92 bookstores, or 37% of SIBA's current store members have signed up to participate in the 2025 Indie Summer Reading Guide catalog program. That represents a 24% increase from last year's participation.

Reservations are now closed, but title list is available:

See the Summer Catalog Edelweiss Collection

Downloadable marketing assets will be available to bookstores in April.

What's next?

The Indie Summer Reading Guides will ship at the end of May. Before that, though, orders will open for the Winter catalogs, which are larger and allow store imprinting. Make your plans accordingly!

The catalog program is a vital source of revenue which underwrites SIBA programming, scholarships, and educational opportunities for booksellers. Store participation is essential. If you have attended a conference, received a grant, or are one of the nearly 150 booksellers who attended a March Madness event, then you have directly benefited from the SIBA/RAMP catalog program.

NVNR Spring Owners Strategy Session
April 17 at 6:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM CT on Zoom

What issues are most on your mind right now? Come to talk to other owners about anything!

Bookstore owners will have a chance to discuss them with their colleagues at the April Owners Strategy Session hosted by New Voices New Rooms.

Meet with your fellow booksellers from SIBA and NAIBA, and share your experiences and expertise. Registration is for store owners only, and space is limited to 25.

The meeting will be moderated by Kirsten Hess, Let's Play Books & The End

Sign up here (requires log in)

Current Newsletter: Anticipating what you want to read next: booksellers on the bestsellers.

Bookstores with reviews in this week's newsletter:

• Meghan Haile, The Lynx in Gainesville, Florida
• Aimee Ahart, Birch Tree Bookstore in Leesburg, Virginia
• Rachel Watkins, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia
• Rebecca Speas, One More Page Books in Arlington, Virginia
• Annastasia Williams, The Bottom in Knoxville, Tennessee
• Cathy Graham, Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, Florida
• Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina
• Elizabeth Goodrich, Thank You Books in Birmingham, Alabama
• Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina
• Maggie Robe, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Baldwin Bookseller, Baldwin & Co. in New Orleans, Louisiana
• Johanna Albrecht, McIntyre’s Books in Pittsboro, North Carolina
• Morgan Holub, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia
• Elese Stutts, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Book Buzz Feature: Akeem Keeps Bees by Kamal Bell
The farm is more than just a place to produce food. Actually, our approach switched off of food production this year and focused on the bees, because it came naturally to the students and myself. That was something that we were able to really build upon this year. In my mind, the bees can provide economic opportunities for us all. Economics is a big factor that can change things in our communities. We focused on that because we’re dealing with human lives too. I don’t want the students to get interested in the farm and then leave because they need money. This is to show them you can make that money. You don’t have to keep worrying from day to day. You can break cycles in your family.

― Kamal Bell, Interview, Edge Effects

Decide For Yourself Banned Book Feature:
Parachutes by Kelly Yang
Kelly Yang’s spectacular YA debut follows the lives of Claire, a “parachute” – the teenage daughter of a wealthy Chinese family sent to the United States to attend high school – and Dani, daughter of a first-generation Filipino immigrant. Claire and Dani become reluctant roommates, setting the stage for a novel that has it all – compelling friendships, insights into wealth and power dynamics, complicated relationships with parents, and two #metoo moments that made me feel all the things and had me rooting for Dani and Claire. I didn’t want it to end. A fantastic older YA book.
― Elese Stutts, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

NEW REVIEWS | SUBSCRIBE | SUBMIT A REVIEW | FOR PUBLISHERS

Linda-Marie Barrett / Executive Director:
Reading: Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake, a romance centering two women who confront their insecurities while they fake date (for reasons important to both) and play lead roles in a queer retelling of Much Ado About Nothing. Sweet and poignant.
Listening: To a variety of music stations on my Calm app, for flow, focus, and, yes, calm!
Watching: The newest seasons of Death in Paradise and Sweet Magnolias. Occasionally adding in an episode of Later Daters, which I often regret (anxiety-provoking!)

Candice Huber / Membership:
Reading: GUESS WHAT? I actually finished THREE books on my vacation! I finally finished Breath of the Dragon and The Bookshop, and I read Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite, a cozy mystery in space. It's a short novella, everyone is queer, and the worldbuilding is terrific!
Listening: To the sounds of birds and the wind through the trees, and the emerging of Spring.
Watching: Finished The Traitors and caught up on Severance! Now it's time to start White Lotus and Yellowjackets.

Nicki Leone / Communications:
Reading: Still with The Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing and Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood.
Listening: The audiobook of One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad. Still.
Watching: 15 minutes of news in the morning, and then 45 minutes of bird watching to recover. But I'm putting Sapphire & Steel on my watch list because a recommendation from SP is safe as houses.

SP Rankin / Website Administrator:
Reading: I'm cracking the (virtual) cover of Karen Russell's The Antidote tonight, and hoping to get carried away.
Listening: I'm still on my French radio journey, which led this week to the great P.P. Arnold's 1969 debut album, The First Lady of Immediate, and Dean Wareham's I Have Nothing to Say to the Mayor of LA (2021).
Watching: Sapphire & Steel, the British sci-fi series from the late 1970s, starring Joanna Lumley (yes, Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous) and David McCallum (yes, Ilya Kuryakin from The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) as chilly interdimensional beings who take human form and are tasked with guarding the flow of time. A little Dr. Who, a little Avengers (Steed and Peel, not Iron Man), a lot of spooky and mysterious

Andrea Richardson / Sales:
Reading: Sarah's Pinborough's upcoming We Live Here Now. It's a spooky, haunted house twisty that I'm really enjoying.
Listening: The wind outside, telling me that it's going to be a very stormy day
Watching: I am impatiently awaiting the next episode of White Lotus. Parker Posey is true magic this season.

Booksellers who attended one of the early March Madness events at The Snail on the Wall, Plenty, Square Books, Cavalier House Books, and Page 158 Books have been enthusiastic about their experiences:

"Just the right blend of from-the-top lecture and round table conversation. Lady and Christina have tons of experience partnering with the community and the other booksellers clearly learned from them while also providing suggestions of their own."

"Plenty is doing incredible work. It was so helpful to hear what they are doing and to think about storytelling in all aspects of our work, even with displays. We loved the activity where we could play around with displays in the store and write engaging shelf talkers."

"Sue did an excellent job of getting attendee participation. Our ability to collaborate with fellow booksellers to compare experiences and customer service challenges was excellent."

"I really enjoyed this time with the other booksellers. Some great ideas were shared that we will be thinking about incorporating, and we felt like we got to know attendees better in the afternoon."

"Loved this bit the most! I got all of my questions answered and I learned a ton about how other bookstores do things. It gave me a lot of ideas, so it was successful!"

On the assumption that booksellers know their own stores and own businesses best, the focus of the March Madness Bookseller Series is bookseller-to-bookseller information sharing. Registration is still open for the upcoming March Madness events.

Register here.

MCCOY GRANT APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON 3/21

Applications for the McCoy Grant for Bookseller Writers close next week, on March 21st.

This unique opportunity offers two grants of $1,500 each to be used toward craft development (writing classes, retreats, conferences, travel), work-related materials (notebooks, laptops, software, research, etc.), childcare, bills, or any other financial obstacle.

The McCoy Grant is sponsored by SIBA with the generous support of New York Times bestselling author Sarah McCoy, who knows how much even small stipends can make in a writer's life. "If you’re a hoper, a dreamer, a story stoker opening your laptop and a 99¢ can of tuna fish on the coffee table for dinner while you do the work that really lights your fire… then you’re a kindred spirit," says McCoy. "That was me, too. Still is on many nights. You are not alone."

Read more | Apply

More financial assistance for booksellers.

The March Madness Bookseller Series is primarily a chance for booksellers to get together with their colleagues to network with each other and trade ideas and experiences. But there is also an Author Lunch at each MMBS event. It's a wonderful way to connect with an author in a setting where booksellers have time and space to have a real conversation.

There are over thirty authors appearing at the nine different MMBS events. Visit the event page to see the line up (scroll down), and take a look at the Edelweiss collection of their books.

There is still time to register!

The MMBS Authors Edelweiss Collection

MCCOY GRANT APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON 3/21

There is still time to take advantage of this unique grant for bookseller-writers. This $1500 grant was specifically created by Winston-Salem author Sarah McCoy to help booksellers pursuing a writing career.

Read more | Apply

More financial assistance for booksellers.

March 19: Inklings, Lakeland FL
Sustainability Through Trade and Treasure-Hunting
See the complete schedule and register

Inklings offers their community a diverse selection of books that include used, new, and antiques. Attendees will learn how Inklings values sustainability, as reflected in their trade-in program, which gives books extended shelf life through the journey from new to used, and offers the store a way to replenish inventory and grow customer loyalty and repeat visits. They will also discover some fun facts about the antique book world and how to find hidden treasure in old books.

Store owner Finley Walker says "One of our core values is sustainability through the sharing and reuse of books. We believe trade programs help to reduce wasteful overproduction, grow readership through lower stake consumer investment, and build a community consciousness of commercial sustainability." The importance of community is also why Walker asked to host a March Madness event: "We wanted to join in the larger bookseller and booklover community to both learn and teach for the mutual benefit of our communities."

The spring titles on the Read This Next! Kids list for March and April include books for all "young readers" -- from picture books to middle grade to young adult. The themes cover a wide range as well; "family" and "friendship," are important topics that keep coming up. But then, there is also "fish" and "robots!"

RTNext! Kids Bookseller Resources:
Edelweiss Collection | Flyer | Flyer Graphic (image)

Read is why Southen indie booksellers love these books:

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven
This may be the most beautifully written book I've ever read. I need to process and come back, but this made me feel all the feels.
– Kelley Dykes, Main Street Reads in Summerville, South Carolina

At Night, They Danced by Victoria Scott-Miller, Toni D. Chambers (Illus.)
I absolutely LOVED when our parents went out on date nights. This book invokes all the memories of these times and highlights the love between parents. Not something you see often in kids books. Very positive and completely fun.
– Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina

Home by Matt de la Peña, Loren Long (Illus.)
I'm weeping openly in my store after reading this gorgeous book about what makes a home. As more families are displaced due to trauma, conflict, and climate change, this is a necessary picture book to help anyone processing a difficult transition in life.
– Alissa Redmond, South Main Book Company in Salisbury, North Carolina

Candle Island by Lauren Wolk
Candle Island is one of those stories that stays in your heart. A beautiful book about love, family, and grief that shows the healing power of creativity and nurturing wildness in wild spaces. I loved it!
– Susan Williams, M. Judson, Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina

Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, Dan Santat (Illus.)
I know a family whose surname is Fish and I have mightily amused them with the science/nature book Why Fish Don't Exist. They are going to get a kick out of this one too. I love when science fact gets presented in such a cheeky way, and the hint at the end that really this entire book may not be written by humans just compounds that mirth.
– Lisa Yee Swope, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Ripening Time by Patrice Gopo, Carlos Vélez Aguilera (Illus.)
Gopo weaves themes of family heritage, the joy of anticipation, and the small pain of waiting into a sweet story of purchasing plantains and watching them ripen before the family can fry them up for a delicious treat.
– Adah Fitzgerald, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

Current Read This Next! books and what SIBA booksellers have to say about them can always be found at The Southern Bookseller Review