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| Wanda Jewell | |
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance has created the Wanda Jewell Scholarship Fund in honor of its former executive director, who retired in 2020. Funded initially by authors, the scholarship provides financial support for bookseller professional development through education and networking at in-person SIBA-sponsored events.
"I'm so humbled by this scholarship in my name," said Jewell. "It truly means the world to me. And to have many of my favorite writers stepping forward to fund this is simply the best gift. So much gratitude to SIBA and writers and booksellers I cannot express."
Initial funding for the scholarship comes from the four author co-hosts of Friends & Fiction--Mary Kay Andrews, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Kristin Harmel and Patti Callahan Henry. In a statement, they said, "When we created our community almost two years ago, our original mission included the phrase 'to support independent bookstores' and we can't think of a better way to celebrate Wanda Jewell's contribution to SIBA than by honoring her with this scholarship. Through SIBA, Wanda has supported us and our work for years now, and we are thrilled in turn to support booksellers in their professional development."
Scholarship applications will open February 1. Donations in honor of Wanda Jewell can be made here. For more information, contact Linda-Marie Barrett, SIBA executive director, via e-mail.