great sense of humour and a strong moral code. I was in trouble with him a fair bit growing up, as he took it upon himself to instil some values into me. At the time, I was resistant, but looking back on it now, he and my dad taught me a lot about kindness, respect, and doing the right thing by others-and myself. (Mum taught me about courage and creativity). My brother was in my corner, in the most tangible way. Always.
Anyway, at the time, he wasn’t well and was clearing out the farmhouse, trying to lessen the load for his children and wife. My brother, sister and I shared a love of history, and a belief in the significance of ancestral stories to the present. It was in one of those conversations, that I realised I wanted to spend more time with old books, and share that with others.
Livre Eclectica was born on Etsy with one (slightly torn) Phantom comic and a 1930s copy of Little Women from our family home. My best friend bought the Phantom comic, so that I had my first sale (thanks Isobelle!), and a book lover from Canada bought Little Women. It was like selling my first novel (did I mention that I’m a writer?) all over again.
Since then it’s been a big, fun learning. How Etsy works, packaging, postal, tax, photography etc. I’ve moved twice since I opened the store, so photography has been a work in progress.
The next step was to give Livre Eclectica a permanent home on the web, which is right here. The Etsy store is still operating and will for a while. If you notice a pricing difference between the two, it’s because postage is included on the Etsy price. Ultimately though, this is where I want to be based.
So welcome! Come in and have a browse. Books are separated into categories. While the store is still small there is no alphabetical listing, but eventually, I anticipate there will be. I only have a few non fiction books, as my passion area is fiction.
I’d love to hear from you if you have an enquiry, or just want to say hello. This is a place for people who love stories, want a fix of nostalgia, and have a curiosity and admiration what has gone before.
But for me, Livre Eclectica will always be about my beloved brother – Paul. RIP.
