Liosuelo

Books and reading have always played a major role in my life. Some of my earliest memories with my mother are going to the bookstore. I was the girl who brought her entire Babysitters Club collection to Panama for a whole summer, and later the nearly 30 year old who cried her eyes out when her parents accidentally donated that same coveted collection to the P.S. 9 library around the corner from our house.

Reading is my escape, my favorite place to be. It is fun, it sparks adventure, and it is a huge part of my identity. When I moved to Tulsa, I would walk past my local independent bookstore and fawn over the books through the window. Sometimes I would go inside and just do a slow loop through the aisles. Simply being around books is comforting.

When a job opened up around March, I was looking for something that would help me feel more integrated into the community. I also felt a small voice say, “you should apply,” but insecurity quickly followed. I am a consultant. I work with spreadsheets and build processes. I can’t be a bookseller. I also did not feel smart enough. People who work with books dedicate their whole lives to them, right?

A few months passed, and I still felt like I wanted something meaningful to do with my extra time. I walked into the bookstore one day and asked at the front desk. They said they were not hiring, but to keep an eye on their social media.

Then another small voice suggested I reach out to the CEO directly. Maybe I could work with the bookstore in some other way. I work with mission-driven companies professionally, so perhaps there was contract work I could do. I sent a long email to the manager and CEO explaining who I was.

Surprisingly, the manager, Bettina, got back to me with a warm message saying they were not hiring, but thanking me for reaching out. I forgot about it after that. I stored it in the place where I keep all the things I hope will happen, but likely never will.

Then November rolled around, and I was feeling low on joy. The holidays are always tough for me. One day I opened my email and saw a message from Bettina saying they were hiring and that she wanted me to know. Long story short, after three interviews, I got the position.

For the past few months, I have been a part-time bookseller. I work only 10 to 12 hours a week, in between my consulting schedule. And yet, I feel so happy and fulfilled by this role. I look forward to my shifts. The smell of books, which I learned even exists as a perfume, is like an instant hit of dopamine. I have been learning the ins and outs of running a bookstore, and it takes an incredible amount of work and care. There is an art to how Magic City is able to thrive and grow.

There are almost 500 new books released every week. That feels amazing as a writer, because maybe there is a place for me in the publishing world. It is also phenomenal as a reader, because there is a practically limitless number of stories waiting to be discovered.

I have never been so happy organizing books alphabetically, stamping bags, giving recommendations, dusting shelves, shelving books, placing special orders for customers, and even cleaning the bathrooms.

2025 was a tough year in many ways. But the highlight was this unexpected role, one I wish I had said yes to much earlier.