In this episode, we’re joined by Shawn and Maile Smucker, the husband-and-wife team behind Nooks, a charming independent bookshop in Lancaster, PA. Maile is a writer, mother of six, and the day-to-day heart of the store, while Shawn is a seasoned author and ghostwriter with over 30 co-written books and five novels of his own. Together, they’re not only raising a big, beautiful family (including their Labrador, Winnie), but also building a literary haven for their community. We talk about the realities of running a small business, the magic of storytelling, and their journey as co-hosts of their own podcast, So, We Bought a Bookshop.

This conversation is full of warmth, creativity, and the kind of honesty that makes you want to follow your own crazy dream—bookshop or otherwise.