<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1851175/open_sms">Send us a text</a></p><p>Amanda stops by the show to discuss her dream of building a bookstore, Blind Date With a Book Boyfriend, and more.</p><p>****Side note - in my wrap up I mention that no harm that also included animals.****</p><p>*******</p><p>My love for reading began at a young age—curled up with a book, a fluffy blanket, a warm candle flickering nearby, and a cup of London Fog tea from Harney &amp; Sons in hand. There’s nothing quite like escaping into another world, especially a good dystopian novel (bonus points if it’s by Tahereh Mafi, my favorite author).</p><p>When I moved to Yuma, Arizona, in 2023, I was surprised to find how limited the local bookstore scene was. Aside from a small, soon-to-close shop downtown and the ever-reliable Barnes &amp; Noble, there weren’t many spaces for readers to gather, connect, or simply exist in the cozy, book-loving atmosphere I’d always craved.</p><p>That’s what inspired me to create Sage and Story—a place that’s more than just a bookstore. I wanted to offer the community a true literary haven: a welcoming, peaceful space to read, chat over tea, join a book club, or just browse without the pressure of big-name retail.</p><p>I started small, selling used books from home with a dream of one day opening a storefront. For now, it’s all about small steps and shared stories. By this time next year, I hope to be running Sage and Story from a cozy, shared space—turning a passion into a full-time purpose.</p><p>Sage &amp; Story is a cozy, community-minded bookstore dream growing in the heart of Yuma, Arizona.<br/> Rooted in the peaceful energy of the desert, we believe in the quiet power of books to inspire, heal, and connect.</p><p>What started as a small idea — a few donated books and a love for stories — is becoming a space where neighbors swap stories, slow down, and rediscover joy through reading.</p><p>We sell gently used books, and the goal to some day  build a reading space that&apos;s calm, inclusive, and full of soothing, cafe vibes. Whether you&apos;re a lifelong reader or just curious, you’re always welcome here.</p><p>*****</p><p>If you would like to contact the show about being a guest, please email us at [email protected]</p><p>Upcoming guests can be found: <a href='https://dmneedom.com/upcoming-guest'>https://dmneedom.com/upcoming-guest</a> </p><p><br/>Follow us on Social Media<br/>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/<br/>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom<br/><br/>Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi</p><p>©2025 Better To...Podcast with D. M. Needom</p><p><br/></p><p><a rel="payment" href="https://www.patreon.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom">Support the show</a></p>