Almost a year ago now I chatted with Annie Jones, an independent bookshop owner — she owns The Bookshelf, right in the heart of beautiful Thomasville, Georgia.

In our chat, Annie shares what it was like to start off as a bookshop owner with zero business background, and the things she had to learn on the sales floor about things like managing a team, and deciding what her community liked — and didn’t like — to read.

At the end of the day, Annie’s focus is about how to keep the lights on doing something that she confesses is more work than she ever imagined, but wouldn’t trade for the world. I know you’ll love her.

Links From This Episode:

• Annie on Twitter
• The Bookshelf
• The Bookshelf on Instagram
• Annie’s podcast, From the Front Porch
• Tsh on Twitter & Instagram
• Myers-Briggs
• Crossing to Safety, by Wallace Stegner
• Wildwood, by Colin Meloy
• A Wrinkle in Time and Austin Family Chronicles, by Madeleine L’Engel
• The Ensemble, by Aja Gabel
• Yes, Please, by Amy Poehler
• October 20 (this weekend!), I’ll be at Nest Fest and at The Popcast Live — come say hi!
• Take our survey!
• Kindly leave a review
• Become a patron: Support this podcast + get access to my secret show
• Sign up for 5 Quick Things, the weekly email
• For any links and codes from our lovely sponsors, head here.

In the spirit of this episode—if you’d like to order one of her book recommendations, reach out to The Bookshelf!