Today we’d like to introduce you to Mallory Jordan
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Reading in our youth felt much easier, much simpler, and much more abundant. Growing up, you could not catch me without a book and I was often found sleeping on the ones I stayed up late into the night reading. Choosing to read as adult outside of work and other obligations has allowed me to take back more of my ‘me’ time while also still giving myself the chance to socialize. During the pandemic, a dear friend of mine and I started a virtual book club that met monthly. It was the bees knees! Not only did we have a safe way to connect with others but it reignited a long forgotten passion in me. Fast forward to this year, I had a friend who is apart of the Houston Book and Sip Club (which is the flagship chapter) reach out and ask if I was interested in creating a space similar in Dallas. It’s been an uphill journey since then. I’ve had an incredible amount of interest, met wonderful women from all walks of life, and have read more books in the last year than in the last 5 years put together. Dallas Book and Sip Club is the social book club of my dreams and I’m looking forward to what’s to come! I’m so grateful I get to experience the gift of a community such as this.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Creating a book club has been mostly an easy task, but it’s of course, not without its small grievances. I would say a bulk of the struggle stems from finding businesses: venues, bars, lounges, restaurants, and coffee shops that are willing to accommodate large parties reservations without having to do a total buyout of the establishment. We want to continue meeting in-person without the additional overhead cost. Also, it can feel disappointing when people reserve a spot to attend our book parties but later on do not show or cancel at the last-minute. Navigating membership has been an obstacle, but hopefully with more research, patience, and a small team, it will get better with time. Outside of that, running and operating this book club has been incredibly fun and I have a great support system in those who attend regularly.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work in insurance, but it wasn’t my first choice for a career. I graduated from the University of Central Florida with my degree in journalism during the height of the pandemic and my options for employment were little to non-existent. Though I’m grateful for my job, I would say I’m more known for my creativity. I’m a creative problem-solver, a dreamer. I have a passion for people and engagement and community. I enjoy bringing ideas to life, especially ones that foster connection among individuals with shared interests. I would say I’m most proud of hosting the Dallas Book and Sip Club. I’m an avid reader, but getting to share this experience with others has been so rewarding. I’m grateful I get to meet the people that I do and provide a space where even just for one night each month, we can have a grand time catching up, dining out, and sharing in conversation over a good (or not so good) book. It really gives me, and hopefully others, the chance to take a small reprieve from everyday life.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Books definitely help me do my best in life and I also firmly believe they shaped those pivotal moments of my life where I was mentally stuck. A few books that have stayed with me over the years include Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, No Disrespect by Sistah Souljah, The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews, and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, just to name a few. I read mostly fiction books like fluffy romance, fantasy, and some thriller, however I’m mostly moved by authors, activists, and poets who make me feel and think differently. I love literary work that shifts my perspective. I’m grateful for the way their words wrap me up like hug.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bookandsipclub.com
- Instagram: @dallasbookandsipclub
- Facebook: @dallasbookandsipclub
Image Credits
Mallory Jordan
