All of the finalists on the 2023 Southern Book Prize Ballot have been reviewed by booksellers on The Southern Bookseller Review. Here is what they have to say about the Children's & YA finalists:

Beatrice Likes the Dark by April Genevieve Tucholke, Khoa Le (Illus.)
What a beautiful unfolding of sisterly love! It is what makes us uniquely different, that also makes us uniquely lovable. This book is sitting on my Grandma shelf–ready to share with my own darlings. –Annell Gerson, Bookmiser, Inc. in Marietta, GA

I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
On the cusp of graduation, being named valedictorian, and escaping her small town, Chloe Green is counting down the days. That is, until her academic rival Shara Wheeler kisses her and then disappears, leaving only pink envelopes in her wake. Full of wit, charm, and heart! –Chelsea Stringfield, Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN

Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady, Gracey Zhang (Illus.)
Nigel and the Moon will make your heart swell in the best way! Sure to be a beloved book, Nigel’s story resonates deeply with those who are scared to share their dreams. –Lauren Kean, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede
I thoroughly enjoyed how Alessa came into her own. What it means to be selfish and selfless. Is a hero the selfish Ghiotte, or the selfless Finestra, and is the balance necessary to be able to give your best? –Candice Conner, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, AL

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
A book that sinks its teeth into you from the first page. Andrew Joseph White crafts a horrifying apocalyptic world that feels at once utterly fresh yet familiar as the narrative grapples with climate change, illness, religious extremism, and LGBTQ issues. It’s a furious novel– but not without hope. –Charlie Williams, Square Books in Oxford, MS

The Problem with Prophecies by Scott Reintgen
While this story raises questions about fate, free will, and magic, it is at its core a sweet story about family, friendship, and first crushes. Reintgen writes insightfully about the liminal space between childhood and adolescence. –Heather Jeziorowski, Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA

Booksellers can find links to Edelweiss collections for all the finalists here: Fiction | Nonfiction | Children's & YA

The Overlooked Role of Marketing, Publicity, and Sales, or What does your media list look like?

In the first deep dive into the Pen America Report on Race, Equity, and Book Publishing, we skip to the end, where Pen America takes a hard look at the role of marketing and booksellers in the overall lack of real diversity in the industry.

One of the first things Pen America Report notes is that there is actually very little market research on book buyers and readers of color. So when publishers and bookstores have trouble reaching this market, it translates into the perception that "they don't read" and aren't worth targeting. And yet, it is of interest to note -- especially to independent bookstores -- that at least one study suggests that people of color buy far less from Amazon, and are far more deliberate in their purchases.

But the report notes that diverse titles are not well served by publisher and bookseller marketing efforts because they are put through a standard "boilerplate" process that never reaches a diverse audience. In publishing, slipping sales or disappointing returns of an anticipated book by a white author is often seen as a problem in the way the book has been marketed, whereas for an author of color, it is regarded as a problem with the book itself.

The bookstore version of this scenario is similar. It is not unusual for a bookstore to say that a BIPOC book "doesn't sell" or that people don't attend events with BIPOC writers. Even when stores alter their practices by, say, giving diverse books longer time on the shelves before slating them for returns, or placing them in high-visibility, high-profile areas of the shop, sales lag because the store has not developed a diverse readership or customer base. There is a significant difference between selling BIPOC titles to white readers, and creating the kind of store and selection that attracts diverse readers, but it is the latter that grows the demand for diverse books:

"Marketing and selling to a non-white audience takes specific expertise and connections built over time—and that editors and marketers of color are expected to develop and utilize these channels alongside staying on top of more standard forms of publicity and outreach." --Rockelle Henderson, President of Rock Inked

Step one is to do your research. Bookstores have regular promotional strategies for getting the word out about new books or store events. But since those strategies are not attracting a diverse audience, they are insufficient to the purpose.

Within their own communities, rather than relying on traditional promotional avenues, stores should search out the places diverse readers go to find out about new books: It might not be the local newspaper or public radio station, so they should look at the alternative papers and magazines in the area, as well as other Black media like radio stations, podcasts, and YouTube channels. Booksellers should make a point of reading beyond traditional book media like the New York Times Book Review or NPR to see what books are getting new buzz. They should also be reading BIPOC publications and watching Black television programs.

Stores should also make a note of venues that host BIPOC events and how they publicize them, be familiar with active Black churches and social hot-spots, clubs, cafes, and bars. If there is a college or university in the area, bookstores get to know the Black Studies departments. And it goes without saying that if there is an HBCU (historically black college or university) institution close by, the store should be familiar with its programs and departments.

Read the full report here

All of the finalists on the 2023 Southern Book Prize Ballot have been reviewed by booksellers on The Southern Bookseller Review. Here is what they have to say about the Fiction finalists:

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
There are so many captivating things about this novel. It's a beautiful story about a boy who loved his grandmother and who persevered to become a classical violinist and prove to everyone that he could do it. --Mary Patterson from The Little Bookshop in Midlothian, Virginia

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
It’s a “we think we’re enemies” but are actually idiots-to-lovers who perfectly fit each other kind of story. Henry is the unquestioned queen of banter, but this is probably her wittiest, most laugh-out-loud funny book to date. --Cristina Russell from Books & Books in Coral Gables,

A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow
I was enthralled with the impeccable voice of Zinnia in the follow-up to A Spindle Splintered. Harrow's incredible knowledge of fairy tales really shines through. --Amber Brown from Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, NC

If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery
An American immigration story full of hope, heartbreak, promises broken, and most importantly the constant struggle. Told in interconnected stories, If I Survive You addresses class, race, and economic disparity but is also funny. Mark my words, Escoffery is a rising literary star. --Rachel Watkins, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia

Lark Ascending by Silas House
Set in a near future that seems to be closer and closer to becoming a reality, Lark Ascending follows Lark as he survives ordeal after ordeal. As harrowing as Lark’s story is, Silas House manages to imbue it with humanity and hope. This is a story that will stick with you for a long time.  ―Chelsea Bauer from Union Ave Books in Knoxville, Tennesse

Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson
Now is Not The Time to Panic covers that wry space between childhood and adulthood – how we want to be seen and how others see us...The writing is amazing. Sentences that stop you in your tracks. --Susan Williams, M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina

Booksellers can find links to Edelweiss collections for all the finalists here: Fiction | Nonfiction | Children's & YA

The Best Southern Books of the Year!
Announcing the 2023 Southern Book Prize Finalists

(Asheville, NC) Southern independent booksellers have selected the finalists for the 2023 Southern Book Prize (SBP), representing bookseller favorites from 2022 that are Southern in nature—either about the South or by a Southern writer.

SBP nominations are submitted by bookseller members of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) and culled from books that have received enthusiastic reviews from Southern booksellers. These 18 finalists, six in each category, received the highest number of nominations, making them a collection of the most beloved “hand sells” in fiction, nonfiction, and children’s literature of the year.

The finalists make up the 2023 Southern Book Prize ballot at www.southernbookprize.com. Voting opens November 3 and will run through February 1, 2023 and is open to booksellers and readers who love Southern literature and Southern independent bookstores. Participating bookstores promote the ballot to their customers, and submitted ballots are entered into a raffle to win a set of the finalist titles.

Winners in each category will be chosen by popular vote. Southern Book Prize winners will be announced on February 14, Valentine’s Day.

SIBA launched the public ballot to encourage bookstores to engage their customers in the important question of what books deserve to be called “the best Southern book of the year.”

The Finalists: Fiction

Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson [Ecco]
If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery [MCD]
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb [Anchor]
Book Lovers by Emily Henry [Berkley]
A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow [Tordotcom]
Lark Ascending by Silas House [Algonquin Books]

Nonfiction

Beyond Innocence by Phoebe Zerwick [Atlantic Monthly Press]
The Hurting Kind by Ada Limón [Milkweed Editions]
Child: A Memoir by Judy Goldman [University of South Carolina Press]
This Boy We Made by Taylor Harris [Catapult]
Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives by Mary Laura Philpott [Atria Books]
Spine Poems: An Eclectic Collection of Found Verse for Book Lovers by Annette Dauphin Simon [Harper Design]

Children's

Beatrice Likes the Dark by April Genevieve Tucholke, Khoa Le (Illus.) [Algonquin Young Readers]
This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede [Wednesday Books]
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White [Peachtree Teen]
The Problem with Prophecies by Scott Teintgen [Aladdin]
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston [Wednesday Books]
Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady, Gracey Zhang (Illus.) [Katherine Tegan Books]

For more information about The Southern Book Prize, contact Linda-Marie Barrett, Executive Director, Southern Booksellers Alliance or visit
https://thesouthernbooksellerreview.org/southern-book-prize

SIBA Board member Candice Huber of Tubby & Coo's Mid-City Bookshop in New Orleans was one of three panelists at last week's online event focusing on non-traditional bookstore business models: "How Novel Models are Reimagining Bookselling."

Huber was joined by Kathy Burnett of Brain Lair Books, and BrocheAroe Fabian or River Dog Book Co. to discuss novel model bookstores & why they are reinvigorating the industry. The session focused on the potential for alternative business models to be both profitable and meet the needs of the community, in an industry where profits are traditionally low and overhead is high. The talk covered some of the strengths of "Novel Model" stores, such as:

• their ability to reach communities others don't
  
• they are a creative way to exist as physical "brick and mortar" store when owning a building is not an option
  
• their business model uses lean operations, where access to capital is not a requirement
  
• they are very adaptable and able to pivot to embrace new opportunities
  
• they excel at community building and as a presence in community spaces.

Most importantly, by finding creative ways to circumvent the pitfalls of the tradition bookstore model, "novel model" stores can also provide greater opportunities for historically excluded groups, directly addressing the lack of diversity in the book industry.

The recording is now available to watch

Also available is the event slide deck which includes useful information for booksellers about controllable overhead costs and steps bookstores can take to make their operations more lean and more adaptable.

How Novel Models are Reimagining Bookselling was sponsored by About The Word: A Storytelling Sanctuary, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2016 to support literary creatives identifying from marginalized communities across race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and emotional and physical disabilities. Find them at https://www.thewordfordiversity.org/

New Voices New Rooms New Ideas
October 27, 2022

New Voices New Rooms In Person for 2023

New Voices New Rooms (NVNR), the virtual event platform created by the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) and the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA) is going live in 2023 for a joint, in-person conference.

The event promises to break the mold. The two associations have moved the conference from the Fall schedule to early August to coincide with holiday-season buying for bookstores. “The shift to early August supports our bookstores by moving it away from peak hurricane, football, school, and community festival season,” said Linda-Marie Barrett, executive director of SIBA. It will be hosted in northern Virginia and take advantage of venues outside the hotel for meetings and events. Buying from publishers and vendors will be more focused and purposeful and will not be structured as a typical exhibit hall. Education will take place on days one and three, with day two devoted to book and merchandise preview and buying.

“We want to create an event that will be memorable as well as productive for all our booksellers,” said Eileen Dengler, executive director of NAIBA, “we want to add whimsy to the work to be done at the conference.”

Linda-Marie Barrett added, “Making this event meaningful to our booksellers is our number one priority. We’d love them to leave thinking, ‘Wow! That was an amazing experience.’ Our teams are working together to create a truly innovative gathering that will help stores improve their businesses in big and small ways.”

New Voices New Rooms was created by the two associations in response to Covid restrictions in 2020. It has hosted four conferences and over two dozen bookseller events and retreats since its inception. The online platform will be used to support the in-person event. Many of the familiar and now-beloved elements of the virtual conferences, including Bookstore Row, Readers of the Last ARC galley room, publisher studios, and communication between attendees, will complement the in-person event.

New Voices New Rooms will continue to provide virtual programming for booksellers. Upcoming events include; The VIndies: A Celebration of Indie Bookstore Videos (November 2022); Virtual Owners Retreat (January 2023); Virtual Publicity Speed Dating (April 2023). NAIBA will also host an in-person publicity speed dating in March in New York City.

For more information about NVNR programming, visit newvoicesnewrooms.org, or contact the NVNR organizers

Linda-Marie Barrett, Programming | lindamarie@sibaweb.com

Eileen Dengler, Programming | eileen@naiba.com

The Anti-Racist Bookshelf: Inheritance: An Autobiography of Whiteness by Baynard Woods

"The logic of whiteness is that we are supposed to be protected by the law without being bound by the law, and the people of color are supposed to be bound by the law and not protected by the law." (—Baynard Woods, "Wilhoit's Law")

In planning the columns that appear in "The Anti-Racist Bookseller" SIBA does a lot of trolling through information on small business operations, human resource management initiatives, workplace culture discussions, and DEI strategies for creating ethical and equitable workplaces. Mostly, the focus is on the things businesses can do to better understand and therefore meet the needs of their under-served and under-represented employees and, by extension, communities.

That is step one. There is a step two.

Changing things for others is one thing. But unless it comes with a willingness to examine and change ourselves it is not enough. We have to understand—intimately—how being a part of the dominant group—being white, being straight, being male, being able-bodied—is not just "the way things are" but makes us part of an active force to keep things the way they are. We usually call it "privilege" but Baynard Woods calls it "inheritance." Or, sometimes, "infection."

In a recent interview on the Code Switch podcast about his new book, Inheritance: An Autobiography of Whiteness, Woods admitted, "You know, I find discussions of structural racism very useful. But I also found that they could let me off the hook because it's easy to say, oh, everything is racist." Woods, a Baltimore journalist originally from South Carolina and from a family with a Confederate history, felt pushed to put himself back on that hook. "...having to situate it within the details of my own life, within the memoiristic details of my life and that of the people that I love, to see how white supremacy intersected all through the—my family connections. I felt that was the only way to—for me to tell this story."

"To see how white supremacy intersects" throughout our lives is not easy to do if you are white because you have been raised to ignore it, not to see it. But re-evaluating our lives is just what we have to do. Woods' memoir is his attempt to follow how "whiteness" worked, and worked against, his life. He notes that there is no such thing as a white identity that is not tied to white supremacy. Full stop. A white person who values social justice and equity has to interrogate their own life for how much of their self-conception is built on being white and therefore built upon power and privilege. "Whiteness" notes Woods, "is not only a lie that is told to us, it's a lie that we tell to ourselves about the world. And it keeps us from seeing the world, but it actually shapes the way we live in the world."

Resources:

What does it mean to "inherit whiteness?" NPR Code Switch Podcast

Wilhoit's Law Explained Slate

Writing a Book About My Whiteness Forced Me to Confront My Own Lies LitHub

The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance is pleased to welcome Jamie Anderson of Downtown Books in Manteo, North Carolina to the SIBA Board. Anderson's term will begin January 1, 2023. She will be replacing John Cavalier of Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana.

Jamie Anderson began her career in bookselling as the bookstore manager for Duck’s Cottage Coffee & Books when the business opened in 2002 and remains in that position to this day. In 2012 she opened Downtown Books on Manteo Island, and has since then become adept at running a small business in an area subject to storms and flooding. In the last three years Downtown Books has been named the Town of Manteo’s Small Business of the Year, was the Coastland Times' Coastland Gold Winner for bookstores and has been voted Best of the Beach: Bookstore for three years straight.

Anderson finds the current era an exciting time for independent bookstores. Her mantra at Downtown Books is to put the right book in the right hands at the right time, to help make her community a better place, to support Dare County Schools, to give authors and readers opportunities to connect, and to never judge anyone’s reading preferences.

SUBSCRIBE | CURRENT ISSUE | SUBMIT A REVIEW | PUBLISHER INFO

At the recent Annual Meeting it was reported that The Southern Bookseller Review had a stellar year. The newsletter's 6K subscriber list is growing steadily, and engagement in the form of open rates and click-through rates are 40% and 10 range, respectively.

In 2022 SIBA began sending a monthly topic-oriented "special issue," which has been very well received, September's special edition focused on Hispanic Heritage Month and bookseller reviews of books by Latinx writers. October's special edition will be focused on spooky and scary stories.

SBR publishes between 8-12 new reviews each week on its website and specifically chooses reviews that show the full range of bookseller reading tastes: Fiction, Nonfiction, Young Adult, and Children's. In July SBR also started highlighting reviews of Graphic Novels as their own category in the newsletter. On June 20, SBR posted its 1000th bookseller review.

As of this past Sunday, 1153 bookseller reviews from 71 reviewing stores have been posted to the SBR website. SIBA's most prolific reviewing stores:

Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC
Fiction Addiction in Greenville, SC
Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA
The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, NC
Avid Bookshop in Athens, GA

Reviewing stores can embed their SBR reviews on their own websites as a "staff picks" section which will always show the five most recent store reviews published on SBR. There are currently five SIBA stores running their SBR reviews on their store websites.

Because one of SBR's primary goals is to amplify Southern independent bookstores to the reading public and to the book industry, SIBA also coordinates newly posted SBR reviews with its social media. It highlights a "weekend read" for both adults and kids and tags the reviewing store, the publisher, and the author. It also shares the weekly "Book Buzz" post -- focused on a title that has received 3 or more reviews from SIBA booksellers. And SIBA also ties in posts with important literary news, where applicable, such as recent posts of bookseller reviews of titles on the National Book Award long list, or link to bookseller reviews of books by indigenous writers which went out on Indigenous Peoples Day.

As an organization SIBA many types of members, including publishers, associations, educators, and authors. But SIBA's primary mission is to help our core membership -- independent bookstores -- succeed as businesses, including helping to foster useful and valuable relationships with other members of the book industry. To that end, and to help SIBA plan future programming, we would like to hear from booksellers about their experiences in working with authors -- either directly or through a publicist or publisher.

We invite booksellers to fill out this short, anonymous survey.

Your experiences will help SIBA create better programs and education for all of its constituents.