A Bookshop of My Own: The Diary of Opening a Used Bookstore

The Wheel of Fortune

In this episode, something shifts. Whether or not I get the bookstore I’ve been pursuing, I realize I’m doing this—I’m going to open a used bookshop.
The morning starts with uncertainty, so I pull a tarot card to help ground myself in intuition. I get The Wheel of Fortune, and the message couldn’t be clearer: what’s meant for me will find me. By the afternoon, I’ve made up my mind to reach out directly to the owners and finally get some clarity about the business sale.
There are cats everywhere in this episode (of course), and I start thinking about the kind of culture I want to create—using the VIA Character Strengths framework (viacharacter.org) to build a workplace rooted in purpose, values, and authenticity. I talk about systems, handbooks, and the quiet power of getting organized for what’s next.
🐦‍🔥 Follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop continues to rise—subscribe and share (!) to A Bookshop of My Own and get updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com

The Struggle is Real...

In this episode, I’m still waiting — and waiting — to hear back about my offer to buy the used bookstore. What begins as cautious optimism turns into frustration as the commercial agent goes completely MIA.
I talk about the endless email maze, a little numerology (because sometimes you need signs when logic fails), and my growing decision to reach out directly to the owners after weeks of silence. Along the way, I reflect on Rebel Bookseller: How to Improvise Your Own Indie Store and Beat Back the Chains by Andrew Laties, a book that helped me feel less alone in the struggle.
With Inauguration Day approaching, I find myself thinking about what it means to stand for free speech and sustainability — and how creating a green, community-focused bookstore can be its own quiet form of resistance.
🕊️ Follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop continues to unfold — subscribe to A Bookshop of My Own and get updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com.

The Intentions

In this episode, I step back from the chaos of logistics to look inward — developing my why for opening a used bookstore. I make lists of what I’m good at versus what I actually enjoy, what brings me joy, and what I truly need.
Through that process, I talk about Self-Determination Theory and how understanding autonomy, competence, and relatedness helps me find motivation on hard days. There’s also an unplanned kitten cameo — because of course there is.
This episode is about honoring intention while being realistic about your own abilities — learning that sometimes what you can do isn’t what you want to build a life around.
🕊️ Follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop takes shape — subscribe to A Bookshop of My Own and get updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com.

The Quagmire and the Pause

In this episode, I dive into the part of the story no one glamorizes — the logistical nightmare of trying to buy an existing used bookstore. Referrals, agents, lawyers, endless emails — it all turned into a quagmire that left me questioning whether the deal was even meant to happen.
But somewhere in the waiting, I found something unexpected: gratitude. The slow timing gave me space to shore up my life for the changes that were coming, and to start trusting that maybe everything was unfolding exactly as it should.
🐦‍🔥 Want to follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop takes shape?Subscribe to A Bookshop of My Own and get updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com

Chapter 1: The Story Begins...

In this first full episode, I share the story behind A Bookshop of My Own — how I grew up surrounded by small business life, why bookstores have always felt like home, and why they matter so deeply to all kinds of people.
This is the backstory of how it all started: the moment I decided to write an offer letter to buy an existing used bookstore, what that process looked like, and why it set me on the path toward creating my own.
It’s personal, it’s honest, (and it’s explicit sorry!) — because this story deserves to be told exactly as it happened
Want to follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop comes to life?Subscribe to this podcast, and sign up for updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com

Prologue: The Story Behind A Bookshop of My Own

Before the shelves are built, before the grand opening, there’s a story: I thought I was going to buy an existing used bookstore...that didn’t work out. So instead, I decided to open one of my own.
This preview episode introduces A Bookshop of My Own, a diary-style podcast documenting the messy, hopeful, behind-the-scenes journey of starting a used bookstore from scratch.