Last week the SIBA staff held our annual work retreat outside of Wilmington, NC, with one of us (the amazing SP) Zooming in. This was the first time in two years I’d seen Nicki, SIBA’s systems administrator and editor of our newsletters, in person. TWO YEARS! We see each other almost every day on Zoom, but it was significant, and moving, to finally be in her presence, and also to visit her lovely home and garden, and meet her pets. My husband and former PGW/Ingram rep, Jon Mayes, profiled Nicki and her home in his blog, Advance Reading Copy, if you’d like a glimpse into her magical, book-filled world.

We sat on Nicki’s back deck and revisited our 2021 programming, as well as planned for 2022. I’m excited about what’s in store for SIBA and our members in 2022, and will share more plans soon. Do make sure to save the dates of March 30-31 for SIBA in the Springtime: Come Together, a spring conference in Winston-Salem, NC. This will be a truly special gathering for our SIBA community to share our strength, support, and sense of fun, as we move forward during this challenging time. 

After the retreat we visited four bookstores. First up was Quarter Moon Books, Gifts, and Wine Bar, on Topsail Island. This lovely, beachy bookstore, which also hosts events on the patio outside, is owned by Lori Fisher, and just steps away from the ocean. The space is creatively decorated, and filled with books, gifts, and a full-service coffee bar (staffed by Aurora during our visit).

In Wilmington, we visited the famous Pomegranate Books, owned by Kathleen Jewell. Kathleen warned us ahead of time to “watch out for the chickens” when we parked. Pomegranate had recently undergone a transformation into a film set for a movie filming a fictional bookstore, and was converting back to its usual layout, so timing for photos wasn’t perfect, but it was obvious the book selection is wonderfully curated, with deep connections to the many writers at UNC Wilmington, local writing programs, and book clubs. I also admired the offerings at Zola Coffee & Tea, housed in the same building.

From there we went on to check out a new bookstore, Papercuts, and meet owner Holly Bader. Papercuts offers new and used books and a growing gift selection. It is thoroughly charming in design and aesthetic. Holly’s enthusiasm and positivity were so contagious that I found myself smiling the whole visit. Located downtown, Papercuts is the perfect place to find that special book, and savor the gorgeous ambience of a beautiful book shop.

Our final bookstore visit was to Ghost Hill Press, located in a shipping container in Wilmington’s revitalized Cargo District. Ghost Hill Press is owned by two sisters, Pam and Kimberly Sherman, and is small but mighty! Their book selection represents local authors and the owners’ reading passions. They are enthusiastic about meeting their customers’ needs through a highly curated book selection and event program.

The readers of Wilmington are so fortunate to have these great stores, with distinct personalities and spaces, serving their community. I hope to be back for a visit at a future staff retreat!