The Southern Booksellers Alliance has added a Lifetime Achievement category to its annual book award program, the Southern Book Prize, that honors beloved author Pat Conroy, who died last year. The Conroy Legacy Award will be given to a writer in SIBA territory each year. A panel of SIBA member booksellers will select the winner, based on the following attributes:
- Support for independent bookstores, both in their own communities and in general.
- Writing that focuses significantly on their own home place.
- Support of other writers, especially new and emerging authors.
Although it is not necessary for a nominated writer to have a new book out in the award year, nominated writers must be living and must have books in print. Nominations must come from SIBA member bookstores.
In the name of the Legacy Award winner, SIBA will make donations to the Pat Conroy Literary Center and to a literary entity chosen by the writer.