Romance book lovers celebrate Fiction and Friction, the heart of a community
Meet the Murray Bridge bookshop owner who has brought together countless women and girls over a shared love of reading.
This sponsored story is brought to you by the friends of Fiction and Friction.
A community of romance book lovers has sprung up in the Murraylands in recent years, and this week they’re celebrating the store where it all started.
Indie bookshop Fiction and Friction is more than just a retail outlet – it’s a safe space and happy place for the women, girls and LGBTQIA-plus folks, mostly, who go there to find refuge between the covers of a good book, and a supportive peer group within the shop’s cosy walls.
But things have been tough for so many small businesses lately, and this one is no exception.
Owner Brittany Schulz has endured not just the financial uncertainty that comes with running a niche business in a regional community, but also – in the past few months – flooding, theft and attempted break-ins.
Yet the bookish community has been there to support her.
This week they’re coming together to celebrate their favourite bookshop.
Fiction and Friction is one of eight South Australian businesses participating in the Global Book Crawl, an international event encouraging readers to support their local booksellers.
This Thursday to Sunday there will be collectable tote bags, goodie bags for the first three customers who spend more than $250 each day, daily competitions with prompts on social media, and bookmark colouring-in for kids.
The week will peak with an in-store event on Sunday, featuring:
- A clear-out sale, with 20 per cent off all stock
- An author appearance by Montana Fyre
- Raffles for a variety of books, bookmarks and other merch
Ilana McIntyre and Karlia Thomson are among the local book lovers who hope the week will be a huge success for Brittany and her shop.
“She’s just a beautiful soul, kind, caring, and she loves what she does,” Ilana says.
“Her events, her book clubs – I’ve found a whole community through her.
“Finding friends as an adult can be so hard, and she’s made it easy.”
Karlia agrees: “I may live an hour and a half away, but without Fiction and Friction, and in turn Britt, I wouldn’t have the friends and opportunities I have had,” she says.
Fiction and Friction is a space where book lovers of all kinds feel welcome. Photos: Fiction and Friction.
Brittany has already been on quite a journey since she established her business online, working from home, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hers was one of the first dedicated romance bookstores in the world back in 2020, and the first to specialise in independently published romance books rather than catering only to the major publishing houses.
She quickly established a cult following online, riding the #BookTok wave; and outgrew first her granny flat, then a storage unit, then smaller premises on Seventh Street before reopening on Bridge Street in 2024.
She has always been community-minded, making welcome anyone who just wants a quiet place to read, offering a library of free books for folks who can’t afford to make a purchase, collecting donations for Shoeboxes of Love, and even hosting the odd Halloween photo shoot.
“I have a lot of young teens who come in, knowing this is a safe space, nothing’s going to happen to them here, they can come in and sit down and do not have to worry,” Brittany says.
“We don’t have a lot on in Murray Bridge for young girls, for the shy kid at school who just wants to read.
“I really want to build on that – we do at least one craft night a month, even if they’re not necessarily big income-bringers.”
Brittany has run a series of increasingly impactful events, too, since she first brought together about 40 authors and 300 readers at the Adelaide Convention Centre in 2023.
Her next big expo – Novel and Spice on the Murray – will be held in Murray Bridge on August 22-23.
Events have been a big focus for Brittany and her team since 2023. Photos: Peri Strathearn.
It has been an impressive journey for anyone, let alone a young single mum living with chronic pain.
Her honesty about her own experiences, sharing warmly and openly on social media, is one reason she has become so beloved by her supporters.
That support has been invaluable to the bookseller, too.
“The community and the business is the only reason I’m not bedridden,” Brittany says.
“Starting this business gave me a reason to push through the pain, to try and get better, to advocate for myself; but it also gave me a community of people who support me.
“I’m pretty lucky.”
Well, this week is the time to show that support.
So visit Fiction and Friction, support local and get ready to fall in love with reading all over again.
Because doesn’t everyone deserve a happy ending?
- Participate in the Global Book Crawl: Visit Fiction and Friction at 49A Bridge Street, Murray Bridge from April 23-26: 1-6pm on Thursday, 1-5pm on Friday or 11am-3pm on Saturday or Sunday.
- More information: Visit www.fictionandfriction.com.au or follow Fiction and Friction on TikTok, Instagram or Facebook; or, for the Global Book Crawl, visit www.globalbookcrawl.org/cities-south-australia.
- Read more: Fiction and Friction is winning hearts and minds – and changing an industry
Advertising to more than 20,000 highly engaged locals can do wonders for your business. Call Jane Intini on 0418 835 768 or email jane@murraybridge.news.
Peri Strathearn
