Audrey: The BookBook
“Why not a bus?”
For Audrey, books and teaching have always been intertwined. She’s a high school Spanish teacher who loves languages and culture, but the dream of opening a bookstore had been a thought for as long as she can remember. The idea of a bookstore, especially one that combines community with a love of books, was her ultimate dream.
Audrey initially felt like it was impossible to turn her dream into a career. But after finding her passion project through The BookBook, she never looked back. Her mobile bookstore allows her to explore different towns, share her love for books, and connect with people across the country.
The Path to Bookselling
Her first idea was to use a trailer, but after looking at different sizes and options, she stumbled upon an unexpected obstacle—her car didn’t have a trailer hitch! After that, she thought, “Why not a bus?” As a high school teacher, she got the idea from a friend, and although she’d never renovated anything before, she was inspired to give it a try.
She found a school bus up for auction, a 21-foot bus used for students with special needs, which became her canvas. The renovation process was both intimidating and empowering. Audrey learned to remove old seats, flooring, accessibility features, and even rewired lights and speakers. Through the process, Audrey was able to gain confidence in a number of building skills to get the bus to a place she felt good about.
Audrey drew inspiration from other mobile bookstore owners like the team behind “Saint Rita’s Traveling Bookstore” and used many YouTube videos to learn various skills from. Every milestone brought her pride and joy as she saw the bookstore take shape.
Representation and Inclusiveness
One of Audrey’s key principles when curating her book selection is to ensure that every book aligns with her personal values. She believes in selling books that represent people authentically, without selling titles that conflict with her political and moral beliefs.
The BookBook features sections dedicated to women, sisterhood, and motherhood—reflecting the powerful influence the women in her life have had on her. In addition, she stocks diverse categories like sci-fi and fantasy, bookseller recommendations, queer literature, books in translation, and neurodivergent characters. Audrey’s goal is to ensure that her book selections allow people to both see themselves in literature and learn about others.
She also shared a particularly affirming experience during The BookBook’s first event, where the community showed overwhelming excitement for her bookstore. It was a moment where she realized how much people valued what she created.
Earliest Book Memories
Audrey's love for reading started young. She remembers reading The Hobbit as a child, curled up in her mother’s bed alongside her sisters. The story's magic and adventure captivated her, setting the stage for a lifelong love of books. As she grew older, another favorite was The Two Princes of Bamarre—a story about two sisters that has stayed with her ever since.
Advice for Aspiring Business Owners
Audrey has one piece of advice: “Just do it.” She recommends researching thoroughly and reaching out to others in the industry for guidance. A strong support system has been crucial for her, from her personal life to the community around her project. According to Audrey, “If what you’re doing is good, the community will be there for you.”
Audrey's journey is a testament to following your passion and creating something meaningful that brings people together. We’re so excited to feature her story and to see how The BookBook will continue to grow and inspire others. You can find the bus at local events, coffee shop pop-ups, craft fairs, and music festivals like Fern Fest—a women’s festival where Audrey's selection exclusively featured books written by women.
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For updates check out Audrey’s Instagram or TikTok accounts linked below!
