Hi All,
I don’t ask this often, but I’m asking now—I’d really appreciate your support. If you’re able, it matters.
I wanted to share something that's hit very close to home.
From the outside looking in, I understand that Texas carries a complicated reputation in the geopolitical world. I know that. But what I see, up close on the ground, in the day-to-day, it’s something else entirely—neighbors, small businesses, traditions, and communities showing up for one another when it matters most.
People are complicated, yes—but I carry a stubborn kind of hope. The kind that believes in progress, in community, in compassion for all people, and in building something better, even when it would be easier not to. Something worth fighting for.
This is one of those moments where that belief is put into practice.
A dear friend of mine, Sarah—someone who has poured so much of herself into her work and into this community—is going through something incredibly difficult right now. She’s one of those people who shows up for others without hesitation. The kind of person who builds things not just for herself, but for everyone around her.
And this week, it’s our turn to show up for her.
Lioness Books was just days away from moving into its new storefront. Everything was ready. The shelves, the inventory, the beginning of something long in the making.
And then, overnight, a fire changed everything.
It destroyed their inventory, books, furniture, custom shelves, and nearly everything they needed to open.
Today was supposed to be move-in day. The kind of day that feels like a milestone and a quiet celebration all at once—boxes coming in, shelves finding their place, the first real signs that something long imagined is finally becoming real.
Because this didn’t start with a storefront.
Sarah was an English teacher before she made the decision to take a leap on something bigger. She built Lioness Books from the ground up—starting with a trailer she renovated herself into a mobile bookstore, bringing books directly into the community and showing up, day after day, long before there were walls or a permanent address.
And over time, that work grew into something more.
What we’re talking about now—a 150-year-old house being carefully renovated into a bookstore—has been more than a year in the making. Every detail considered. Every step earned. The kind of work that happens slowly, steadily, often without anyone watching.
She saved. She showed up. She kept going. And now, after all of that, the finish line was finally in sight.
Today was supposed to be the day it all began to come together. But instead of moving in, she is spending the day alongside the same friends, neighbors, and members of her community, clearing ash and debris from what the fire left behind.
If you know Sarah, you know how much she’s poured into this community—creating space for readers, writers, and voices that deserve to be seen.
Local businesses are showing up (shoutout to Penny Royal Bakery 🤍), and we wanted to do the same.
We created a limited collection page—and $10 from every item will go directly to Lioness Books to help rebuild.
Because community isn’t something we talk about. It’s something we practice. It's what we're about.
If you’re able to support or share, it matters.
With care. 🤍
LINK: https://simplyedynandco.com/collections/pay-it-forward-lioness-bookstore