Every great story has a beginning, a little bit of magic, and a cast of characters who make it worth reading. Moon Lit Pages is no different! Behind the shelves, the stories, and the bookish treasures is a group of people who bring their own special kind of magic to this little bookstore.
They're family, friends, dreamers, problem-solvers, and occasionally the reason for chaos (Rachael). So, let's introduce you to the people who bring Moon Lit Pages to life!
Rachael — Owner, Heart & Soul of Moon Lit Pages
Every story has a beginning, and for Moon Lit Pages, it started with a love of books, a little inspiration from family, and maybe one too many books on her TBR pile.
Rachael's mom spent 20 years as a shopkeeper in Metamora and continues to share her creativity through her own business, Dragonfly Pottery. Growing up around small businesses and seeing the heart, hard work, and love that go into them left a lasting impression on Rachael.
When the opportunity came along to turn that space into something of her own, a rekindled passion for reading and a dream of creating a place for fellow book lovers began to take shape. Somewhere between all those books, a little imagination, and a whole lot of heart, Moon Lit Pages was born.
When she's not at the bookstore, Rachael works night shift as a Level I Trauma CT Technologist, helping people through some of their most frightening moments and supporting the medical teams caring for them.
Moon Lit Pages has become so much more than a bookstore to her. It's a dream built on family, community, and the belief that stories have a way of bringing people together. Through every unexpected plot twist, she's reminded how lucky she is to share this adventure with the people who believe in it alongside her.
From growing up in this little town to her own dream of filling it with stories, Moon Lit Pages is a piece of Rachael's heart tucked between the pages of a book.
And if you ask her, there's always room for one more book. Her TBR pile will just have to learn to share the space!
Makayla — Co-Founder, Partner of the Plot, Creative Spark & Pillar of Moon Lit Pages
Some people come into your life as family and somehow become part of your dreams, too.
Makayla is Rachael's sister-in-law, creative spark, and one of the pillars that helps keep Moon Lit Pages standing. More than that, she's family, a sister, a friend, and one of the people who helped bring this little bookish dream to life.
As a CNA, Makayla spends her days caring for others and brings that same heart and compassion to everything she does for the store. She's the creative force behind the social media, a constant source of fresh ideas, and the person who helped reignite Rachael's love of reading in the first place!
Now she's adding another bit of magic to Moon Lit Pages as the Personalized Magnet Specialist! She turns favorite pictures and special memories into keepsakes, bringing creativity and joy to customers one magnet at a time.
Building a small business isn't always easy, and having someone beside you who believes in your dream, cheers you on, and helps you keep going means more than words can say.
She's not just family by marriage; she's part of the dream of Moon Lit Pages, and the team is so grateful to have her beside them for this adventure.
Ray — Co-Owner, Co-Pilot of the Adventure, Right-Hand Man, Operations Specialist, & Dungeon Master.
Ray is Rachael's husband, her right-hand man, and one of the pillars holding Moon Lit Pages together. He's been a reader since he was young, and together they've turned their love of books, imagination, and adventure into something they can share with their community.
A veteran and heavy equipment operator by day, Raymond is the Operations Specialist. He's the one making sure the POS (point of sale) and technology run smoothly, because when the system runs smoothly, everyone can too! You can always find Ray on the weekends at the front of the shop helping our customers and keeping our electronics in line!
He's also the reason Dungeons & Dragons found its home at Moon Lit Pages, bringing his love of storytelling to life as a Dungeon Master.
Building a small business comes with its fair share of plot twists, unexpected challenges, and chapters nobody planned for. Through it all, Raymond has been beside Rachael, helping carry the weight, finding solutions when things get overwhelming, and reminding her why she started this adventure in the first place.
Moon Lit Pages is Rachael's dream, but it's something they've built and continue to fight for together.
He's her husband, her steady hand through every plot twist, and the person she'd choose to adventure with in every lifetime.
Danni — Organization Queen, Sticker Sorceress & Keeper of the Chaos
Every good story needs someone who helps keep the pages in order, and Moon Lit Pages is so lucky to have Danni as part of its story!
Danni and Rachael go way back to their days working together in radiology, where their love of books even led to a book club. Now, Danni brings that same friendship and love of reading to Moon Lit Pages, helping keep things organized, moving, and (mostly) under control.
She's been an incredible help, giving her time, lending a hand wherever needed, and helping the team keep everything together through the chaos. Her support means more than words can say, and having someone who shows up, pitches in, and makes the hard days a little lighter is something the team never takes for granted.
Of course, she can't forget her official title as the Blind Date with a Book Sticker Queen! When she's not keeping everyone organized or saving the day, Danni enjoys sewing and is busy creating amazing handmade goodies that the team can't wait to share with everyone soon! Though, we're pretty sure her sewing machine has already been plotting ways to take over the bookstore.
Between the laughs, the hard work, and all the little things she does behind the scenes, Danni has become such a special part of the Moon Lit Pages family.
Some people help run a bookstore, and some people help make it feel like home. The team is pretty lucky that Danni does both.
Kayla — The Bookish Bestie & Adventure Enabler
Every bookstore needs that friend who always shows up, has a book recommendation for every mood, and never once says, "Rachael, that's crazy."
Kayla is one of Makayla's long time friends and one of those people the team can always count on when an extra hand is needed. Whether it's helping out, sharing her endless supply of bookish recommendations, or jumping headfirst into whatever wild idea Rachael has dreamed up this week, Kayla is always ready to roll with it!
She's the kind of person who makes the chaos more fun, the busy days a little easier, and the crazy ideas feel a whole lot more possible.
Every good story needs a bestie who's always ready for the next adventure, and Moon Lit Pages is lucky to have Kayla as part of its own! She's proof that the best adventures are even better when you have friends willing to join the madness.
Lorelai & Lily — Our Youngest Bookish Helpers
Every bookstore family needs a little youthful energy, and these two bring plenty of it!
Lorelai is Ray and Rachael's oldest daughter, and Lily is Makayla's sister. Both are high school students who still find time between school, life, and teenage adventures to lend a hand at Moon Lit Pages.
They're happy to help around the store wherever they're needed, and they share a love for animals that makes them especially dangerous around anything with four legs.
Whether they're helping out, spending time with the animals, or learning the ropes of small-business life, they're becoming part of the story of Moon Lit Pages in their own way.
Having family involved makes this little bookstore even more meaningful, and watching the younger generation find their place in the adventure is something special. They're not just helpers around the bookstore; they're part of the family and part of the story that's still being written.
AND THAT'S OUR LITTLE BOOKISH FAMILY!
We're readers, storytellers, gamers, crafters, caregivers, healthcare workers, veterans, animal lovers, TBR hoarders, D&D nerds, creative minds, and problem-solvers. We each bring something different to the table, but together, we make Moon Lit Pages what it is.
This bookstore was built from a love of stories, but it's the people behind the pages who make it special. It's the friendships, the family, the helping hands, the laughter during the chaos, and the people who keep showing up even when the plot takes an unexpected turn.
Moon Lit Pages is more than shelves full of books. It's a dream, a community, a little bit of organized chaos, and a whole lot of heart.
So the next time you wander through our doors, don't just meet the books. Come meet the people behind the pages.
Welcome to our little corner of the story.
Welcome to Moon Lit Pages!