Spoiler alert: This bookstore on wheels is painted black, stocked with steamy reads, and built from scratch in a driveway.

If you’re a romance reader, a bookstore lover, or just someone who dreams of starting something uniquely theirs, then you need to know about Slow Burn.

It’s not your typical bookshop. It’s a trailer. A black trailer. And it’s mobile. Oh, and it’s romance-only.

Tonya Pineda, the woman behind this genius idea, joined me on the Shelf Made Stories podcast. I left the convo completely inspired… and a little obsessed.

From Punk Rock to Paperbacks

Tonya’s journey started like so many creative dreams do, with a “what if.” She’d seen people converting trailers into food trucks and boutiques and thought, “Why not a bookstore?” 

With zero experience in construction (she’s a photographer, her husband’s in tech), they bought a used trailer off Facebook Marketplace and started building, literally learning as they went. Think lots of YouTube, a few bungee cords, and plenty of trial and error.

But this wasn’t going to be just any bookstore. Tonya is a lifelong romance reader, so she niched down hard.

Slow Burn carries only romance books, plus a few candles, bookmarks, tote bags, and bookish extras to round things out.

So… Why Is It Black?

That’s the question Tonya gets a lot. Romance usually screams pink and hearts, but she went in a different direction.

Inspired by punk rock, moody European bookshops, and her own personal style, she went for an all-black aesthetic. 

This mobile bookstore on wheels is sleek, it’s edgy, and it stands out in a way that draws people in. And yes, the irony of a dark trailer full of swoony, steamy stories is kind of perfect.

What It’s Like Running a Mobile Bookstore

Tonya’s “bookstore on wheels” has no fixed location. It travels around the Nashville area, popping up at coffee shops, breweries, and local markets. 

At first, she reached out to friends who owned brick-and-mortar stores to host her. Now? People reach out to her.

Each setup takes about 40 minutes. There are barn doors, creative displays on the trailer walls, and a thoughtfully curated inventory of romance titles — many from indie authors she sources directly (which also helps with those notoriously thin book margins).

Oh, and when it’s not on the road? The trailer lives in her driveway.

The Business Side: Is It Worth It?

Tonya keeps it real. This business isn’t about getting rich. Book profit margins are slim, so she supplements with merchandise and bookish extras.

And while she doesn’t have to pay rent, she does pay for vendor spots at markets (and sometimes extra because she takes up more space as a trailer).

But what does she get in return? Community, flexibility, creativity, and the ability to build something she truly loves.

She works part-time hours and pops up maybe once or twice a week, making it fit her life as a mom of three and a full-time photographer.

What She’s Learned… and What She’d Tell You

Tonya’s advice for anyone dreaming of a mobile bookshop? 

“Do it because you love it. Be passionate about the books, the customers, the vibe, because it’s not about the money.”

Also? Niche down. 

The more specific your brand, the easier it is to find your people. And judging by the repeat customers (and her viral moments on TikTok and Instagram), her people definitely found her.

Book Recs from Tonya

If you’re wondering what’s hot in the Slow Burn trailer, here’s what she’s loving:

Currently reading: Enchantra, the sequel to Phantasma by Kaylee Smith (think spooky, ghosty, dark fantasy vibes)

Recent favorite: Blood Over Bright Haven by ML Wang (sci-fi, dark academia, absolute five-star read)