An Evening with Author, Podcaster and Bookstore Owner, Annie B. Jones

Your ticket to the event includes a paperback copy of "Ordinary Time" along with beverages and light dessert. Athena Books is thrilled to welcome Annie B. Jones, author of Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put, host of the beloved From the Front Porch podcast, and owner of independent bookstore The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia. Join us for a conversation about Ordinary Time, recently released in paperback, and the ideas at the heart of Annie’s book: the power of community, the beauty hidden in everyday life, and what it means to choose to stay. We’ll also get into the very real joys (and occasional woes!) of owning an independent bookstore. Annie once imagined adulthood would bring a high-powered career, life in a bustling city, and adventures in far-flung places. Instead, she found herself building a quieter life in the same small Southern town - staying in her marriage, remaining connected to a faith she sometimes struggled to recognize, and running an independent bookstore as the world shifted toward digital retailers. Over time, Annie began to see that staying could itself be a courageous, even radical, choice. Through reflections on friendship, marriage, faith, goodbyes, and small-town life, Ordinary Time challenges the idea that only loud or conventionally adventurous lives matter. Come meet Annie, hear her stories, talk books and bookstores, and celebrate the meaningful lives and communities we build by staying connected. We look forward to seeing you then! Please note: Doors open at 6:30pm and the event begins at 7pm. Please plan to arrive on time so you can fully enjoy the evening. To help preserve the intimate atmosphere, doors will close at 7:15pm, and we won’t be able to admit guests after that time. Thank you so much for your understanding.