Applications are currently open for the McCoy Grant for Bookseller-Writers, one of the most unique grants available to SIBA members. There is a close bond between booksellers and writers. The McCoy Grant, created by author Sarah McCoy in partnership with SIBA, is for any unpublished southern women or nonbinary booksellers who harbor ambitions to be published writers. Two $1500 grants will be awarded. The deadline to submit an application is March 21, 2024.

2024 is the second year the McCoy Grant has been offered. Sarah McCoy spent some time talking to the recipients of last year's grant recipients, Here is her conversation with Kendra Gayle Lee of Bookish in Atlanta, GA.

Sarah McCoy: First off, congrats again on being the 2023 McCoy Grant recipients. It may be a new year, but we’ll be celebrating you until the 2024 recipients are announced in August! So, we thought it the perfect time to sit down and chat about what you’ve been up to. How has the McCoy Grant made an impact on your writing?

Kendra Gayle Lee: The McCoy Grant provided validation for me that my writing—and my voice—is valuable. It's easy for my writing to get sidelined for other endeavors—like running the bookstore—that bring in money. Capitalism has me pretty conditioned to assign value based on cash flow in. But this grant allowed me to step back and realize that my writing deserves to be nurtured, not because it brings in money, but because ideas and perspective are equally important. And because stories matter.

SM: Would you like to tell us a little about your work in progress?

KGL: My work in progress is a series of essays about the evolution of the love that my ex and I share. He and I were together for 20 years. During that time, we got sober, navigated several years of infertility, and he transitioned from female to male. That's a lot of change and emotional upheaval to navigate! What we learned, over the years, is that being true to ourselves is how we show up best for each other. And family is something that we get to define and celebrate, whether it matches up with other people's ideas or not.

SM: How has the McCoy Grant made an impact on your personal life?

KGL: The McCoy Grant has allowed me to hire someone to manage my February writing schedule so that I'm actually producing work that will get read by another human who can give me solid feedback. My ADHD brain needs a little outside management for big projects, so being able to hire someone as an accountability partner is a huge step in getting together a complete draft of the book I hope to finish this year.

SM: What would you tell other bookseller writers who are thinking of applying?

KGL: I applied on a whim. I never thought I'd receive the grant. I think as writers, we become really accustomed to rejection. Take a chance on yourself and your writing. The McCoy Grant was just the encouragement I needed. And it's allowing me to move into a new level where I'm more committed to the process of writing. You are worth taking a chance on. Go ahead and apply for the grant. (Also, Sarah McCoy is a gem of a human who will make you feel spectacular every time she interacts with you. Don't miss out on this.)

SM: You both are diamonds and I count myself blessed to have found your sparkles in the mine. Such a pleasure catching up. You both have bright futures ahead of you. I know your fellow booksellers are cheering for you and your bookstores. As am I! 

Sarah McCoy is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author and creator of the McCoy Grant.

Kendra Gayle Lee is a memoirist, lead bookseller, and owner of Bookish Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia.