(Asheville, NC) SIBA is very pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Nancy Olson Bookseller Award, honoring the memory of the legendary bookseller and founder of Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, NC. Katie Brown of Malaprop's in Asheville, North Carolina and Angie Tally of The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina will each receive a $2500 cash award in recognition of their work bringing books to readers.
The 2025 Nancy Olson Bookseller Award Recipients
Katie Brown, Bookstore Manager at Malaprop's in Asheville, NC
“I'm floored to have won this award. I work with someone who knew Nancy and her impact on bookselling. To imagine that I had that same kind of impact (even for a moment) is humbling. Particularly the reason (Hurricane Helene), it was one of the wilder times in I think many folks' lives and to have someone I work with anonymously say "Hey, you did a good thing and helped us" when I was scrambling to figure out what to do had me in tears.” --Katie Brown
Angie Tally, Children's Department Manager at The Country Bookshop in Pittsboro, NC
"In 2005 at a booksellers conference in Winston Salem, when SIBA was still called SEBA, I was introduced to Nancy Olson. I had just taken over as the children's department manager of the Country Bookshop after Nancy’s dear friend, and the Country Bookshop owner Joan Scott, had passed away. Nancy was a legend in the industry, and her vote of confidence was a powerful thing. For more than 20 years now, it has been my greatest pleasure to share my love of books with children in Southern Pines and all of southeast North Carolina through book fairs, school author events, storytimes, and casual interactions in the Country Bookshop kids department. Tens of thousands of books, hundreds of authors, countless stories later, I know I am the luckiest of all people to be a part of such an amazing bookselling community. Winning the Nancy Olson Bookseller award is like winning the Newbery Award for Booksellers- The highest of all possible honors. I am humbled, honored, and delighted to be chosen as a 2025 recipient." --Angie Tally
The Award selection committee includes SIBA Executive Director Linda-Marie Barrett, Nancy Olson's husband Jim Olson, and long-time bookseller Sarah Goddin who worked with Nancy Olson at Quail Ridge Books. Commenting on the winners, Goddin said "When I look at the nominations for the two winners the first thing that comes to mind is how much Nancy would have admired them for their kindness, their courage and their bold actions on behalf of their communities, customers, colleagues and authors. That is what she was all about and they are truly outstanding booksellers in every way."
Jim Olson agreed. "Nancy would be proud of our honorees," he said. "She loved the ability to handsell books and the dedication to customer service as shown by Angie and Katie. Both these women are excellent booksellers who welcome new authors and promote their books. It is a privilege to honor Angie and Katie with this year's Nancy Olson Bookseller Award."
About the Nancy Olson Bookseller Award
The Nancy Olson Bookseller Award was created by SIBA in cooperation with an admirer of the late legendary bookseller in recognition of her tireless support of writers, especially new writers. An award in her memory of $2500 is given in December to two SIBA booksellers who are not store owners.
For more information about the Nancy Olson Bookseller Award, visit sibaweb.com.
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