The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance has launched The Southern Bookseller Review, a website and weekly newsletter focused on reviews from Southern indie booksellers of titles they are most excited to handsell. These will be garnered from store websites, newsletters, social media and submissions to Edelweiss Plus.
SBR "introduces a new approach to SIBA's commitment to outreach and advocacy for its bookstore members with their customers, potential customers, and the general reading public," the organization said. The project is an evolution of several long-standing, consumer-facing SIBA programs, including Authors Round the South, Okra Picks, and The Lady Banks Commonplace Book newsletter.
"Indie booksellers know that getting the right book at the right time into the hands of the right reader is life-changing," said SIBA executive director Linda-Marie Barrett. "The Southern Bookseller Review is a unique and beautiful vehicle for making these connections happen. We are providing a thoughtfully curated selection of book reviews and more, from across our territory, that highlight the diverse literary tastes of our booksellers and their delight in bringing these books to readers everywhere."
SBR's website contains a searchable database of reviews from indie booksellers and a directory of Southern indie bookstores with links to their reviews. It is also the new home of the Southern indie bestseller list and the Southern Book Prize. The newsletter features recently posted reviews and highlights titles that are receiving an exceptional amount of bookseller buzz. It will also offer profiles of Southern indie bookstores and booksellers.