Congratulations to Jeff Martin, president of the board of the Tulsa Literary Coalition and co-founder of Magic City Books, who was honored by TulsaPeople as the Tulsan of the Year for his love of books, Tulsa and making things happen that have elevated the cultural reputation of the community.
Noting that Martin's Booksmart Tulsa and Magic City Books have presented more than 1,000 author events in the past decade, TulsaPeople wrote that he "is the first to say he hasn't done this alone. He had a gifted business partner in the late Cindy Hulsey, and he has talented, hard-working collaborators and colleagues, but others know he is the one with the dreams and the drive. Bestselling author Claire Dederer wrote Martin is 'single-handedly bringing all kinds of authors to Tulsa and, what's more, getting Tulsans to come see the authors.' "
Author David Sedaris, a Magic City advisory board member, said, "Jeff Martin doesn't seem to know what 'No' means. 'Not now' is vague to him, as well. It's pretty amazing how he makes things happen."
For some, Martin's stellar accomplishment is Magic City Books in the downtown Arts District. TulsaPeople noted that in 2015 Martin began talking with Hulsey "about his romantic notion of opening an independent bookstore. Hulsey, then Tulsa City-County Library's director of adult services, was older than Martin, but the two had a strong connection through the power of books. She had worked in the securities field for 17 years when she switched careers, got a master's degree to pursue her passion in literature and reading, and became a librarian. Then she gave up that secure job so she and Martin could form the Tulsa Literary Coalition as the nonprofit umbrella for Magic City Books."
"If she had said no, I would not have done it," Martin observed. The bookshop opened in November 2017. "One of the top days of my life." Tragically, Hulsey died in September 2018 of a brain tumor at age 58. "Earth shattering," Martin recalled. "I miss her every day. She was a friend and my partner in the biggest thing I've ever done. I just had to carry on as a tribute to her. That was my motivation. Now it's a legacy project."
"People often ask how I do all the things I do," Martin posted on Facebook. "The honest answer is 'I don't.' There's a whole network of people making these wheels turn. It's like Hands Across America with books and art."