An inspiring true story about losing your place, finding your purpose, and building a community one book at a time.

Wendy Welch and her husband had always dreamed of owning a bookstore, so when they left their high-octane jobs for a simpler life in an Appalachian coal town, they seized an unexpected opportunity to pursue their dream. The only problems? A declining U.S. economy, a small town with no industry, and the advent of the e-book. They also had no idea how to run a bookstore. Against all odds, but with optimism, the help of their Virginian mountain community, and an abiding love for books, they succeeded in establishing more than a thriving business - they built a community.

The Little Bookstore of Big Stone Gap is the story of the little bookstore that could: how two people, two cats, two dogs, and thirty-eight thousand books helped a small town find its heart. It is a tale of people and books, and how together they create community.

WENDY WELCH and her husband, Scottish folksinger Jack Beck, own and operate Tales of the Lonesome Pine Used Books in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Wendy has a Ph.D. om ethnography, fosters shelter animals, and is one of the world’s fastest crocheters. This is a good thing because it means she is able to sneak in some crafting time between teaching college courses on culture and public health, running special events at the shop, writing about stuff, and chasing kittens out of roads. Visit Wendy's blog at www.wendywelchbigstonegap.wordpress.com