Our Staff
Jill
I am one of the owners and have worked at the bookstore since 1972. My daughter, Heather, came to work with me everyday until she started school. Now Heather works here and each of her 3 boys have come to work with her. It has been a great atmosphere to raise 4 children who are all book lovers.
I am an avid reader and cannot imagine a better job than mine! A few of my favorite things about the bookstore are: helping customers find just the book they are looking for, turning customers on to new authors I think they will like, keeping the stock in alphabetical order by name and title, and seeing what new books come into the store every day. I especially enjoy seeing customers come in the store that I have known for over forty years.
I am a mystery buff and enjoy reading Michael Connelly, Sue Grafton, Lee Child, John Sanford, Robert Parker, Robert Crais, David Baldacci, Harlan Coben, J.A. Jance, Jonathan Kellerman, Anne Perry, Jacqueline Winspear, Henning Mankell, Ridley Pearson, and Janet Evanovich, when I want a good laugh.
Other favorites are: Anne Lamott, Elizabeth Berg, Barbara Kingsolver, Anne Tyler, and Margaret Atwood.
On a personal note, besides reading, I enjoy spending time with my grandsons, walking, hiking, traveling, and I have recently taken up bocce ball and disc golf.
I am an avid reader and cannot imagine a better job than mine! A few of my favorite things about the bookstore are: helping customers find just the book they are looking for, turning customers on to new authors I think they will like, keeping the stock in alphabetical order by name and title, and seeing what new books come into the store every day. I especially enjoy seeing customers come in the store that I have known for over forty years.
I am a mystery buff and enjoy reading Michael Connelly, Sue Grafton, Lee Child, John Sanford, Robert Parker, Robert Crais, David Baldacci, Harlan Coben, J.A. Jance, Jonathan Kellerman, Anne Perry, Jacqueline Winspear, Henning Mankell, Ridley Pearson, and Janet Evanovich, when I want a good laugh.
Other favorites are: Anne Lamott, Elizabeth Berg, Barbara Kingsolver, Anne Tyler, and Margaret Atwood.
On a personal note, besides reading, I enjoy spending time with my grandsons, walking, hiking, traveling, and I have recently taken up bocce ball and disc golf.
Howard
Hi! I have had the incredible opportunity to be in partnership with my ex-wife (Jill) and my daughter (Heather) for 40 plus years. I am of the opinion that 99.9% of the success of Paperbacks Unlimited is the result of my partners along with our fantastic employees. I have managed to do the accounting and maintenance but my input pales in comparison to theirs. I love my job, and I look forward to going to the store.
I am a Virgo so my attention to detail is perhaps my main forte. This has served me well in my hobby of Model Railroading. I always joke “if it is a miniature I will assemble it and paint it”. I really do not care what it is. I just love to build and paint models. Growing up in upstate New York I had the winter to build and paint but the summer saw me out on the lake boating and water skiing.
People have many ways to relax. Some meditate, exercise or even shop. All I have to do is go into my studio and all is right with the world. I share this with my partner Mary Ann and 6 wonderful kitties to keep us on our toes.
I am a Virgo so my attention to detail is perhaps my main forte. This has served me well in my hobby of Model Railroading. I always joke “if it is a miniature I will assemble it and paint it”. I really do not care what it is. I just love to build and paint models. Growing up in upstate New York I had the winter to build and paint but the summer saw me out on the lake boating and water skiing.
People have many ways to relax. Some meditate, exercise or even shop. All I have to do is go into my studio and all is right with the world. I share this with my partner Mary Ann and 6 wonderful kitties to keep us on our toes.
Heather
I was 2 years old when my parents purchased Dick's Books and Paperbacks Unlimited was born. I got to go to work with my Mom and was read to every day. In 1978, Dad, who had been working in computer programming at the County found out he was going to start having to wear a tie to work. Unhappy with that idea, Dad decided to open a second store in Petaluma. I would often go to work with Dad and get to “work” for the day. This would usually entail working for an hour or two, getting lunch and ending up at the movie theater.
I grew up, went to college and started my career in Recreation & Parks. Quickly realizing that I didn't want to spend my life in different parks, dependent upon the season, I soon moved to working at the bookstore and working with Four Winds Rope Course. I always knew that I would end up working at the store and was happy to be working with my Mom & Dad. At Four Winds I had many great experiences & met my husband, Dale, a Movement Teacher at a Waldorf School in Sebastopol. Dale and I got married in 2002 and had 3 boys, Drake (2003), Lance (2006) and Thane (2011). In 2013 we bought our home (a fixer upper) and now spend most of our time doing projects around the house, hiking with our 3 boys and just trying to have some down time!
I have been working full time at the bookstore since 1995 and I handle all of the Human Resources for the business.
I read Mysteries, Paranormal/Fantasy, General Fiction and some Memoirs. I love helping customers find books they will be interested in and find great satisfaction in figuring out what a customer is looking for with just a few clues!
I grew up, went to college and started my career in Recreation & Parks. Quickly realizing that I didn't want to spend my life in different parks, dependent upon the season, I soon moved to working at the bookstore and working with Four Winds Rope Course. I always knew that I would end up working at the store and was happy to be working with my Mom & Dad. At Four Winds I had many great experiences & met my husband, Dale, a Movement Teacher at a Waldorf School in Sebastopol. Dale and I got married in 2002 and had 3 boys, Drake (2003), Lance (2006) and Thane (2011). In 2013 we bought our home (a fixer upper) and now spend most of our time doing projects around the house, hiking with our 3 boys and just trying to have some down time!
I have been working full time at the bookstore since 1995 and I handle all of the Human Resources for the business.
I read Mysteries, Paranormal/Fantasy, General Fiction and some Memoirs. I love helping customers find books they will be interested in and find great satisfaction in figuring out what a customer is looking for with just a few clues!
Terry
I started working at Paperbacks Unlimited in 2001, and ever since I have gained an almost encyclopedic amount of knowledge about books, while constantly learning new things. Whenever a tech problem pops up around the store I’m the first person asked to help solve it.
In my off time I enjoy photography, cooking and baking, going on adventures, and of course reading! I live with my fiancé Valerie and my cat Voltairine.
My reading style is pretty eclectic, jumping from nonfiction to fiction, with an eye for quirky authors, though more often than not I’m reading a science fiction novel. Some of my favorite authors are Christopher Moore, Margaret Atwood, George R. R. Martin, Kim Stanley Robinson, and John Green.
In my off time I enjoy photography, cooking and baking, going on adventures, and of course reading! I live with my fiancé Valerie and my cat Voltairine.
My reading style is pretty eclectic, jumping from nonfiction to fiction, with an eye for quirky authors, though more often than not I’m reading a science fiction novel. Some of my favorite authors are Christopher Moore, Margaret Atwood, George R. R. Martin, Kim Stanley Robinson, and John Green.
Connie
Books, a cat, kids, great people to work with and for has made the last fifteen years fly by. Every day we have the great pleasure of seeing the trade ins that our customers bring to us which feels like Christmas every day and of helping them find something else to read. I love hearing about the books that they love and sharing my own favorites with them.
I have been a reader all my life and enjoy mostly non-fiction, contemporary fiction and classics. I also have some favorite mystery authors. I love that everyone who works here has a different taste which makes our staff pics shelf very interesting and eclectic.
I have been a reader all my life and enjoy mostly non-fiction, contemporary fiction and classics. I also have some favorite mystery authors. I love that everyone who works here has a different taste which makes our staff pics shelf very interesting and eclectic.
Shirley
As a customer of the Bookstore for over 20 years it is awesome to be working here! After many years as a bookkeeper my job was consolidated to another city. One day while job hunting I came in to buy some books and just happened to ask if they had any openings. To my surprise they were in the middle of interviewing for a position. Here I am many years later (that was in 2009)!
I love to interact with the customers and help them find books. My co-workers and bosses are a joy to work with.
I enjoy walking at Spring Lake and reading. My favorite authors include JD Robb, Lee Child, Julie Garwood, Irene Harmon, and Dee Henderson.
Denise
My love of books and reading started at an early age. I can recall hiding under my covers with a flashlight so my mom wouldn't know I was up past my bedtime. Reading was my escape and brought me to happier places.
I retired from the phone company after 31 years, and one day while shopping at Paperbacks Unlimited I saw their "help wanted" sign. That was 4 years ago and this is the best job I've ever had. The crew here is awesome. Thank you Jill, Howie, and Heather!
I retired from the phone company after 31 years, and one day while shopping at Paperbacks Unlimited I saw their "help wanted" sign. That was 4 years ago and this is the best job I've ever had. The crew here is awesome. Thank you Jill, Howie, and Heather!