The life of an independent bookstore owner is perilous these days. Having to fend off deadly competition from giant Barnes & Noble, online merchants such as Amazon, and big box stores including Target and Walmart.
Still, even with that cut-throat atmosphere, you wouldn't imagine that an indie owner could end up near the top of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Until Avril D. Haines came along.
Haines, the former co-owner of Adrian's Book Cafe in Baltimore's Fells Point neighborhood, has been named CIA deputy director, the number two position in the spy agency, The Baltimore Sun's John Fritze notes.
I'd love to hear a conversation between her and another Baltimore who makes his living from spies: author Tom Clancy.