Skylark Bookshop's Alex George named Midwest Bookseller of the Year

Skylark Bookshop owner Alex George's peers testified this week to qualities Columbians have long known.

George was named Midwest Bookseller of the Year by the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association on Tuesday.

"Alex’s life is dedicated to lifting up his community through a shared love of books," Executive Director Carrie Obry wrote in a post on the association's website.

George owns a multifaceted literary career, as the writer of novels such as "The Paris Hours" and "Setting Free the Kites" and the founder of the Unbound Book Festival, which brings literary luminaries to Columbia each spring.

"The foundation of Alex’s literary accomplishments is his own desire to tell a story," Obry added.

The announcement comes with praise from fellow authors, booksellers and friends. Despite the wide sweep of George's work, many swore by his personal kindness and attention to the little things.

"He's a brilliant novelist, but seems happiest when he is shining a light on other writers," author Will Schwalbe said in the announcement. "He's a passionate reader, but always eager to talk to other readers and hear about their favorite titles."

Columbia-based novelist and University of Missouri professor Phong Nguyen noted that, "during the depth of the pandemic, (George) was not above hand-delivering books to the doorstep of those who, like me and my family, were in lockdown in their homes."

More:How Columbia author Phong Nguyen brings an ancient Vietnamese epic to life

Opened in 2018, Skylark forms a literary haven on Ninth Street with fellow indie Yellow Dog Bookshop. Skylark has some 20,000 titles in stock, according to the announcement, which also acknowledged the store's wide array of programming and services.

Skylark hosts national, regional and local author events — both in-person and online — and various storytelling programs, including a Drag Story Hour. The store provides several subscription services, including one comprised of oft-banned books, and offers a reading spa, in which staffers handpick books for patrons, then sit down to discuss possible new favorite reads.

Talking about the difference between Skylark and a massive online retailer like Amazon last year, George pointed to the personal touches and genuine interest local booksellers offer.

"What you pay for is different," he told the Tribune. "... The advice, the atmosphere, the friendliness, the service and the recommendations. ... Some people are going to think that is a price worth paying; other people will not. And it’s our job to make that sale."

Perhaps the most meaningful comments to accompany the announcement came from George's close friend and Skylark manager Carrie Koepke.

"Alex often says bookshops are a force for good in their community, but the truth is that Alex is a force of his own," she said in the post. "Never have I met someone who so joyfully loves books and what they bring to people."

More:How Columbia poet Lynne Jensen Lampe finds healing in the 'Hurricane'

As part of the honor, George will be recognized at the Heartland Fall Forum in St. Louis next week.

Upcoming Skylark events include a story hour Oct. 8; Drag Story Hour Oct. 15; and a virtual event with novelist Matthew Quick on Nov. 9. To learn more about the shop, visit https://www.skylarkbookshop.com/. The home of the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association is https://www.midwestbooksellers.org/.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Skylark's Alex George honored as Midwest Bookseller of the Year