The second week of March Madness is all about the joys of genre! Booksellers will meet up at Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, AL and Firestorm Books in Asheville, NC. Registration remains open so you can still sign up.
Nobody does dragons like twice-nominated Astounding Award finalist Jenn Lyons! Lyons will be at Blue Cypress to talk about her standalone novel, The Sky on Fire (but there are still dragons, don't worry!) After spending thirty years working as a graphic artist, art director, and video game producer (in that order), Lyons now spends her days writing fantasy. She traces her geek roots back to playing first edition Dungeons & Dragons in grade school. Her five book epic fantasy series, A Chorus of Dragons, begins with The Ruin of Kings.
THE HAUNTED BOOK SHOP
March 13 in mobile, AL
March Madness at The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, AL is a bookseller-focused and idea-exchange event. Instead of an author lunch, booksellers will talk shop, and talk genre! Genre books are one of the fastest growing segments of the book industry. Haunted specializes in genre-focused bookselling tailored for Gen Z and Millennial readers, offering a unique experience through hyper-categorized genres, engaging staff, and dynamic events. They'll explore their innovative approach to bookselling, highlighting why they thrive alongside giants like Amazon by focusing on experience over transactions, as illustrated in the owner's 'widget vs. experience-seeking shopper' theory.
Loren Long is the author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Otis picture book series, as well as the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of Barack Obama's picture book, Of Thee I Sing, Matt de la Pena’s Love, and Change Sings by Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman. Angie Tally of The Country Bookshop says of Long's The Yellow Bus that "In the hands of the amazing Loren Long, those stories just might surprise you! Perfect for back-to-school tables and for an anytime read-together"
Meredith Adamo is a YA author based in hot, humid North Carolina, but she's originally from Rochester, New York, which is her favorite place on the planet. She likes to write about girls who can make you laugh and break your heart—ideally on the same page. Not Like Other Girls is her debut novel and is a Read This Next! book at The Southern Bookseller Review, where Jill Hendrix of Fiction Addition Bookstore says it "pairs the emotional power of Speak with a mystery full of plot twists a la A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder." She thinks it is a great pick for teen book clubs.
Chatham Greenfield is a young adult author born and raised in Florida, which is why their stories often take place in humid seaside towns. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College in 2020, they were selected as a fellow in the inaugural class of LitUp by Reese’s Book Club. Time and Time Again is their debut novel, a romance that shows identity not as a series of check boxes, but as "experiences that can't be pulled apart, each equally important to who I am and who I'll be."
Linda-Marie Barrett: Reading: Just finished We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman, and discovered in our book club discussion that I was an outlier because I found it really funny (and heart-breaking). Have begun The Last Love Song by Kalie Holford, a sweet and moving YA described as a "queer Mamma Mia." Listening: to the birds and the bees just outside my office. Rumors of bear sightings abound. Watching:Death in Paradise, and really enjoying it.
Candice Huber: Reading: Finally finished Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect! It was really fun. Started An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson, which is much darker. Listening: To ambient instrumentals of Disney songs as I walk around Disneyland on vacation. Watching: After watching the new live-action version, I'm now rewatching Avatar the Last Airbender.
Nicki Leone: Reading:The Weeds by Katy Simpson Smith, The Culture Code by Daniel Coyne (which I have to admit alarms as much as it inspires), and for the book club I'm in with SP, In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden. One of the club members has a thing for novels about nuns. Listening: Palestinian Walks, Raja Shehadeh, and catching up on my podcasts before everything moves to YouTube. Watching:Morse (the original) and Endeavor. But Lewis has been spoilt for me, alas.
SP Rankin Reading: I finished this month's book club book, Rumer Godden's In This House of Brede. Like the place it's about--a cloistered abbey--the inside is much bigger than the outside. I've just started Mary Dearborn's brand new biography: Carson McCullers: A Life. Listening: Krystle Warren--with and without her backing band, the Faculty. A Kansas City expat in France, she opened for Rufus Wainwright several years ago and I don't know why she isn't a million times more famous. She defies a brief description, but listening to her bend genres will make you think of everyone from Nina Simone to Joan Armatrading to Stevie Wonder to Joni Mitchell to Elvis Costello to Tracy Chapman to Yola, in the best possible way. Watching: Not really anything except for my sad little habit of HGTV during breakfast, and I'm pretty sure anyone who knows me is sick of hearing about it.
Andrea Richardson Reading: I just started I Want You More by Swan Huntley to work on my "actually read Winter Institute Books" Storygraph challenge and this thriller already has me tense wondering when this idyllic situation is going to take a very bad turn. I can't wait. Listening: Vocalist Songwriter Morning, according to my Spotify daylist. I've been on an Ani DiFranco kick lately. Watching: The wedding episode of Love is Blind - whyyyy do they insist on dragging out the episode releases??
Book Buzz Feature: When the Jessamine Grows by Donna Everhart
I set the story during a very familiar timeframe, that of the Civil War, but I feel like it is uniquely different from any other Civil War story.. For one thing, Joetta McBride and her husband Ennis live in Nash County, North Carolina, They are subsistence farmers or “yeoman” farmers. That is where you grow your own food to feed yourself and your livestock. Yeoman farmers made up 65% of the population of North Carolina at that time. They did not own slaves, they were neutral and didn’t want anything to do with the war. The other thing about this book that makes it uniquely different is that it’s not about the War. Instead, I write about the families who are left behind women like Joetta McBride, who are required and compelled to keep food on the table, keep the farms running, keep their families together. The American Iraqi activist Zainab Salbi says if we are to understand War then we need to understand not not only what happens on the front lines but what happens on the back lines as well, where women are in charge of keeping the family going. And that is the essence of what this book is about. ― Donna Everhart, at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
"One of my goals for NVNR 2023 was to learn how to deal with industry challenges and how to squeeze a little bit out of profit to make my business sustainable while continue my commitment to pay a liveable wage."
--NVNR 2023 Attendee
Attending a conference is a commitment not just of money but of time and resources. For small businesses, it may even require hiring extra staff or simply closing the store for a few days, so it is important to make the most of your opportunities at the event. The NVNR conference can be the most valuable time you spend all year long if you go with a plan and a few clear goals.
Goals can be as broad as "find new books to stock" and as specific as "open three new accounts with publishers" or "find one new author for an event." If you align your goals for the conference with those you have for your bookstore -- say, "increasing our social media presence" or "expanding our genre fiction sections" -- it will help to focus your time and effort and make your goals easier to realize.
Registration for NVNR opens April 2. Click here to be added to the NVNR early notification list and be eligible for earlybird discount prices!
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Next week SIBA Bookstores will receive a link to vote on SIBA's revised bylaws. Updating the organization's bylaws has been
one of the most important tasks of the SIBA board over the last couple of years.
Most importantly, the bylaws have been updated to expand the definition of what constitutes a "core member bookstore" in order to include the creative business models bookstores have developed over the past few years. The size of the board has also been
increased to allow for better representation of SIBA's growing membership.
SIBA will be holding a vote to adopt the revised bylaws the first week of March. Every current member bookstore may vote.
Here is a summary of the major changes. You can view them in the proposed bylaws, highlighted in yellow, here,
The previous definition is as follows: "Independent, privately-owned, commercially-zoned bookstores with a retail storefront and physical headquarters in the Company’s region are eligible for core membership."
The updated definition was changed to be reflective of the more inclusive and highly creative industry we find ourselves living in today. The new definition is:
"Core membership is open to any independent, privately-owned legal entity actively engaged in the business of bookselling in our region (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA). The bookselling venue may be physical, online, recurring pop-ups or mobile
but physical books (including e-books and audiobook versions) must represent more than 50% of overall revenue. These membership requirements shall be subject to interpretation, in the event of dispute, by the Board of Directors. Only owners and authorized
representatives and key staff (with owner permission) may serve as officers or directors of the Company. Core Members are entitled to one vote at meetings or in other official balloting procedures of the Company."
The bylaws expand the option to have a board of seven members rather than five. This will allow the board to have greater representation of the SIBA region serving on the board level.
The board officer position of Secretary-Treasurer has been created in order to be compliant with North Carolina law.
These revised bylaws mark a major step forward for SIBA. Every store member is strongly encouraged to read over the changes carefully. Booksellers attending any of the March Madness events are also encouraged to discuss the changes with each other. Booksellers
who have any questions or concerns are invited to contact any of the SIBA board members.
Voting will take place over the month of March. A Yes vote of 25% of SIBA's core membership will be considered a quorum for the revised bylaws to be adopted.
3/5/2024 UPDATE: Voting is now open to approve the revised SIBA Bylaws. All Core Member Bookstores who are current members of SIBA may vote
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Spotlight on Baldwin & Co.
Baldwin & Co., a Black-owned bookstore in New Orleans, LA opened in February 2021 and is celebrating their 3-year anniversary this month. Owner DJ Johnson is a native of the neighborhood where the store is located, and his bookstore has had a significant impact in its short tenure. Johnson also owns New Orleans Art Bar, an art gallery and event venue that shares a courtyard with the bookstore, and Baldwin & Co. Manor, a stylish short-term rental property located on the second floor of the bookstore. The profits from Baldwin & Co. Manor are funneled into the Baldwin & Co. Foundation, a nonprofit arm of the bookstore that offers children’s storytime, literacy tutoring, and free community book festivals that include giving away children’s books, live performances, author readings, live music, free food and beverages, and more. Baldwin & Co. also offers a state-of-the-art podcast studio for the community to rent.
Baldwin & Co. is a vibrant community hub, serving as a safe space for kids after school, a tutoring center, and an enjoyable place just to pass a Saturday afternoon. They work hard to create meaningful social change and promote and expand literacy, and their coffee shop offers drinks friendly to dietary restrictions and the BEST lavender lemonade.
Johnson said that his favorite handsell this year has been Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward. He also said that Baldwin & Co.’s top priority this year is community, and his favorite SIBA benefit is the people.
You can learn more about Baldwin & Co. on their website: https://www.baldwinandcobooks.com/ and you can follow them on Facebook and Instagram @baldwinandcompany, and on Twitter @baldwinbooks.
The three novelists joining booksellers for lunch at March Madness at novel. in Memphis are all known for blazingly good storytelling.
Jeff Zentner is author of New York Times Notable Books The Serpent King and In the Wild Light,
winner of the American Library Association's William C. Morris Award, long-listed for the Carnegie Medal, AND two-time Southern Book Prize finalist. And oh yeah, in an earlier life he was a musician who recorded with Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, and Debbie
Harry. His new novel, Colton Gentry's Third Act is a "Read This Next!" SIBA book which Rae Ann Parker of Parnassus Books calls "a laugh-out-loud funny story told in beautiful language, full of heart." (She also calls Zentner "the Southern
Emily Henry.")
Nathan Gower's work has been published in Baltimore Review, Birmingham Arts Journal,
Louisville Magazine, Louisville Review, New Southerner, Santa Fe Literary Review, Valparaiso Fiction Review and elsewhere. He is Professor of English at Campbellsville University in Kentucky, and The Act of Disappearing is his first novel. Silas House says that it is "a perfectly calibrated balance of propulsive suspense and elegant prose, resulting in a complex and beautifully written debut."
Ace Atkins is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author who started his writing
career as a crime beat reporter in Florida. Don’t Let the Devil Ride is his thirtieth novel. His previous novels include eleven books in the Quinn Colson series and multiple true-crime novels based on infamous crooks and killers. In 2010,
he was chosen by Robert B. Parker’s family to continue the iconic Spenser series, adding ten novels to the franchise. Don Winslow calls Atkins "diabolically talented."
The March Madness event at Quail Ridge Books features a wide range of writers -- Children's, Thriller, Memoir, and Politics.
Gillian McDunn is a well known children's author whose books frequently appear on "Best of the Year" lists: case in point, she is the recipient of the 2024 Southern Book Prize for When Sea Becomes Sky. Her new book is Trouble at the Tangerine, which Diane Capriola of Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA calls "A fun and engaging whodunit with lots of heart."
Omar Tyree is a New York Times bestselling author, NAACP Image Award-winner, recipient of the Phillis Wheatley Literary Award, journalist, speaker, entrepreneur, and filmmaker. A graduate of Howard University’s School of Communications, he has written more than twenty books with over two million copies in print. His new novel, Control, is a story of psychological suspense in the Atlanta music scene that calls to mind SA Cosby and Walter Mosley.
Molly Stillman is the host of the Can I Laugh on Your Shoulder? podcast and a sought-after speaker. The lifestyle blog she started in 2007, Still Being Molly, is a community for women who love ethical style, clean beauty, parenting, funny stories, and serving in their communities. Her memoir If I Don't Laugh, I'll Cry, says novelist Kristin Hannah, "is uplifting and inspirational, with a happy ending that is both hard won and ferociously fought for."
Bill Adair is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, the Knight Professor for the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy at Duke University and the director of the Duke Reporters’ Lab. He is also the founder of the website PolitiFact, the go-to source for fact checking in a world awash with disinformation. His new book, Beyond the Big Lie takes a hard look at the culture of lying in American politics.
Booksellers who attend the March Madness event at M. Judson will get to meet four authors, some new and some familiar and welcome faces!
Heather Frese, who won the Lee Smith Novel Prize for her debut The Baddest Girl on the Planet, returns with her new book The Saddest Girl on the Beach. A freelance writer, Heather worked with Outer Banks publications as well as publishing short fiction, essays, poetry, and interviews in various literary journals. Coastal North Carolina is her longtime love and source of inspiration, her writing deeply influenced by the wild magic and history of the Outer Banks.
Lina Maslo is a children's book author and illustrator working in Anderson, South Carolina. Her new books is Threads: Zlata’s Ukrainian Shirt, inspired by the story of her Ukrainian grandparents. Lina's other books include Free as a Bird: The Story of Malala, which is a Library Guild Selection, CCBC Choice, and the winner of the Living the Dream Book Award, and Through the Wardrobe: How C. S. Lewis Created Narnia
Even though she currently lives in Oregon Karen Spears Zacharias is a familiar name to Southern readers for both her fiction and nonfiction work, which focuses on women and justice. Jeannette Walls caller her new novel, No Perfect Mothers, "both tragic and triumphant, a stunning reminder that we should learn from the lessons of our past."
Sarah Loudin Thomas is the author of numerous acclaimed novels, including The Finder of Forgotten Things, The Right Kind of Fool, winner of the 2021 Selah Book of the Year, and Miracle in a Dry Season, winner of the 2015 INSPY Award. Her work in public relations for Biltmore Estate informs her new novel, These Tangled Threads, set in the historic Biltmore Plantation of the 1920s. A native of West Virginia, she and her husband now live in western North Carolina.
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Thursday, February 22, 2024
Spotlight on Resist Booksellers
Resist Booksellers in Petersburg, VA has made a tremendous impact on their community in less than 2 years of being open. Petersburg did not have its own literary space previously, and Resist stepped in to fill the void. They work hard to support community needs, including partnering with local schools and the public library to provide resources, literacy programming, and fun. They are currently working to deepen their community partnerships and to build a network of Little Free Libraries across the city.
Owner Demetrius Frazier is the current Chief Learning Officer of a multi-billion dollar manufacturing company and Board President of Black Men Read, a literacy nonprofit he cofounded in 2019. Demetrius loves to read, of course, and he is currently reading Refresh: The Journey to Find Peace by Gary T. Taylor, which he says is “an amazing work that simplifies the work it takes to find peace in your life.” Demetrius said that the best part of being a bookseller is “the pure joy of connecting with book lovers about books and community leaders on improving literacy outcomes in the community.”
You can learn more about Resist Booksellers on their website: https://resistbooksellers.com and you can follow them on Facebook and YouTube @resistbks, Instagram and TikTok @resist_bks, and LinkedIn @resistbooksellers.
The Werewolf at Dusk: And Other Stories by David Small
David Small's illustrations give life to three short stories about age, identity, and metamorphosis in the vein of Franz Kafka and Alfred Hitchcock. The illustration is dreamlike; and although the stories are short, they are abundant with depth.
– Isabel Agajanian from Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn
This is a poignant story about family and all the ways those closest to you can do the most harm. A sweet story of finding family through love.
– Jackie Willey from Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina
Rabbit Heart: A Mother's Murder, a Daughter's Story by Kristine S. Ervin
Books like this give me hope that beauty can truly overcome even the direst of circumstances. How proud her mother would be of her for pulling together such a triumph of a book: to honor memories of the before, to allow space to heal, and to give voice and power back to those who deserve it.
– Alissa Redmond from South Main Book Company in Salisbury, North Carolina
Like Happiness by Ursula Villarreal-Moura
A searing debut that deftly explores the effects of an unhealthy relationship between a predatory male writer and a young woman on the cusp of adulthood.
– Maggie Robe from Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
James by Percival Everett
A necessary look into the life of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn's Jim, or James, told with Percival Everett's unflinching, poetic, and entertaining prose.
– James Harrod from Malaprop's in Asheville, North Carolina
And don't forget about the March/April Read This Next! Kids List:
Snail by Minu Kim, Mattho Mandersloot (Trans.)
What a delightful book. I absolutely adore the illustrations, black and white drawing with minimal use of color.
– Keeshia Jacklitch from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
The Black Girl Survives in This One by Desiree S. Evans (Ed.), Saraciea J. Fennell (Ed.)
I love a horror anthology and a final girl story is even better! This book is a mix of powerhouse authors of color that portray strong black women triumphing over baddies - both human and not. Don't worry, not EVERYONE survives so you'll still get lots of heart pounding terror, thrills, and chills - plus a side of humor in some tales!
– Andrea Richardson from Fountain Books in Richmond, Virginia
Blood City Rollers by V.P. Anderson, Tatiana Hill (Illus.)
Fast moving, silly, with just the right amount of character introspection...Mira's journey is very literal in that she gets injured and can no longer skate, distupting her parents' plans for the Olympics. Luckily, she's kidnapped by a vampire roller derby team who is in desperate need of a "mandatory human member."
– Jamie Kovacs from Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo
This is a teen thriller where the disappearance at the heart of the narrative is simultaneously at the side of the narrative. The true story is that of the main character, Jo-Lynn, and her desperate struggles to regain her footing emotionally, socially, and academically after experiencing sexual trauma. I loved it.
– Kate Snyder from Plaid Elephant Books in Danville, Kentucky
The Book That Can Read Your Mind by Marianna Coppo
Is this a picture book? A magic trick? It's pure fun! You will want to read this over and over again.
– Rae Ann Parker from Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee
Someone Just Like You by Helen Docherty, David Roberts (Illus.)
Very sweet empathy lesson in a bright, gorgeous picture book!
– Alissa Redmond from South Main Book Company in Salisbury, North Carolina
Both lists, with full reviews from SIBA booksellers, will be published atThe Southern Bookseller Review on March 1st. Current Read This Next! books can be found here.
And books on past lists make an interesting and unusual "best of the year" reading list for book clubs choosing their picks for the new year.
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
What to expect at March Madness: Week 3
The last week of March Madness features four events at stores spread throughout SIBA's extensive region, from Arkansas to Florida. Firestorm Books in Asheville, NC will discuss their worker-owned coop business model as well as the ins and outs of being a queer, feminist, and radical bookstore in the South. 44th & 3rd Bookseller in Atlanta, GA will be talking about invoicing, statement management, and how they have used Batch for Books to manage accounts payable. Nathan Halter from Batch will also be at the event. Bookish in Fort Smith, AR will talk about their approach to building community partnerships, including their highly successful "Stems & Stories" and "Readers to Leaders" programs. And finally, Books & Books in Coral Gables, FL will discuss what led to their creation of their 501(c)(3), Books & Books Literary Foundation, their ongoing fight against book banning, and how to work with the Spanish language book market and reach Spanish readers.
All March Madness events run from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM local time and include an author luncheon. The general format for all events is:
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Education Session presented by hosting store
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Author Luncheon
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Bookseller Idea Share
Some stores may have special presentations planned, depending on the location and topic. Updated information will be included below and on the event page.
Next week: The authors you will meet at March Madness!
March 18: Firestorm in Asheville, NC is a collectively-owned radical bookstore and community event space. Since 2008 they’ve supported grassroots movements in Southern Appalachia while developing a workplace on the basis of cooperation, empowerment and equity. Last year Firestorm achieved a milestone for their store mission when they purchased a new building (a former gas station) and arranged to donate the land to a community land trust. They will discuss how they operate as a worker co-operative without a traditional management structure, as well as what it's like being a queer / feminist / radical bookstore in the South.
March 19: 44th & 3rd Bookseller in Atlanta, GA opened in 2017. And although the store name sounds like it might be an address, in fact it is a tribute to the values of owners Warren and Cheryl Lee. "44th" in honor of the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, and "3rd" for the three founding principles representing by the books they carry: Life, literature, and Legacy. The store is one of the early adopters of the Batch for Books invoice management platform, and will present on their Invoice and Statement Management strategy. They will discuss their starter invoice management system and how Batch has made accounts payable more efficient and managable. Nathan Halter, the Program Manager of Batch for Books US will also be present to answer questions, and help folks get started with Batch.
March 20: Bookish in Fort Smith, AR, located in a building that used to be a bakery, thinks of its mission as providing cultural food for their community. They will discuss their approach to building community partnerships, including their successful Stems & Stories and Readers to Leaders programs. In January of 2020, Bookish went from a partnership to a sole ownership. In an effort to feel less isolated while continuing to fulfill their mission, Bookish reached out to others in the community who believed in the power of an independent bookstore. Through partnerships with small business owners, nonprofits, and corporations, they have been able to uncover their unique bookstore personality while meeting community goals and hosting some really fun and lucrative events.
March 22: Books & Books in Coral Gables, FLhas been on the frontlines of the fight against censorship and book banning. They will discuss their recently launched nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, Books & Books Literary Foundation and how their non-profit foundation helps them achieve their store's mission to nurture readers, cultivate community, and promote free expression. They will also talk about working with the Spanish language book market, and how to bring these books into your inventory and reach Spanish readers.
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
"What did I love about NVNR? Being able to talk directly to other bookstore operators, publisher reps, and vendor reps without a computer between us. Meeting people who I might be able to work with later." --NVNR 2023 Attendee
Bookstores make many strategic decisions in the early part of the year, from planning their budget to setting goals to grow their business. One of those decisions is which conferences or events they need to attend to help realize the goals they have set.
Regional conferences like New Voices New Rooms are important to independent bookstores, who look to them to:
meet both regional and national authors
meet their sales and publisher reps
connect with their fellow booksellers
attend education geared toward regional issues
And as they are smaller and within their own region, regional conferences are less expensive than national events and have more flexible options for registration and travel.
Registration for NVNR opens April 2. Click here to be added to the NVNR early notification list and be eligible for earlybird discount prices.
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Interview with McCoy Grant recipient Rachel Randolph
Applications are currently open for the McCoy Grant for Bookseller-Writers, one of the most unique grants available to SIBA members. There is a close bond between booksellers and writers. The McCoy Grant, created by author Sarah McCoy in partnership with SIBA, is for any unpublished southern women or nonbinary booksellers who harbor ambitions to be published writers. Two $1500 grants will be awarded. The deadline to submit an application is March 21, 2024.
2024 is the second year the McCoy Grant has been offered. Sarah McCoy spent some time talking to the recipients of last year's grant recipients, Kendra Gayle Lee of Bookish in Atlanta, GA and Rachel Randolph of Parnassus in Nashville, TN. Here is her conversation with Randolph.
Sarah McCoy: First off, congrats again on being the 2023 McCoy Grant recipients. It may be a new year, but we’ll be celebrating you until the 2024 recipients are announced in August! So, we thought it the perfect time to sit down and chat about what you’ve been up to. How has the McCoy Grant made an impact on your writing?
Rachel Randolph: The McCoy Grant has helped my writing by providing me with resources to lean on in hard times! While I was in the late stages of revision, my beloved and trusted laptop decided to leave this world behind and pass on to the next one. I am so grateful for the grant money which enabled me to quickly replace an invaluable writing tool.
SM: Would you like to tell us a little about your work in progress?
RR: My work in progress is a high fantasy novel titled Ring of Light. Ring of Light follows Arabella, an Almost God, who is suddenly forced to descend to the mortal realm and reconnect her soul with its missing half. The novel focuses on queer love and the temporal nature of mortality, the extreme highs and lows we feel as we walk through time. I’m excited to say I’m nearly done with revisions and plan to query in early February!
SM: How has the McCoy Grant made an impact on your personal life?
RR: Unfortunately, I had some unexpected medical bills come up in 2023. I always think of Virginia’s Woolfe’s A Room of One’s Own when I think about money and writing. To make art, we must have the privilege of free time, resources, and the space to create. The McCoy grant has helped me take care of myself, physically and mentally, which has in return, strengthened my art.
SM: What would you tell other bookseller writers who are thinking of applying?
RR: I would say to take your art seriously. If you want to write books, then do everything in your power to take steps towards that goal. Applying for this grant is within your power, so take that first step.
SM: Both you and Kendra Gayle are diamonds and I count myself blessed to have found your sparkles in the mine. Such a pleasure catching up. You have a bright future ahead of you. I know your fellow booksellers are cheering for you and your bookstore. As am I!
Sarah McCoy is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author and creator of the McCoy Grant.
Rachel Randolph is a fantasy writer, part-time poet, and frontline bookseller at Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee.
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Thursday, February 15, 2024
What to expect at March Madness: Week 2
The second week of March Madness brings booksellers to the Gulf Coast for events at Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, LA and The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, AL.
All March Madness events run from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM local time and include an author luncheon. The general format for all events is:
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Education Session presented by hosting store
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Author Luncheon
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Bookseller Idea Share
Some stores may have special presentations planned, depending on the location and topic. Updated information will be included below and on the event page.
March 12:
In an interview several years ago Rayna Nielsen, one of the co-owners of Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, LA, described one of those nightmare moments all booksellers have faced at some point: a zoom event with Chuck Palahniuk had to be cancelled right at the start because the author couldn't log on. "The attendees were already in the Zoom waiting and they were amazing, they spent over an hour swapping stories and sharing their memorabilia with each other. It was a really special thing to be a part of," said Nielsen.
Blue Cypress Books has created a vibrant social media community through an authentic, personality-forward content approach. Over the last 3 years, this strategy has increased their follower count by over 70% and consistently resulted in both online engagement and in-store sales. In the same time period they have expanded their event space with a move to a new location and added a robust selection of engaging events to their calendar. They will hold a workshop-style overview of their approach, tips and tricks, and tools to help your social media and events work build community among your customers.
March 13:
Owner Angela Trigg says that The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, AL is "haunted by the ghosts of great literature." The store specializes in genre-focused bookselling tailored for Gen Z and Millennial readers, (see what Angela has been reading) offering a unique experience through hyper-categorized genres, engaging staff, and dynamic events. At their March Madness event, they will explore their innovative approach to bookselling, highlighting why they thrive alongside giants like Amazon by focusing on experience over transactions, as illustrated in the owner's 'widget vs. experience-seeking shopper' theory.
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF GREAT SOUTHERN LITERATURE: ANN PATCHETT, MARGARET RENKL, AND GILLIAN McDUNN ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2024 SOUTHERN BOOK PRIZE
(Asheville, NC) In what is now their traditional Valentine’s love letter to people who love Southern literature, Southern indie booksellers and the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance are pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Southern Book Prize (SBP). 2024 is a special year that marks the 25th anniversary of the prize, a quarter of a century of recognition of great Southern literature by the people who would know, Southern independent booksellers.
This year’s winners are Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (Harper) in Fiction, The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl (Spiegel & Grau) in Nonfiction, and When Sea Becomes Sky by Gillian McDunn (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) in Children’s & YA. Winners receive a donation in their name to the charity or nonprofit of their choice.
The Southern Book Prize, representing Southern bookseller favorites from 2023, is awarded to “the best Southern book of the year” as nominated by Southern indie booksellers and voted on by their customers. Winners are chosen by popular vote from a ballot of finalists in fiction, nonfiction, and children’s literature. Thousands of ballots are cast during the voting period, making every Southern Book Prize winner a true Southern reader favorite.
Enthusiasm for the Southern Book Prize is also enhanced by the Southern Book Prize Raffle to receive a collection of the SBP finalists and winning titles, as well as a Social Media Scavenger Hunt on Instagram, where participants can win a gift card to the participating bookstore of their choice. This year’s raffle winner is Tonya Schur, a customer of Books to Be Red in Ocracoke, North Carolina. Susan Hansen, a customer of Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee, is the scavenger hunt winner and will receive a $100 gift card to the bookstore.
The Authors:
When she was notified Tom Lake was a Southern Book Prize winner, Ann Patchett said, “Huge thanks to all the indie booksellers who've made this book a success. I'm so grateful to you for putting Tom Lake into readers' hands. This is the nicest Valentine ever.” Patchett asked for her award money to be donated to PEN America, an organization at the forefront of the fight against the rise of book-banning attempts.
Margaret Renkl said, “There is a special sweetness to the Southern Book Prize that makes it nearly impossible to find adequate words of thanks. To know that a book has been chosen by booksellers, who read everything, and by readers, who have so many claims on their time and attention—could there be any celebration more heart-lifting to an author? Oh, my dear friends in independent bookstores across the South: Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Renkl’s prize will go to Homegrown National Park, a nonprofit that encourages people to convert their outdoor spaces into beautiful and functioning wildlife habitats. She noted that the organization is “a great resource for readers of The Comfort of Crows who want to help their own wild neighbors.”
“I’ve known for a while now that not much is better than having the warmth and support of Southern booksellers and readers,” said Gillian McDunn, “and so it feels like this award is the frosting on an already delicious cake. I am proud to be a part of the rich literary tradition of our region and honored to have When Sea Becomes Sky chosen from a list of so many wonderful books. My endless thanks, gratitude, and appreciation to those who have cheered along this book of my heart.” McDunn’s prize will go to support The Emily K. Center in Durham, North Carolina, which works to build the academic, career, and leadership potential of traditionally underrepresented students in higher education.
What Southern Booksellers Have to Say About the Winning Books:
2024 SBP Children’s & YA Winner: When Sea Becomes Sky by Gillian McDunn Bloomsbury Children’s Books, February 2023
“I was devastated for myself and every character I had met along the way while reading this wonderfully crafted story. This book will rip your heart out and put it back together perfectly.”
— Rayna Nielsen, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana
2024 SBP Fiction Winner: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Harper, August 2023
“Ann Patchett does it again! Tom Lake is so good it’s like eating a favorite dessert. Do you gobble it up quickly, or slowly savor it so that it lasts longer? I would give a million stars to this one.”
— Monie Henderson, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi
2024 SBP Nonfiction Winner: The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl Spiegel & Grau, October 2023
“You will want to plant something, feed something, preserve something, and protect something all at the same time. You don’t have to be a nature lover to read this book, but you will be by the time you finish it.”
— Mary Patterson, The Little Bookshop in Midlothian, Virginia
An indie bookseller-curated, reader-chosen award, The Southern Book Prize showcases books that have been favorite “hand sell” titles of Southern booksellers and establishes indie booksellers as a knowledgeable, trustworthy source for avid readers looking for their next great read.
“From the joy of seeing the bookmobile pull up in my childhood village to visiting independent bookstores everywhere I travel as an adult, books have played an important role in my life. I'm so grateful to authors and booksellers everywhere for feeding my habit!”
—Tonya Schur, 2024 Southern Book Prize Raffle Winner
The Southern Book Prize, formerly the SIBA Book Award, has been awarded annually since 1999. SIBA launched the public ballot in 2019 to encourage stores to engage their customers in the important question of what books deserve to be called “the best Southern book of the year.” For more information, visit the Southern Book Prize home at The Southern Bookseller Review.
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March 20: Bookish in Fort Smith, AR, located 
March 22: Books & Books in Coral Gables, FL 
March 12: 
March 13: 
(Asheville, NC) In what is now their traditional Valentine’s love letter to people who love Southern literature, Southern indie booksellers and the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance are pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Southern Book Prize (SBP). 2024 is a special year that marks the 25th anniversary of the prize, a quarter of a century of recognition of great Southern literature by the people who would know, Southern independent booksellers.
When she was notified Tom Lake was a Southern Book Prize winner, Ann Patchett said, “Huge thanks to all the indie booksellers who've made this book a success. I'm so grateful to you for putting Tom Lake into readers' hands. This is the nicest Valentine ever.” Patchett asked for her award money to be donated to 
Margaret Renkl said, “There is a special sweetness to the Southern Book Prize that makes it nearly impossible to find adequate words of thanks. To know that a book has been chosen by booksellers, who read everything, and by readers, who have so many claims on their time and attention—could there be any celebration more heart-lifting to an author? Oh, my dear friends in independent bookstores across the South: Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Renkl’s prize will go to 
“I’ve known for a while now that not much is better than having the warmth and support of Southern booksellers and readers,” said Gillian McDunn, “and so it feels like this award is the frosting on an already delicious cake. I am proud to be a part of the rich literary tradition of our region and honored to have When Sea Becomes Sky chosen from a list of so many wonderful books. My endless thanks, gratitude, and appreciation to those who have cheered along this book of my heart.” McDunn’s prize will go to support 
