NVNR 2026: Nancy Olson Winners Speeches
Melissa Taylor, (Emcee):
Hello everyone. The Nancy Olson Bookseller Award is named for the late founder of Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina. Nancy was a legendary bookseller, a first class wit, a gentle soul, and a tireless supporter of writers, especially new writers looking to break into the publishing world. An anonymous admirer of Olson, in conjunction with SIBA, awards two gifts in her memory every December to make two booksellers' holiday seasons a little bit brighter. The award recognizes special booksellers who particularly excel in the areas that were important to Nancy; Customer service, and helping writers—especially new writers—reach their reading audience.
Our first winner of the 2026 award is Dominic Howorth from Book + Bottle in Saint Petersburg, Florida. So when Dominic was nominated for this award, the owner of Book + Bottle shared, "Many of our customers consider Dominic a mentor, both because of his amazingly kind spirit, but also because of his ability to help others shine. Whether it's a writer, another bookseller, learning the ropes of customer service and recommendations, or just how to be a good person, this award would mean much to Dominic, who puts everything he has into bookselling, serving his customers and helping others become the best that they can be." Give it up for Dominic.
Dominic Howorth, Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg, FL
Thank you. You expect me to talk after listening to that? That is so beautiful. I really want to do this. Scream if you're from NAIBA. All right, now. Scream if you're from SIBA. Thank you very much. This is such an honor to be here with you all and celebrating stories both written and oral, and I wanted to thank SIBA and NAIBA, even though SIBA did yell louder, for putting this on. Thank you. And for creating a space where our cups can be filled and our hearts championed. So thank you very much.
It was my mother who put stories into my hands. Yes. Give it up for moms. Give it up for moms and your mom, and your stand-in Mom, if you weren't lucky enough to have one. Whatever books I could get my hands on, she let me have. Whether it was Batman comics or Bradbury Bantam Classics. But she brought this attention to my writing as well. I had lost a brother when I was five and I wrote short, single-page stories about him going on adventures without me. And so in this way, I have always, and we have always, told stories to try and figure out the things we couldn't. When I got older, she would stay up way past my bedtime and edit my work, and we would split a Little Debbie's Brownie. Yes, I would take the walnuts off of mine because. Gross. <laughter> Thank you. I know I'm in a room. With whom? Of my people. But this Little Debbie's Brownie was not dissimilar to eating the wafer in church. A fudgy piece of offering to the god of attention, and attention that says, you matter. Hanif Abdurraqib in There's Always This Year says anything can become a religion. It's only a matter of returning to it. And that was my nights with my mom. And that is the Writing Happy Hour at Book + Bottle. It's from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. every Tuesday and it's been happening for two years. Book + Bottle is closed at night, but it still happened. I wanted to promise myself, because I get off at work at 4:00 p.m., I wanted to promise, "I will still write, and I will dedicate this time to return to it." What is wild about this is when you sit down by a seat, obviously open, your world expands with every new chair at the table. Writing Happy Hour by a approximation, has deliciously become its own pulpit. We have writers and customers coming in every single week saying, "I matter and my stories matter," and we create the space to make sure that it's true. It's a returning not just to a place, but to a self.
I didn't know Nancy Olson, and if anyone did, I really mean this, please talk to me because I would love to honor that legacy and get to let her continue to live on not just in an award, but in stories that I can continually tell. But I hope to live up to this award in her memory by continuing to cultivate a space committed to this constant returning. May you find your own constant returns, and may we continue to return to each other. Thank you for being booksellers.
Melissa Taylor, (Emcee):
You're my favorite. All right, so our next honoree,, is Jason Smith from The Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Georgia. So when Jason was nominated for this award, the owner of Little Shop of Stories had this to say. When it comes to hand selling and customer service, Jason is the best of the best. As a children's bookseller, his knack for meeting young readers where they are is a sight to behold. He is exuberant and knowledgeable in his efforts to help them find just the right book. His legendary weekly story time readings are always engaging and interactive for both child and grown ups. He is definitely helping to grow a new and much needed generation of readers in our community, as well as supporting parents in nurturing literacy skills. More importantly, Jason treats every interaction with a young reader as an opportunity to make sure they are known and seen and accepted for who they are and who they will become. Give it up for Jason.
Jason Smith, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA
Hello everyone. I was so hoping I wouldn't be last. seeing my other two honorees. they had written beautiful things and I said, I'll just wing it. I was antagonizing on so much of what to say that I was like, should I tell a joke? Should I tell a story? Should I read a picture book? Because that's what I'm used to doing in Public City. but I realized I should really just say thank you. so thank you to the anonymous donor of Nancy Olson. thank you to Nancy Olson herself. Thank you to Siba. And thank you to Little Shop of Stories who gave me a home and the ability to do what my boss wrote so many wonderful things about me. so thank you everyone.