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Most people say they want more community. Will and Paula DeBoard actually built it...one shelf at a time...by opening Bookish Modesto, an independent bookstore in Modesto, California, at a time when most people think bookstores are disappearing. During this interview, I kept coming back to the same idea: books don’t just sell stories. They create an environment where people start recognizing and reconnecting with each other.

We talk about the moment their bookstore idea stopped being a fun dinner conversation and became a real plan, along with the practical reality of starting a small business without a traditional retail background. Paula shares how she learned the behind-the-scenes work—inventory, systems, all of it—while Will gets candid about what it felt like to take a leap after a lifetime of steady work.

From there, we go straight at the Amazon question: What does a local bookstore provides that online shopping never will? The answer might surprise you. Events, story times, local authors, and a store with an actual point of view.

If you’ve been thinking about a midlife pivot, building something local, or investing in community, this one will resonate.

If you enjoy the conversation, send me a voicemail/text, subscribe to The Mango Times, share it with a friend who loves books, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

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Guest Information
Paula and Will DeBoard  are the founders of Bookish Modesto, an independent bookstore in Modesto’s college area. Leaving more traditional career paths, they built a space centered on books, community, and connection—now a gathering place for readers, writers, and neighbors looking for something more than just a transaction.

Resources and Links
Facebook: Bookish Modesto
Website: Bookish Modesto

Music used in this episode:
All music in this episode is licensed for use through Epidemic Sound.

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