Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Austin.
Hi Megan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When I went to college I was very certain that I knew what I wanted to do. I was going to be a photographer with the back up plan of going into graphic design. So I worked my way through school at the MTSU library for 6 years while I earned my degree. By the time I graduated I left the library to become a bookseller and graduated with a BFA and a very part time job as a front end designer for a marketing company all while photographing weddings at the same time.
Long story short, I burned out. I realized that while I love being creative, I didn’t necessarily enjoy photographing weddings. Then when I moved on to a corporate design job, I had my daughter and everything changed. I started my own design studio and have run it for the past 7 years. I’ve always had a heart for design, but I wouldn’t call it my passion. Reading and talking about books has always been a huge part of my life ever since I was young. It has been my source of escape, comfort, and it is a way that I have connected with some of my best friends (and even how I met my husband of almost 10 years!!)
In January of 2026 I decided that I wanted to feel more passionate about my work because I was getting tired of being stuck behind a computer every single day. I tried diving into many hobbies to figure out what that looked like, but my thoughts landed on opening up a mobile book trailer. I’d seen people wrapping bookish “blind dates” on socials so I thought I would start there and progress if it went well. So I wrapped 15 blind dates and two weeks later sold 10 of them online. I loved it, and saw an opening for a local market and decided to try it out. I did two weekends at the market and learned a lot about how challenging it is to have books outdoors but I loved meeting local book lovers and talking about books. Thankfully my friend Erin from The Village Forager had closed her coffee shop and had space for me to pop up in. By then we had started getting a lot of attention online and the people of Mt. Juliet were excited about the idea of having a local bookstore, even if it was tiny. Things have grown wildly since then.
In May the owner of a local indoor playground reached out to me and let me know she had a spare unit open and if I wanted to rent it out, it was available. I immediately knew this was the right direction to go. While the dream of a mobile bookstore is what started it all – having an actual bookstore space is going to work so much better for our family. My daughter is now school-aged and is homeschooled and autistic, so I’ve been loving planning to build out a space that will be safe and accommodating for her and other neurodivergent children in the community.
We’re moving into our new space officially on August 31st and will be opening Mt. Juliet’s only independent bookstore in late September or early October.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been smooth, but thankfully I’ve had so much help along the way.
As someone who has run a service based business for so long, navigating to a product-based business has been a wild shift. But our biggest challenge has been raising funds for our storefront. While I wish I could fully fund the building myself, I can’t. So I was encouraged by friends and people in the community to crowdfund for our space so we could open quicker. People have been so incredibly supportive, but as some who naturally seeks to help (and is also a people-pleaser), it’s been really difficult for me to keep sharing about our crowdfunding campaign because we’re in such an awful time economically. It has been encouraging to me to see people excited about what we’re doing and helping where they can, but we still have a lot of money left to raise to put into renovating the building we’re moving into.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The Open Shelf Books is a new and used bookstore based in Mt. Juliet, TN. We are Mt. Juliet’s only independent bookstore and we are woman and neurodivergent owned.
We are creating a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive space where every book lover belongs. A place to find your next favorite read, attend community events, and connect with your neighbors over a shared love of books.
I am most proud of the fact that we are already building a strong community of book lovers and we want to continue to foster that once our space is opened.
We also have a goal once we officially open our store front to start a free book program for middle schoolers and high schoolers to encourage a love of reading beyond the elementary years.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I have had so many incredible cheerleaders and helpers along the way.
Erin from The Village Forager has allowed me to take up a residency in her store for about two months and has been such a huge cheerleader for my business. None of this could’ve progressed in the way it has without her encouragement, advice, and friendship along the way.
Katrina from Nido for reaching out and answering the million questions that I have had through this process of opening a storefront.
Vanessa from Every Tasty Thing for coming to me with the idea for a bake sale to help the funding of my building. Not only is she an incredible and kind friend (who has listened to me stress out so many times), but she is such a wonderful and generous business owner. The same goes for Crystal of Literary Flour and Niki from Ready Teddy’s.
My best friend Amy, who literally has flown in from Texas to help me with events and has been cheering me on since before I started this (a honestly was one of the two people who pushed me to try).
My sister Morgan, who also encouraged me starting this business and has been cheering me on from afar!
Luke and E – my family and my biggest support system who I couldn’t do any of this without. I love you both so very much.
None of this would be a reality without their help or encouragement. I lack the words to truly describe how grateful I am.
Also I have to give a special shoutout to the local authors and bookish community who have welcomed me with open arms. You all are amazing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://openshelfbooks.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theopenshelfbooks
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586000618663
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganraustin/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@openshelfbooks?lang=en
