Beyond the Flap
by Terri Barnes
Independent bookstores have written a comeback story over the past decade, and now they’re facing a new chapter—the one about the coronavirus. To navigate the pandemic plot twist, booksellers are turning once again to the community connections and personal service that have helped fuel the indie revival amid big-box competitors.[…]
Community Connection
by Terri Barnes
The Pat Conroy Literary Center in Beaufort, South Carolina, was created by people who knew and loved Pat Conroy in life and carry on his love for stories now that he is gone. Conroy wrote such iconic classics as The Great Santini and The Prince of Tides, and his success is the opening chapter for the center that bears his name. Perhaps the rest of the story will be told by the community the center nurtures—readers, book lovers, and writers—possibly authors of classic books yet to be imagined.[…]
Shared Experience
by Terri Barnes
Eleven-year-old Sydney Dickerson has spent most of her life sharing books and encouraging children to read. Her namesake organization, Sydney’s Book Club, has donated more than 19,000 books to families, schools, and libraries around the world. Through story-time videos and messages on social media, Sydney and her siblings share their love of books and encourage other young readers. […]