A life made of books: Kim Nash on living her dream and the graft that made it possible
A catch‑up with an old friend left Cheryl Turner feeling newly inspired. Here’s how it happened.
What does it take to turn a love of books into a whole new life?
This was the question I put to Kim Nash when we caught up over a cuppa to talk about “living the dream”.
Let’s rewind to 2011. I was working with Kim in a mind‑numbing job. We were the naughty ones, like two sixth formers who didn’t do as we were told. For us, the only way to get through long days of answering phones, directing calls and greeting delivery drivers.
Often, we chatted about books we loved. We swapped fiction by Milly Johnson, Lucy Diamond and Carole Matthews: contemporary romance stories that whisked us to another world. We all need escapism.
Kim had the seed of an idea to start her own review blog, and before you could say “paperback”, Kim The Bookworm was born. Support from none other than Milly Johnson helped. Kim had contacted her as a fan. The leading UK romance writer replied: “You, lady, are the reason I write.”
Pre‑BookTok, book bloggers were a big deal. Kim gained traction quickly, with publishers sending new releases. Invites to events followed, where she met authors she’d long admired. Being recognised by Carole Matthews was an OMG moment, though imposter syndrome lingered. Did she belong in this world? Hell, yes dear reader. This was just the beginning.
Momentum built when London‑based publishing house Bookouture asked Kim to review a book by Midlands‑based Sue Watson. Ever savvy, she let them know she was available for freelance work — which led to a part‑time role, then full‑time. By the time she left, she was Author Community Director, having helped grow the team from a handful of people to nearly 60. She supported legendary Black Country crime writer Angela Marsons and had already built a reputation in office life and marketing for being straightforward, practical and refreshingly no‑nonsense. She’d earlier spent time with a team that supported clients across Cannock, Walsall, Dudley and Wolverhampton with PR.
Now came her time to go from pushing other people’s stories to telling her own.
While at Bookouture, Kim wrote her debut novel, Amazing Grace, in 2018. I asked how it felt to hold her own book. She beamed. “A dream come true. Unbelievable. Something that happens to other people, not me.
“I’m just a single mum from Cannock. Publishing is still very London‑centric,” she says.
Where does she find inspiration? She writes what she knows — a first rule of creative writing for many. Her eyes and ears are always on duty: snippets of conversation in cafés, on trains, in the supermarket can spark an idea. And there’s always the “What would you do if…?” game, a reliable way to kick‑start a storyline.
I’m fascinated by writing. It takes discipline. Kim recalls how her first two novels were written “on the hoof”, but as books three, four and five followed, she plotted more deliberately: shaping storylines, developing characters, inventing locations. To date, she has written 12 books.
It was surprising to learn that Kim still attends a creative writing group once a month. Yes, published authors still hone their craft. Who knew? And how brilliant.
Kim’s turning point came in the summer last year, when she realised she needed a new direction.
She helped out at Press Books, a small Hednesford independent bookshop and was immersed in a different side of the publishing world.
She confided she had three dreams: to be an author, to work in publishing and to own a bookshop. With the first two achieved, it was time to chase the third.
The next chapter was already forming.
With timing on her side, Kim was asked by Nancy, Press Books’ owner, if she would like to buy the business and it got her thinking. New premises were viewed, ideas grew, and on December 4, Kim picked up the keys. Press Books was sold and would move location and be rebranded as Fiction & Fairy Lights. But first…
What followed was the steepest learning curve she’d ever experienced: turning an empty shell into a warm, inviting space for creatives and book lovers. She gave herself an eight‑week timeframe, including the Christmas break.
Armed with power tools, delivery schedules and enormous lengths of timber, Kim got to work, sanding and varnishing for all she was worth. Books need shelves. Shelves don’t build themselves. She had plenty of helpers, but as Kim points out, your priority isn’t always theirs and pushing volunteers didn’t feel right.
Determined not to be set back by a snowy start to the year, Kim opened her doors on January 31. Asked about the leap from volunteer to bookshop owner and best‑selling author, Kim thought for a moment and smiled.
She told me she’d listened to a podcast and a guest said that you can’t wait until you’re 100% ready for something because you’re never going to know 100% of everything. But if you’re 75% there, you can work the rest out as you go along. This really hit home.
The same podcaster said to ask yourself “if not now when?” And for Kim that was what she calls ‘the kick up the backside’ she needed to take that leap of faith.
At Fiction & Fairy Lights, it was refreshing to see customers browse, order a coffee and buy books before leaving. Kim’s theory is that many people are “deviced out” and want to return to reading real books. Made of paper. Amen to that!
So, is Kim living the dream?
She spends her days in her bookshop, meeting new people, listening to customers talk about what they’re reading. She hosts reading events and crafting sessions in the space above the shop. She has created a genuine community hub. What she’s not doing is wafting around in a kaftan, as some imagine. Running a business is hard work — but finding joy in life matters.
In Kim’s words, with a wry smile: “Do we ever really know what the dream is?”
Any closing wisdom, Kim, before I leave you to lock up the shop?
“Get on with it. You’ll never be an author if you don’t write the book.”
There it is again, her straightforward, no‑nonsense approach that has served her so well.
And she’s right. How can I argue with these wise words? How many of us have said we’d love to write a book but never seem to get round to it, choosing the sofa and the TV remote instead?
As I leave Kim to lock up, I am outwardly smiling to the good people of Hednesford as I walk back to my car. The sun is shining and I feel proud. Proud of Kim and everything she’s achieved since we worked together and proud of myself for taking my own leap of faith and walking away from the corporate world to start my business. Catching up with Kim after all these years has given me a new determination.
What was it she said about writing that book…
Fiction & Fairy Lights
6 Market Street, Hednesford, WS12 1AF
Online at https://fictionandfairylights.co.uk/