Farewell Jacobsen's Books

​Once upon a time…
 
Because isn’t that how all the best stories start? With once upon a time?
 
Once upon a time, two young mothers took gambles on their dreams. They created businesses in a quaint little downtown in a quaint little city called Hillsboro. One of these young ladies—we’ll call her Tonya—opened a soap and lotion business (Rustling Sage) and sold her wares in a charming boutique aptly named The Artfull Garden. The other young lady—we’ll call her Tina—opened a bookstore from the inventory she had amassed in her online bookselling.
 
This legendary bookstore was known as Jacobsen’s Books & More.

​Kay, the owner of The Artfull Garden, suggested to Tonya that she would be wonderful friends with Tina as they were both in the same time of life and both loved books. Tonya dug in her heels. Tonya did not like being told who she might and might not get on with. (Tonya was much feistier in those days!)
 
“You will really love her!”
 
“Will not.”
 
“Will, too.”
 
“Will not.”
 
“Will, too.”

​But finally it came to pass that Tonya accomplished her dream: she published her first book. Blushing and stuttering, she approached Tina about carrying this little blue tome in her shop. Tina was gracious and kind and welcomed Tonya and her little blue tome with open arms. With help from Kay, she and Tonya planned out the book launch for this book, SPECTRE OF INTENTION, and hosted it in Kay’s shop.
 
It was a wonderful success.

​This was not the only wild scheme that Tina would agree to over the years. (Tonya is full of those. But to be fair, so is Tina!) As Tina grew and developed her business and her outreach into the community, Tonya closed down Rustling Sage and turned her focus to book publishing, issuing three more tomes with Tina as her home bookstore for book launches, writing classes, literacy fundraisers, and a two-year author reading series. Tina even gave Tonya a key to the shop, she was there so often!
 
When it became apparent that Jacobsen’s had truly become a part of the Hillsboro community and needed more event space, Tonya and her family (along with their friend Brad Cameron) came down after hours and moved bookshelves, furniture, and books – lots of them. Tonya and Tina even snuck out of the motherly duties one night and redecorated the front end of the bookstore!

Overall, it is estimated that together Tonya and Tina coordinated nearly fifty events together in their five-year run as partners in crime. (Pictures below.) Running your own business, whether publishing or bookselling, is always an emotional rollercoaster. It was invaluable to have someone with whom to share the ride. But the bookselling industry has been in a tough place these last few years and it looks like that ride has finally come to an end. Tonya-and-Tina will now become Tonya and Tina (even though no one is quite sure which name belongs to whom).

​So farewell to my partner-in-crime.
 
And hello to my dear, dear friend and hello to the endless possibilities that lay before a brilliant, ambitious woman with dreams enough to build a community on!
 
“You will really love her!”
 
“Will not.”
 
“Will, too.”
 
“Will not.”
 
“Will, too.”
 
“Yeah, Kay. You are right. I really, really will.”