Love, Adventure & New Beginnings

After traveling the world, Jennifer and Brad Ball return to their roots, becoming stewards of Telluride’s cherished bookstore

by JENNIFER JULIA

For Jennifer and Brad Ball, the most captivating stories aren’t just those filling the shelves of their cherished bookstore, Between the Covers — they’re the ones they’ve lived and created themselves.

A couple with an insatiable wanderlust and a love for adventure, the Balls spent the first 30 years of their marriage hopping across the globe. From teaching English in Argentina as newlyweds to raising their five children in diverse corners of the world, including Peru, they embraced life’s challenges. Along the way, they collected art — and, of course, books.

“We’ve carried our book collection with us wherever we’ve gone,” Jennifer Ball says with a smile. After years of seeking adventure in farflung places, these Jackson, Mississippi natives ultimately decided to focus their escapades a bit closer to home.

When their twin sons moved to Telluride in 2020, the Balls fell in love with it and started looking at for-sale businesses. As soon as the bookstore appeared on the market, these dyedin-the-wool bibliophiles got excited. “We looked at each other and we said, ‘We could do this, what do you think?’” Jennifer Ball recalls.

The couple bought Between the Covers from its former owners, Bobbi T. Smith and Daiva Chesonis, who had run the business for over a decade at its former location on West Colorado Avenue. (The shop has since moved across town to 307 E. Colorado Ave.)

Right off the bat, the new business venture was a good fit for the Balls, who value the importance of independent bookstores. “They are the heartbeat of the community,” says Jennifer Ball.

It’s a description that fits Between the Covers perfectly. The shop, which first opened in 1974, earned the nickname “Telluride’s living room” from former San Miguel County Poet Laureate and County Commissioner Art Goodtimes. It has a hearty selection of bestsellers, books for children and young adults, local and regional authors and titles geared for our mountain community.

“We love to talk to our customers about what they’re reading, what they’re interested in,” Jennifer Ball remarks. Attentive customer service has long been a hallmark of Between the Covers, and the Balls have certainly kept up with that tradition.

The bookstore also hosts events such as readings and book signings, and teams up with local festivals like Mountainfilm, Film Festival and the Mushroom Festival.

Between the Covers settled into its new home at 307 E. Colorado Ave. in December 2024, and is continuing its role serving the community.

“Independent bookstores are a community space for locals and visitors to browse, gather, share ideas, celebrate, debate, discuss, learn and play. It’s an honor, really, and a great responsibility that we take to heart,” says Jennifer Ball.