YAKIMA, Wash. – Anne Zastrow has loved reading for as long as she can remember. The wheels started spinning for Zastrow. She created a business back in December called the Traveling Book Bus.
Zastrow has been working with books for over eight years and enjoys her work.
“The part that I love the most is meeting authors, meeting readers, talking to them, and going to events,” Zastrow said. “I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to get around and meet people.”
Zastrow said she started this business because she thought it was needed in the community.
“I think Yakima is big enough to handle something else,” she said. “I love reading romance and fantasy, and I wanted to see more of that.”
According to Zastrow, she’s made friends along the way.
Ashley Elkin is one of them, and she said this is the fourth time she’s come to the bus.
“She (Zastrow) always has something in stock that helps grab my attention,” said Elkin. “She’s super knowledgeable about the books that she has.”
Elkin said she grew up in Yakima and lived in Orlando, FL. She stated she moved back because she wanted to raise her daughter in the place she grew up.
Elkin said between her time in Orlando and Yakima, she’d never seen anything like this.
“It’s a great way to build community,” she said. “The fact that she also goes to different areas around town. I think it’s good exposure. Just being in a town where community is everything. I think it just helps facilitate that and makes us a stronger community.”
Zastrow said the community’s support makes the bus all worth it.
Zastrow plans to make a trip to the Tri-Cities soon to share her love of reading.
