Watford City, N.D. – In a creative twist on retirement planning, longtime resident Taryn Beers used her savings to purchase and remodel a 1990s school bus she found on Facebook Marketplace. The result is “Well Read,” a mobile bookstore that now cruises the streets of Watford City offering a diverse selection of titles.
From retirement fund to rolling library
Beers, a self‑described book lover, said she never imagined she would be driving a school bus. “I wanted to make it a traveling bookstore, a book bus,” she explained. After cashing out her retirement account, she and her sister‑in‑law spent the summer painting the exterior and interior, installing sturdy bookshelves, and stocking the vehicle with an eclectic mix of genres.
A shelf‑full of choices
“I have thriller, romance, self‑help, cookbooks, dark romance, fantasy, and romantasy,” Beers said, noting that romance novels are her personal favorite. “I’m a sucker for a good love story,” she added, but she also makes a point to include other categories so she can serve a broad audience. The bus now features a dedicated kids’ section and a used‑book area, which Beers likens to the bus itself – both still have plenty of life left.
Bringing books to the community
Well Read is more than a novelty; it’s a community‑focused venture aimed at increasing access to reading material in a region where brick‑and‑mortar bookstores are scarce. “I love reading, and I love sharing that love with others,” Beers said. She hopes the mobile format will reach neighborhoods, schools, and events that might not otherwise have easy access to a wide range of books.
Future plans
For now, the bus stays close to Watford City, but Beers says she plans to expand her routes as she becomes more comfortable behind the wheel. She invites residents to follow Well Read on Facebook and Instagram to learn where the book bus will be parked next.
Supporting local entrepreneurship
Beers’ project highlights the entrepreneurial spirit thriving in the Bakken region. By investing personal savings into a unique business model, she demonstrates how creativity and a love of literature can combine to serve the community while creating a modest economic venture.
For updates on Well Read’s schedule and inventory, visit the Facebook page Well Read or the Instagram profile @wellreadbus.
Original reporting: KFYR-TV Bismarck (news) — read the source article.
