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The week of April 4, 2023 The Florida Book Awards 
Florida may have been in the news recently for its heightened scrutiny of books in school libraries but the truth is Florida is a state with a rich and vibrant literary tradition and community which simply can’t be overshadowed by current events or politics. The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, which produces SBR, counts 135 independent bookstores in Florida — which represents only part of the number of bookstores in the state. Florida is home to one of the biggest book festivals in the country, and it is also home to a robust bilingual literary community. In March the Florida State University Libraries announced the 2022 Florida Book Awards Winners, celebrating the best of Florida literature of the year. To be eligible, authors must be full-time Florida residents, or in the case of the nonfiction winners, the books must focus on Florida. There are eleven categories, including Spanish-Language publications and (new this year) Poetry Chapbooks. Winning books cover everything from the creation of the Everglades to the history of the Cuban Sandwich, from literary novels to cozy mysteries to exquisitely illustrated children’s literature. Here is this year’s list of winners. And here are a few of the things independent booksellers have said about some of the winners: 
If Your Babysitter is a Bruja by Ana Siqueira (Simon & Schuster) 
All Day is a Long Time by David Sanchez (Harper Books) 
A Dish to Die For by Lucy Burdette, aka Roberta Isleib (Crooked Lane Press) |
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Read This Now! Recommended by Southern indies… |
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House of Cotton by Monica Brashears Adult Fiction, African American & Black, Fiction, Southern, Women In this gritty, ghostly Affrilachian gothic debut, Magnolia, in the wake of her grandmother’s death and possibly pregnant, takes an offer to “model” as the late beloveds of the rich at a funeral home run by the strange Mr. Cotton. The voice and the VIBES are all there, and this book has a lot to say about grief, death, race, class, and sex in the Bible Belt South. The writing is strong and beautiful—a writer to watch. Reviewed by Megan Bell, Underground Books in Carrollton, Georgia |
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The Thick and the Lean by Chana Porter Adult Fiction, Apocalyptic Post-Apocalyptic, Fiction, Science Fiction The Thick and The Lean by Chana Porter is part sci-fi, part speculative fiction, part cookbook, and part love story. At its core, it’s a simultaneous celebration of life’s pleasures – including food, sex, community, nature, and reading – and a critique of the things that plague our modern world – namely corporate greed, classism, and the shame we’ve been taught to feel for who we are and what we desire. The story itself is captivating, the characters are wonderful, and the world-building is incredible. Beyond being a great book, The Thick and The Lean also feels important. It asks big questions like what makes a person worthy or good? And where do our societal values come from? Why do we deny ourselves things like food, ambition, and love? And what happens when we embrace our nature, our history, and begin living in a way that’s not only true to ourselves but also better for our world as a whole? The Thick and The Lean does deal with a lot of heavy topics, but don’t let that deter you. It’s chock full of hope and beauty too. In a world where reality is quite bitter, it’s a story of human kindness, found and chosen family, and the power of a good book. The Thick and The Lean is a buffet of delicious characters, a story meant to be savored and explored. In a word, it’s umami. Don’t deny yourself the pleasure of devouring this book! Reviewed by Emily Lessig, The Violet Fox Bookshop in Virginia Beach, Virginia |
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Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor Adult Fiction, Crime, Fiction, Noir, Southern Mixing identity conflict and family secrecy with blood-ties and murder, Eli Cranor delivers a literary punch with his newest novel, Ozark Dogs. Set in the Ozarks, this story follows a true crime case involving drug-smuggling Klansmen turned evangelicals and a Vietnam War vet named Jeremiah, who is committed to saving his granddaughter from a dark path, even if it means getting himself into trouble. I absolutely could not put this one down. The prose is immersive, and the depth with which Cranor writes is beautifully nuanced. Reviewed by Leo Coffey, Union Ave Books in Knoxville, Tennessee |
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Bookseller Buzz |
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Spotlight on: Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef
"If I had a dollar for every writer who told me of their childhood love for the d’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths…what is it about that book? Everyone has an illustration that’s stuck with them. For me, it’s the kraken rising up out of the ocean. And for a lot of people it was one of our first exposures to really old stories and a deep, continuous mythology. They’re unapologetically complex, internally referential, and ask a lot of young readers, visually and narratively. When you work hard to enjoy something at a young age, it leaves an impression." ―Kiyash Monsef, Interview, Horn Book What booksellers are saying about Once There Was 
About Kiyash Monsef Kiyash Monsef is an Emmy Award–nominated producer and director; a writer of short stories, videos, comic books, and games; and a designer of innovative conversational and voice interface experiences. Once There Was is his first novel. |
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A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung Adult Nonfiction, Biography & Autobiography, Personal Memoirs I loved Nichol Chung’s debut memoir, All You Can Ever Know, so I couldn’t wait to read her latest, A Living Remedy. Continuing to explore themes of identify and race, A Living Remedy also delves into themes of grief, class and our fractured healthcare system up through the days of the COVID 19 pandemic. I want to spare the reader spoilers because I was riveted by Nicole’s experience of growing up, moving across the country from her adoptive parents and raising a family of her own. Her exquisite writing and tender vulnerability makes this a stand-out memoir for me. Highly recommend! Reviewed by Jessica Nock, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina |
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This Delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham Horror, LGBTQ+, Young Adult Fiction, Zombies This Delicious Death follows the story of Zoey and her three friends two years after a disease that renders half the general public "hollow" or cannibalistic monsters. Unlike zombies, however, they’re fine as long as they eat regularly and the world has created synthetic flesh for them to get their ghoul on. So going to the Desert Bloom Music Festival in the desert for one last trip before the friends go their separate ways after high school should be perfectly fine, right? Between being in love with her best friend, the glamourous Celeste and one of their friends going missing and possibly feral, this wasn’t the kind of trip Zoey was expecting. Okay, so I have to say, while i love sapphic stories, it had been hard for me to get into them for a while. This Delicious Death had me hook line and sinker from the very beginning. The world building was fascinating and the story itself was gripping. I cannot wait to sell this one in store! Reviewed by Katlin Kerrison, Story On the Square in McDonough, Georgia |
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The Artist by Ed Vere Art, Children, Emotions & Feelings, Juvenile Fiction, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance A dinosaur book about art, narrated by the dinosaur. Warm and measured, it becomes an instruction manual of sorts, while ultimately transforming into a tribute to an artist, by a dinosaur. Actually, the whole book is by an incredibly good author/artist (not a dinosaur, yet). Reviewed by Jilleen Moore, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi |
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39 Clues: The Maze of Bones: A Graphic Novel (39 Clues Graphic Novel #1) by Rick Riordan Action & Adventure, Children, Comics & Graphic Novels, Juvenile Fiction This was a series that made my childhood, and the graphic novel truly did it justice! I am so excited for a new generation of kids to be introduced to Amy and Dan Cahill, and the winding mystery of the Cahill legacy. Reviewed by Jordan April, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
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Read This Next! Books on the horizon: Forthcoming favorites from Southern indies… |
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Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez Adult Fiction, City Life, Contemporary, Fiction, Humorous, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Women An April 2023 Read This Next! Title Is there such a thing as a meet-ugly? Out of an utterly disastrous first "meeting" (they didn’t actually even meet, just started jumping to wrong conclusions) grew a ten-tissue romance for the ages. I also was delighted that the town of Wakan, the actual seemingly "inanimate" objects in the vaguely magical town, such a huge silent character in Part of Your World, got a bit role in Yours Truly. No one does foreshadowing like Abby Jimenez. Reviewed by Lisa Yee Swope, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
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Southern Bestsellers What’s popular this week with Southern Readers. |
[ See the full list ] |
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Parting Thought “Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.” |
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Publisher:
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance /
siba@sibaweb.com |
SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805
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