The five new books on Read This Next! for February, 2023 represent the wide range and eclectic tastes of Southern indie booksellers. From rom-com to literary ghost story, historical fiction to juvenile literature to one man's discovery of the power of art to heal grief...Read This Next! books offer an offbeat list of unusual stories that indie booksellers are really excited about, the books getting the most interesting buzz.

What does all that mean for SIBA bookstores? RTNext titles are featured in The Southern Bookseller Review, in the SIBA newsletter, and on SIBA's social media accounts, where bookseller reviews for each title are highlighted. SIBA makes a point of putting the store excitement and buzz around these books in front of their publishers, raising store visibility with the industry. SIBA also creates a resource kit for stores that includes a printable/shareable flyer for in-store promotions and a handy Edelweiss collection for help with placing restock orders.

Bookseller Resources:
Edelweiss Collection | Flyer | Flyer Front (JPG)

What SIBA Booksellers have to say:

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
Set in the late 1940's and early 1950's, The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson is a wonderful historical fiction novel that tells the story of two young women who are working hard to achieve their dreams. This novel pulls you in from the first page and doesn't let go until the very end. Highly recommended!
– Mary Patterson from The Little Bookshop in Midlothian, VA

All the Beauty in the World : The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley
Patrick Bringley becomes a guard at The Metropolitan Museum of Art after his brother dies and he can't handle the day to day stress of his former job. Spending his days in the midst of some of the most beautiful art in the world, he slowly heals from his grief. This book provides a behind the scenes look at everyday life in the museum and I loved it. And there is a reference list of the art mentioned in the book which can then be viewed online.
–Beth Carpenter from The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, NC

When Sea Becomes Sky by Gillian McDunn
This is a book that needs to be read spoiler free, but what I can tell you is that this is Gillian McDunn at her finest. The intersection of science and art is a perfect compliment to the interpersonal relationships in the book, every single detail adds a layer and acomplexity the story that makes this one to sit and think about.
–Beth Seufer Buss from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
A gothic ghost story set in Vietnam. A modern family who have been torn apart by time and a house possessed by its former occupants. Haunting is the perfect word for this story. I was engrossed from the very beginning and now that I have finished it I can't stop thinking about it.
–Rayna Nielsen from Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, LA

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest
Lily is stuck in a dead-end job as an editor's assistant, the one Greene sister who hasn't managed to make a success of her life. On a whim, one day she emails the author of her favorite fantasy book -- and he unexpectedly writes back! A fun, flirty, bookish romance that will appeal to anyone who's had fantasies of hitting it off with their favorite author.
–Melissa Oates from Fiction Addiction in Greenville, SC

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

What are your plans for Black History Month? Are they enough?

Black History Month was made "official" in 1976 by President Gerald Ford, as an opportunity "to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history." Of course, the presidential declaration was a culmination of a long fight for the acknowledgment of Black contributions to this country, beginning in 1926 when the historians Carter G. Woodsen and Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, and set aside a week in February to honor Black history.

Most bookstores acknowledge Black History Month in some manner. They will create special displays for Black History Month. They may host a special event, or assign books by Black authors for store book clubs and storytimes. But these things have become almost rote actions. A month later they will do the same things for Women's History Month. A month after that, for Poetry Month.

"To honor" is "to show great esteem and respect." And this is something we could all ask ourselves as February and Black History Month approaches. Does a book display really show "GREAT respect"? Are there other things a bookstore can do that would be more in the spirit of honoring the history and impact of Black Americans, and the meaning of Black History Month?

Ron Carucci and Christopher Littlefield, who write about leadership issues for Forbes Magazine, have created a kind of checklist for business leaders to bring the original meaning and purpose of Black History Month back to the forefront, based on the work of Dr. Zoe Spencer, activist professor of sociology at Virginia State University and CEO of Diverse Relations Group LLC.:

1. Test your assumptions about Black history. Does "Black History" for you begin with slavery? Did racism end with Martin Luther King Jr and the Civil Rights Amendment?

2. Be brave enought to challenge your version of history. Black people have been denied credit for many of their accomplishments. This is simple fact. Don’t be afraid to unlearn.

3. Examine how the media shapes your narrative. How many Black faces do you see in the television programs you are watching, and what are their roles? What about your social media feeds? Who are you choosing to follow and friend?

4. Challenge unfounded narratives when you hear them. This is where bookstores shine. Bookstores are centers of knowledge and information. They are in the business of putting knowledge into the hands of their customers, and of advising people what is worth reading. So it is worth asking, how is your store plan for Black History Month challenging some of those unfounded narratives?

Ultimately, Dr. Spencer notes, Black History Month should be "a meaningful, honorable, and transformative experience for all," and one that "expands our knowledge of and respect for Black contributions to world civilization."

Read more

SIBA is always appreciative and welcoming of funds to support our booksellers, to provide travel assistance and education, including DEI training.  In 2022, because of our generous sponsors, SIBA was able to provide scholarship funding for every bookseller who requested assistance. We hope to do the same in 2023, and we’re reaching out to our publisher and author friends to consider donations and sponsorships to make this possible. No amount is too small, every donation makes a difference!

Booksellers tell us that  opportunities to connect with other booksellers outside their store,  attend conferences and pursue further education, are life-changing; these opportunities make huge differences in how a store runs, thrives, innovates, and retains staff.  

How you can Make a Difference:

1. Support Professional Development: In 2022, SIBA established the Wanda Jewell Scholarship for Professional Development. This scholarship is in honor of SIBA’s much-beloved former Executive Director, who retired in 2020. This scholarship is author-funded, and provides financial support for booksellers through education and networking at in-person SIBA-sponsored events. The Friends & Fiction authors-Mary Kay Andrews, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Kristin Harmel and Patti Callahan Henry-stepped forward to provide 2022 funding. We are seeking author funding for 2023. Anyone wishing to make a donation in honor of Wanda Jewell may do so here. 

If you’d like to make a large donation, on behalf of several authors, or on your own, we can work out more details. Contact lindamarie@sibaweb.com.

2. Support DEI Education and Training: SIBA is committed to Anti-Racism and an important  aspect of this commitment is DEI training for SIBA staff, board, and booksellers. SIBA also hosts an annual 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge for our membership and others in our industry. This year’s Challenge begins on Feb 6.  SIBA welcomes funds to support these initiatives through our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Education Fund. Please consider supporting this important work. Link to donate here. We would love to highlight you as a sponsor!

Statistics You Should Know

This week SIBA has opened registration to it's 2023 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge. The Challenge is designed to help people make issues of equity and inclusion a habitual frame of mind, rather than an occasional consideration. And while the challenge is modeled as a self-guided journey, SIBA intends it to be a professional tool for bookstores in creating successful business models.

So why take the time to do the challenge? In an industry where businesses consider a 2% year end net profit to be a highly successful year, business owners have to be deliberate in the choices they make and the things they invest in. Here are some statistics that explain why investing in DEI initiatives makes good business sense:

Companies with higher-than-average diversity had 19% higher innovation revenues.

In a survey of 1700 companies across eight countries, the Harvard Business Review determined there was a statistically significant relationship between diversity and innovation. The more diverse the workforce, the more innovative and adaptable the company.

Organizations with above-average gender diversity outperform companies by 46% to 58%.

A 2016 Gallup Report found that racial and gender diversity was integral to creating a workplace culture where employees feel valued and welcome. This translates into lower employee turnover, better employee engagement, and a better overall financial performance.

67% of job seekers consider diversity important when considering employment opportunities.

According to a survey by Glassdoor.com, three out of four people consider a diverse workforce an important factor when evaluating job offers. Your workforce is a visible demonstration of your diversity hiring policies. A lack of diversity in staffing can result in your company losing talented potential new hires.

Ultimately, according to a study by MacKinsey & Company, there is a direct correlation between racial and ethnic diversity and better financial performance

Read more at Bonus.ly

The SIBA Board has announced its 2023 Office Hours Schedule. The board will meet with members quarterly on Thursdays at 1:00 PM, ET, via Zoom on the following dates:

• February 9
• May 11
• August 17
• November 9
  

This is a chance for booksellers to talk directly to their board, find out what the board is working on, ask questions, and raise issues or concerns. The best resource SIBA booksellers have is each other. Chances are, if there is an issue or a problem facing your store, one of your bookseller colleagues has valuable experience that can help.

Register for the February Meeting

Monday, January 30 at 1 pm ET on Zoom

Register here

On Monday, January 30 at 1 pm ET, SIBA will be holding its first Orientation of 2023.

Orientations are designed to give new members a quick tour (and long-standing members a refresh) of SIBA's programs and services, with special attention being paid to programs and events in the near future. The Orientation is open to everyone. Stores are encouraged to sign up their staff -- especially new staff hires.

• March Madness -- spring events at SIBA bookstores
  
• The 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge -- part of SIBA's continuing commitment to bookseller DEI development
  
• The Summer Catalog -- last year's highly successfully gift catalog returns
  

This first orientation will be especially important because booksellers will have a chance to meet the entire SIBA staff, including Candice Huber, our new membership coordinator. This is the first time SIBA has ever had someone in this position. Candice is already a familiar face to SIBA as a former board member, but at the orientation they'll talk to members about their role in helping bookstores make the most of their SIBA membership.

The Orientation is open to everyone. Stores are encouraged to sign up their staff -- especially new staff hires.

Jamie Fiocco, owner of Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC has joined SIBA's Board as an interim Board member, stepping into the place of Candice Huber, who resigned in order to take a position as SIBA's membership coordinator. Jamie worked in book publishing for over a decade before becoming an independent bookseller. She is a past president and board member of both SIBA and the ABA and is an unapologetic policy governance and parliamentary procedure geek. She looks forward to once again serving her fellow Southern indie booksellers.

A familiar and beloved face for Southern booksellers, Wayne Donnell passed away on December 28, 2022 after a short illness. In his obituary family noted that "Wayne was a consummate reader who worked for years as a publishers' rep. He made many wonderful friends on the road, sometimes taking his children with him." Donnell was a regular presence at SIBA's fall trade show with George Scheer Associates until his retirement in 2011.

Heard any good books lately? SBR is now including links to the audiobook editions of reviewed titles when they are available. SBR uses the independent bookstore-friendly Libro.fm audiobook service, and will include audiobook links on its posted reviews if an audiobook version of the title is available at Libro.fm and the reviewing store has a Libro.fm affiliate account SBR can link to. Audiobook links can be seen in the latest edition of the SBR newsletter and on the individual reviews published on the SBR website.

What a year! At SIBA's annual meeting in October Executive Director Linda-Marie Barrett called 2022 "a year of transition." As the country slowly moved out of the pandemic, bookstores began opening their doors again, and SIBA, after two years of operating virtually, once again started hosting programs at member stores. Here are some of the things SIBA accomplished this year.

In-Person Events

SIBA hosted two in-person events this year, in Winston-Salem, NC in April, and in New Orleans in September. Both events filled up in record time, 70 people in April, 110 in September. The two events introduced a new model for SIBA's in-person programs by including a tour to showcase bookstores in the community as well as a visit to a place with cultural significance for the area. Booksellers who attended the Winston-Salem event were able to visit the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, located in the Woolworth's Building that was the site of the first of the lunch counter sit-in protests in February, 1960. In New Orleans, the opening reception was held at the Historical New Orleans Collection, and booksellers were able to see the museum's extensive exhibit of early New Orleans culture and history. (When French President Emmanuel Macron visited New Orleans earlier this month, HNOC was one of the places he had to see). SIBA also finally was able to make good on its promise of last year by serving vegetarian fare at both events. SIBA's commitment to prioritizing a vegetarian menu has since been adopted by other organizations, including the ABA.

Several times this year Linda-Marie Barrett visited bookstores to talk with them about their business and their expectations of SIBA. Her most recent trip was to bookstores in the Atlanta area, and she has also made trips to Greenville, SC, New Orleans, and Florida.

Virtual Programs

Virtual events hosted by SIBA this year included the launch of James Lee Burke's new novel Every Cloak Rolled in Blood via the Reader Meet Writer author series. Diane Chamberlain and Mesha Maren also appeared on Reader Meet Writer. SIBA hosted two online bookseller orientation events for new members that also included presentations by the book industry services Edelweiss and Batch.

Bookseller Development

This year SIBA carried out its first-ever Census of SIBA Bookstores. Over half of SIBA's membership participated, providing invaluable data about their store operations post-pandemic.

It was the second year of SIBA's 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, the self-guided program for bookstores and booksellers designed to help them increase diversity, equity, and inclusivity in their businesses. 50 people from 40 stores signed up to take the challenge. The Keynote event for the challenge this year featured a conversation between Laura Coates, Just Pursuit: A Black Prosecutor’s Fight for Fairness, and Steven Wright, Coyotes of Carthage.

In support of bookseller development, SIBA has adopted a policy of partially reimbursing booksellers who complete a module in the Professional Bookseller Certification Program. And this year, in cooperation with Sarah McCoy Mustique Island, SIBA launched The McCoy Grant for any unpublished Southern women or nonbinary booksellers who harbor ambitions to be published writers. See a list of the many grants and scholarships SIBA provided its booksellers this year.

The Southern Bookseller Review

SIBA's consumer-targeted publication, The Southern Bookseller Review was launched in late 2020 to positive acclaim. In 2022 its reach increased significantly, with subscribers up 15% and website views more than tripling. Among the innovations SIBA added to the SBR program were monthly "special edition" newsletters on a single topic. The most popular special issues were February (Black History), April (Poetry), August (Harvest & Cookbooks) and September (Hispanic Heritage Month). SIBA also added reviews of Graphic Novels and Comics as a regular newsletter feature.

Most importantly, after a beta-testing period the previous year, SIBA has now made it possible for bookstores to embed their SBR reviews on their store websites. The embedded reviews automatically refresh to show the most recent reviews by the store published at SBR. Currently seven bookstores are running these "automatic staff picks" on their websites.

In July, SBR published its 1000th review from SIBA booksellers. As of this week, SBR is approaching 1400 published reviews. 72 SIBA bookstores have submitted reviews to SBR.

New Voices New Rooms

2022 was also a great year for New Voices New Rooms -- the programming partnership created between SIBA and NAIBA. NVNR hosted its regular Publicity Speed Dating event in the spring, giving bookstores a chance to pitch their stores directly to publishers and publicists. It also hosted two summer events in May and August -- the first focused on Fall release authors, and the latter with extra days of education and networking built into the schedule. The famous NVNR "Readers of the Last ARC" Galley Room processed 1500 requests from booksellers for review copies.

In October, NVNR hosted a bookseller-only reprise of one of the most popular sessions at the August event, "Responding to Hate," where booksellers were able to share difficult or confrontational situations and offer each other advice and support.

In November, NVNR hosted the second annual VIndies Ceremony, celebrating the best in bookstore video. the 2022 VIndies included an expanded list of categories, include "Staff Picks" and "Trending Sounds" -- both of which showcased the creative ways bookstores have used TikTok to share their enthusiasm for books and reading.

The Holiday Catalogs

Still the most popular benefit among SIBA booksellers, the holiday catalog is produced by RAMP, in cooperation with SIBA's sister organizations, NAIBA and GLIBA. This year, despite supply-chain worries and a shortened publication schedule, RAMP created both a Summer and a Winter Catalog for stores, and added an optional early ship date for stores that wanted to start they holiday promotions early (October is the new November!). 65 SIBA stores signed up for the RAMP Catalogs and distributed about 240,000 catalogs in 2022.

New Faces on the SIBA Team!

One of the most important changes in 2022 is that the SIBA staff has grown. In January Robin Wood came on board as SIBA Social Media Coordinator. Not only has she expanded the reach of SIBA's own social media presence, she has been dedicated to amplifying the presence of SIBA's member stores. Her regular posts of store reviews from SBR has caught the attention of authors and publishers, raising the visibility of SIBA bookstores within the industry and among readers.

In November Candice Huber, (owner of Tubby & Coo's Mid-City Bookshop in New Orleans) joined the SIBA team as its Membership Coordinator. Their role is to reach out to all SIBA bookstores and work with them to make sure they know about all their SIBA benefits. Candice wants to hear from stores about what things are working or not working, and what things they would like to see from SIBA in the future. Every SIBA bookstore can expect a call in the upcoming months!

Looking Ahead

While SIBA stores are busy with fourth quarter and holiday sales, SIBA uses this time to strategize for the upcoming year. SIBA booksellers can look forward to more of the great programming they are already familiar with, plus more in-person events and virtual networking opportunities. This upcoming spring sees the return of "March Madness" a series day-long events at nine bookstores across SIBA territory. New Voices New Rooms will return in 2023 as well, with its first in-person event in August in Alexandria, Virginia. NVNR is also continuing its virtual programming, starting with an Owners Retreat in January.

A Crazy and Gratifying Year

The year was not without its challenges. Some stores faced unprecedented difficulties -- book bans and storytime protests, which also become opportunities to rally the support of their communities Hurricane Ian had a devastating effect on bookstores on the Florida Gulf Coast, Right now, those stores are engaged in rebuilding, determined to re-open their doors. SIBA has lent support and advocated for its members wherever and whenever possible.

SIBA's membership grew from 152 stores in 2021 to 173 stores in 2022. 44 new bookstore accounts were created this year -- some from bookstores under new ownership, some from established stores that joined SIBA for the first time, but over half were brand new stores that opened their doors in the last 18 months.

If there is a word to describe SIBA's booksellers this year, it would be "eager." Over and over again members talked about their joy at having customers in their stores again, their determination to face all challenges, and their enthusiasm about the future.

If 2022 was a year of transition, the watch word for SIBA and SIBA bookstores in 2023 is "optimism."