Build Your Own Fairytale
If life feels like it's not the "happily ever after" you were expecting, you've come to the right place!
Around here, you'll hear from women who have paved their own way, outside traditional 9-5s. Together, we'll learn from their journeys and insights so that we can take steps toward building our own fairytales.
Build Your Own Fairytale
Turning Fear Into Fuel: How a Health Scare Sparked Charity Alyse’s Mobile Bookshop Dream
Text Kristen your thoughts or feedback about the show
Author and entrepreneur Charity Alyse shares the heartwarming story behind Austen’s Shelf, her tiny bookshop on wheels — a Jane Austen–inspired mobile bookstore bringing literary magic to communities across New Jersey.
After a health scare reminded her that “someday” isn’t guaranteed, Charity decided to stop waiting and start building. Within weeks, she and her husband transformed a simple trailer into a charming, book-filled escape — complete with wallpaper, shelves, and the warmth of Jane Austen’s parlor.
In this episode, Charity shares ALL the details of learning how to run a bookstore — budgeting, inventory, and the steep logistics of transporting and setting up hundreds of books. She also shares the lessons she’s learned about knowing your audience, building community, and staying calm when everything goes sideways (including losing the keys to her bookshop on launch day).
Her story is a beautiful reminder that courage, curiosity, and persistence can turn even life’s scariest moments into something extraordinary — and that sometimes, the fairytale begins when you stop waiting for “someday.”
Connect with Charity at austensshelf.com or on Instagram (@austensshelf | @charityalyse)
🎁 January Giveaway: 1-Year 17hats Membership + 1:1 Support
I’m partnering with 17hats to give away a 1-year membership (open to new and existing users), plus a private 1:1 strategy session with me to help simplify your systems and create breathing room again.
✨ Entries close January 25, 2026.
