Between Friends Coffee: a creative hotspot in Warner Robins with author-themed offerings

There are places – and people – that bubble with creativity. This is about one of them, part of an occasional series highlighting creative hotspots in Macon and Middle Georgia.

You wouldn’t think I’d be talking about a spot called Between Friends Coffee, but it’s more than a coffeehouse begun by two friends in Houston County. More than a café, a bakery, an event center or even a small bookshop, Between Friends wasn’t started by two coffee gurus looking to break a new, secret roast to the scene but by two young entrepreneurs with artistic bents looking for a business that could be a creative outlet, create community and, certainly, be a successful operation.

Between Friends opened in 2016 when coffee shops were first becoming a thing in Warner Robins, but the many that opened couldn’t make it on their own for more than a few months before closing.

Still, Jaimie Miller, a book-lover and writer, and Victoria Hawkins, an artist-designer, thought opening, owning and operating one was a good idea.

And it has been.

But still you wonder, “What does a coffee shop have to do with arts and entertainment? With being a creative hotspot?”

Of course, it takes creativity to operate a business, make good coffee, bake pastries and serve up breakfasts and sandwiches. But there’s more going on at Between Friends, beginning with the fact it’s an author-themed coffeehouse to the extreme. Drink varieties — and there are many — are named after well-known and little-known authors: E.A. Poe Espresso, Virginia Woolf Café Au Lait, Robert Frost Hazelnut Frappe, Oscar Wilde Caramel Frappe, Emily Dickinson Vanilla Iced Coffee, C.S. Lewis Butterscotch Iced Coffee, Tolkien Hot Vanilla Latte, Mark Twain Sparkling Iced Americano, Alcott Blueberry Muffin Espresso Latte, Fannie Flagg Honey & Heavy Cream Latte — and it goes on and on.

Even the tables are decoupaged with pages from books. 

But that’s not the thing of it.

In its nearly 10 years of operation, Between Friends has not only become a successful coffee shop but has birthed a successful indie-publishing operation, begun offering web and brand design services, created the growing Middle Georgia Lit Fest, become integral to community theater, become a consulting source for both artful and business endeavors, and more.

These and other undertakings fall not so neatly under the umbrellas of Between Friends Coffee, Between Friends Publishing and Between Friends Consulting.

All these support Miller and Hawkins’ creative dreams and those of many others. Doing it hasn’t come through grants and whatnot, but through hard work and a sustainable setup.

That’s huge.

“We were both looking for a business,” Hawkins said. “We wanted something to pour our energy into, something that would be creative. We saw a need and filled it, which is sort of our mantra and how all the different things have evolved.”

Hawkins has drawn since she was a kid but got into computers and web and graphic design. She does have a dab of retail experience through her family.

Hawkins is 30. Miller just celebrated her 37th birthday.

For her part, Miller earned degrees in psychology and literature from Alabama’s Troy University. Side note: Miller has a photographic memory, which she said is both a blessing and a pain.

Miller has written nearly two dozen books of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Obviously, she handles the editorial side of Between Friends Publishing but also takes care of Between Friends’ social media. Hawkins handles the business end as well as the necessary graphic design and layout work for clients. Hawkins is strong in getting ideas; Miller in organizing, planning and keeping things operational.

In the coffeehouse-café, Miller handles most of the baking and coffee making while Hawkins is often sitting at work on a multiple-screen laptop until she needs to jump up to make the place’s award-winning cinnamon rolls.

Between Friends has a string of “Best of the Best” awards in several categories.

“We’ve had so much fun fitting authors to drink flavors,” Hawkins said. “But we really love the idea of friends coming in and engaging over coffee. You don’t have to be a book-lover to be here, but we do always come back to the idea of people. We love getting to meet all the people we’d never have met if we’d never opened the place. We love that they can gather here and enjoy a coffee, something to drink, some food and time together. This shop and all the décor are a manifestation of our journey. Everything here has a story to it – something a customer brought us, something we found or worked to create.”

For an author-themed coffeeshop, the idea of story naturally comes up, but not just in the expected way.

“People and stories, their story and other stories, are entwined in who we are here,” Miller said. “At the coffee shop, what are people doing? They’re here sharing their story with one another. The authors we see around us have written and told their stories. The people we publish are telling stories. The graphics and signs and other communication pieces tell a story. What we do with Warner Robins Little Theatre is storytelling. It comes down to we’re passionate about stories. Stories connect people. We have a very creative atmosphere here that I think encourages people to express themselves. This is a place we want everybody to feel welcomed.”

They say the Between Friends menu is as diverse as the people it serves.

“The way the publishing started was that, for a year, a local kindergarten teacher wrote a letter to her father every day as part of her grieving his passing,” Miller said. “It was difficult for her to go over them, so she asked if we’d help. We took her letters and got them in book form and were able to surprise her with it when she came in for breakfast on her birthday. 

“Between Friends Publishing has published upwards of 300 books now. Our largest customer base writes one book, maybe two. They want something for family and don’t see becoming a big deal author. Then there are the serious authors, our repeats. We find a lot of people aren’t sure where to go or what to do to get something done. 

“We see ourselves as a trusted, ethical publishing company providing independent authors with an affordable and empowering alternative to vanity press publishing, free of the pitfalls and scams, with all the related services they need.”

Out of these efforts came the Middle Georgia Lit Fest, which started as a small affair in the coffee shop but expanding last year to a partnership with Warner Robins and 50 or so local and regional independent authors. Miller said the 2026 festival will be even bigger. It’s Feb. 7.

When the Warner Robins Little Theatre opens its production of “Steel Magnolias” on Saturday, running through July 27, Miller will play the part of Mary Lynn “M’Lynn” Eatenton, played by Sally Field in the movie.

Miller said playing “the mama” is a dream role for her.

Miller is a WRLT vice president and Hawkins is a board member. Miller has directed since getting involved in 2019. Hawkins said she came on board in 2021, mainly doing set design, stage management and publicity.

“One neat tie to me and the coffee shop is we actually did ‘Color Me Crazy,’ a book I wrote as part of a series,” Miller said. “(I) turned it into a play and the theater said, ‘Yes, let’s do it.’ I directed it too – it was one of the coolest moments in my life.”

I asked the pair how they find the time to do all they do — more than there’s room to tell here and growing every month with new involvements serving their community. They smiled and said it’s a 24/7 thing, running any small business is. Writers, artists, entrepreneurs, friends – the two have tied them all together to create and make a go of successful, sustainable ventures in the arts community. 

Between Friends Coffee can be found on social media and at betweenfriendscoffee.com. It’s located at 1080 Ga. 96, Suite 100, Warner Robins.

Have a suggestion about a potential “creative hotspot?” Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com. Find him on Instagram at michael_w_pannell.