Wendy Sattler and her concept for Sneaky Fox Books was the winner among 22 hopefuls who vied for the chance to open their own store in Australia's only International Booktown complete with fittings, bookcases, some stock, a computer with appropriate software, signage, and retail paraphernalia.

The owners of the main street bookshop, together with Creative Clunes, decided to offer the bookshop to the right person as part of cementing the town's burgeoning reputation as an International Booktown.

Chair of Creative Clunes, Dr Tess Brady, said Ms Sattler came with more than six years' experience in managing a bookstore in nearby Castlemaine.

"Sneaky Fox Books' offering of mostly new fiction books, including a wide range for children, brings something a little bit different to the town's current mix of largely second-hand and collectable bookshops," Dr Brady said.

Ms Sattler said the opening a bookstore was something she had wanted to achieve for many years.

"My father was the one who actually told me about the opportunity when he heard about it on the news and thought I would be a suitable candidate," Ms Sattler said.

"I come from a family of lovers of literature and literacy. My mother is a teacher who specialises in literacy and reading programmes and my father has an extensive collection of books, which is where my love of words and reading began.

"Clunes is a very dynamic little town and I'm extremely excited to become part of the community here. The shop itself is charming and everything I'd hoped.

"It operated as a bookstore in the 1870s, and I'm happy to be continuing the tradition."

Sneaky Fox Books is one of seven bookstores operating in the historic township, where a number of other traders also offer books as part of their stock mix. It is located at 31 Fraser Street and opens Thursday to Sunday 10am to 5pm.