How We Started:

   While attending Wordstock, the wonderful Portland book festival, in the Spring of 2005, Karen Emmerling realized the world she should have spent the previous 35 years working in - the world of books.  So, after a lot of reading, even more soul-searching and  with both children off to college, when a cozy location was being renovated on a convenient side street in downtown Seaside, she jumped in with both feet.  After 7 years as the "bookstore around the corner", Beach Books outgrew the space. When the ideal location on the most prominent corner in Seaside became available, Beach Books expanded to where they are today

 

Meet Our Family:

    Karen Emmerling:  Karen is the owner of Beach Books and now grandmother of three. Prior to opening the store in 2005, Karen owned and worked with her husband at Gearhart Ironwerks doing faux finishes and marketing, worked in advertising and television in Portland and has degrees from both University of Oregon and Portland State University. She is currently a member of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association board. Her favorite genres are Literary Fiction and Mystery.

 

  Alexa Butler:  Alexa is the manager of Beach Books where she has worked since high school (in 2007). She is also responsible for our social media and keeps us on track and organized. Alexa has been on the American Booksellers Association Bookseller Advisory Board and is the past-chairman of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Awards Committee. Her favorite genres are Young Adult and Fantasy.

 

   Ann Branson:   Ann has always loved reading, and loves talking books which she has been doing at Beach Books since 2018! Ann enjoys cooking, acting and taking care of her house plants. Her favorite genre is Contemporary Fiction. She love coming of age stories and family dramas.

 

   Hilary Weigel:   Hilary joined the Beach Books family in 2015. She loves books, her dog, and her home. Her favorite genres are Fiction, Science Fiction and Memoir. She also enjoys reading about science and nature. She loves stories that challenge her perception of reality; especially stories that give her a new point of view. The best stories are the ones that move her emotionally and teach her something new.

 

  Mikah Whittaker: Mikah joined Beach Books after an impromptu decision to move to Seaside in 2022.They love to read Science Fiction, graphic novels, and any genre with queer characters. When not helping people find their next favorite book, Mikah can be found reading, writing, playing video games, and getting ridiculously excited about the weird science of marine life.