Today we’d like to introduce you to Danelle Vanderzyden.
Hi Danelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My background is in accounting and business management, and I have worked in many different industries over the past 25 years, with each role helping to provide the knowledge and experience needed to start my Christian bookstore.
I started my career in corporate accounting with an oil and gas services company, where I worked for many years, moving from Houston to Denver to Bakersfield and then back to Texas. Then, in 2014, I transitioned to the nonprofit sector, serving as the Director of Business Operations for a local church. In this role, I managed finance, facilities, human resources, and overall business management. Then, in 2018, I became the Controller for a family business, overseeing accounting and bookkeeping for a family law firm, cattle ranch, and multiple family trusts.
Then, in January 2025, my family and I moved to a small town outside of Brenham, TX, and in May of that year, God started putting it on my heart to open a Christian bookstore. I had no experience owning or running a Christian bookstore, but I took the leap of faith and obeyed what God put on my heart.
With God’s direction and the help and encouragement of my family, I started the process of putting together a business plan, finding funding, and increasing my knowledge of the industry. After looking for a while, we found our current location in historic Downtown Brenham, Texas, and were grateful to our landlord, who took a chance on our brand-new endeavor.
We opened Pages of Grace officially on October 11, 2025, and have not looked back. My mom, Debbie Page, helps me run the store during the weekdays while I continue working full-time and providing bookkeeping services to two other organizations. My heart, however, is being in the front of the store, interacting with and helping customers, and making an impact on our community.
Pages of Grace is not just a bookstore; we also host workshops, gatherings, and Bible studies for the community. In fact, we have already outgrown our current space, and we are moving to a larger location where we can double our retail footprint this summer in the heart of Downtown Brenham.
My prayer has never been to simply build a successful bookstore. It has always been to create a place where people feel welcomed, encouraged, and drawn closer to Jesus. Every day, I am reminded that God called us to something much bigger than selling books. He called us to create a place where His Word is celebrated, His people are encouraged, and anyone who walks through our doors knows they are welcome. If someone leaves with a little more hope than when they arrived, then we have accomplished exactly what God called us to do.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. I do not think owning or starting a business ever is. For me, finding funding was the biggest challenge in the beginning. My first interaction with a bank was initially met with positivity, but I was quickly went silent. As you can imagine, they were reluctant to back an industry that has been slowly declining. We ultimately secured the funding we needed, but that was one of the lowest points in the process. I am sure it is a struggle that many entrepreneurs face.
I have also struggled with balancing my time between the store, my full-time job, and my role as a wife and mother of three. Making sure everyone receives the attention they deserve while giving my best to each role is a challenge I continue to navigate.
Another challenge has been finding the right balance of what to carry in the store and how much inventory to keep on hand. Some of the products I expected to be Christmas bestsellers did not perform as well as I anticipated, while other items seemed to fly off the shelves as quickly as I could restock them. It has reinforced the importance of truly knowing your customers. Our customer base is a blend of local residents and visitors to Brenham, and we are constantly learning how to serve both groups well.
Every challenge has taught me something valuable. Whether it is trusting God through uncertainty, learning the business side of retail, or finding balance in everyday life, each obstacle has helped shape both me and Pages of Grace into something stronger.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Pages of Grace Christian Bookstore is more than a bookstore. It is a place where faith, friendship, and community come together. My mission is to share the hope of Christ through books, Bible study, and a welcoming environment where people can grow in their faith, find encouragement, and connect with others.
The store specializes in Christian books, Bibles, devotionals, Bible studies, gifts, journals, and faith-based apparel through our Pages of Grace Market collection (launched in 2026 and designed by me). We serve readers of all ages, from children’s books and story times to resources for individuals, families, and church groups. We also host Bible studies, workshops, community events, and programs designed to help people deepen their relationship with Jesus.
What sets Pages of Grace apart is that I am intentionally building more than a bookstore. I am creating a gathering place. Whether someone comes in looking for a Bible, a meaningful gift, a quiet place to study, or simply a conversation and prayer, I want them to feel seen, valued, and welcomed. My favorite thing is our prayer and praise wall where anyone that walks in can write a prayer or praise and hang in on the wall. We pray over the store, the wall and our customers everyday prior to opening.
The thing I am most proud of is the community that has formed around Pages of Grace. Since opening, we have seen people build friendships through Bible studies, share prayer requests, celebrate answered prayers, and find encouragement during difficult seasons. Those moments remind us that our purpose goes far beyond selling books or gifts. There is nothing better than when we have someone come back to tell us their prayers was answered or that a book/study helped them in some meaningful way.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Right now, life is incredibly busy, so I do not have as much time for podcasts and blogs as I would like. Most of my reading is centered around Christian books, leadership, and business, which is fitting since I own a bookstore! One tool I rely on every day is Asana. It helps me stay organized and manage the many responsibilities that come with balancing a full-time career, running Pages of Grace, serving bookkeeping clients, and being a wife and mom. More than anything, though, I try to start each day in God’s Word. It is the resource that keeps me grounded and gives me the wisdom and perspective I need in every area of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shoppagesofgrace.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoppagesofgrace/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shoppagesofgrace
- Other: https://linktr.ee/shoppagesofgrace
Image Credits
Cristy Ordner Photography
