My mom's love of reading is probably the most predominant factor contributing to my complete and utter bookwormdom. She has been a voracious reader since she was a young girl, and she holds degrees in English and book club management. (So I'm inventing a second degree here--but hey, she's deserving of the title if anyone is.) As I've changed my job plans frequently since graduating from college in 2002, it stands to reason that my parents might not be entirely ready to jump in full-force behind these bookstore plans. But now that I've been planning Avid for two years and show no signs of slowing, I think they're beginning to understand that this is it. This is for real. So having my mom at SIBA with me was pretty great--she got to meet some of my real-life and virtual-life friends and got to pick up lots of ARCs (advanced reading copies), which is a thrill for any reader.
Janet, Mary Carol, & Marsha Wood
Robb Soriano
Among the real-life friends I got to reunite with were Marsha Wood and Robb Soriano from Ingram Book Company; Jef Blocker and Jeff McCord from Bound to Be Read Books; Charley Greiner from Baker & Taylor; and Laura and Anne Devault (sisters from Charlottesville, VA whom I met at the Paz & Associates training). There were several people whom I've emailed or tweeted with whose faces I'd never really seen. I'm happy to report that all were just as nice in person as they seem to be online. These folks included writers Laurel Snyder and Donny Seagraves as well as SIBA gurus Nicki Leone, Elton Porter, and Wanda Jewell. Of course it was lovely to finally meet online book industry folks in person: Rich Rennicks and Caroline Green of Malaprop's, Michael Hill (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), Bob Gray (Shelf Awareness), and more.
Robert Jackson Bennett & Rhodi Hawk
Mary Carol, Janet, & author Batt Humphreys
Jenny and her mom, author Donny Seagraves
chef/author Ted Lee and author Laurel Snyder
Mary Carol with Jeff & Jeff of Bound to Be Read Books
What new (or new to you) books are you excited about reading?
6 comments:
Good job, Geddis girls! I am reading The Book of Laughter and Forgetting. Also, I am excited about the arrival of some memoir of a waitress (I think it's called Service Included) that was supposed to come over a week ago, but the used book company I ordered from sent me the wrong book. At least I got the money credited back to me, and I believe, will also be getting the book soon.
SB, The Book of Laughter & Forgetting used to be one of my very, very favorites. I hope the waitress memoir doesn't make you miss Chili's too much! (And thanks for trying out a non-Amazon, non-chain even though they made a shipping/packing error!)
Nice photos! I brought my camera but it went totally unused. Hope to see you again at the next SIBA!
It was an absolute delight to meet you (and your mama) too. Can't wait for an Athens roadtrip... Yay AVID!
Go Janet, go Janet!
I am sentimental when I read of your adventures in Bookdom. It's such a lovely universe, that!
I'm so excited about and proud of you on your Avid journey. Seems like you've met all the big players, and you've got the support of friends and family behind you. In response to your question, just finished reading Three Cups of Tea. Amazing. Inspiring. Makes me ask myself, "what am I doing to make a difference in the world?". I know if I still lived in Athens, I would be looking forward to your bookstore being my new second home! Much energy of abundance sent your way, sister!
It was a pleasure meeting you also. And your post sums up SIBA perfectly. Granted I'm on the SIBA staff & get paid to come, but I always joke with Wanda that I would do it for free. It's one of my favorite times of the year. And it helps this "recovering bookseller" to keep a hand in the business & reconnect with old friends & to make new ones.
I can not wait till you get your store up & running. I've been saying for years that Athens needs & deserves a great new indie bookshop. And from just the little I've seen so far, it looks like they're on track to get one.
Now if I could just find some time to read. (My wife & I just bought a new house & all non working, waking hours have been spent working on it.)
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