We hope you’ve all had a fabulous holiday season, and it’s been fantastic seeing so many of you in the store completing your holiday shopping. Our family has enjoyed a bittersweet holiday. After a magical Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, our dad, Harold Simonsen, headed to that great library in the sky.
Even in his last months, he loved to sit on the bench outside the store, marveling at what our little town has become. Or inside, he’d sit and watch us talking with you. He was in awe of the conversations happening and how much readers loved engaging about cool books. And he was amazed at how many books we’d all read, how we’d always have a ready recommendation. “You ladies must have really good memories to remember all these books.”
“Nah, we only remember the good ones,” we’d laugh. And so dad will be long remembered, as one of the “good ones.”
I thank each and every one of you for your patience and understanding as we navigated our way through illness, chemo, hospice, and sorely strained schedules. In the final weeks, he was so grateful to have us with him 24/7, and honestly, we wouldn’t have traded that special experience for anything.
And I especially need to thank my “bookstore daughters” Eleanor Mead, Makayla Summers, Hannah Rose Summers and Emma Wood, and my bookstore “sister” Sarah Forsythe, who quite literally came out of retirement to lend a hand (and bring chocolate!). Honestly, couldn’t have done it without you – you’re all so incredibly special!
It takes a village, folks, and all y’all are mine, as well as my family’s. Words aren’t enough sometimes, even for an avid reader, but know that these words come packed full of sincerity and love: All our VERY best wishes for a healthy, happy and prosperous 2023, filled with joy and love and big warm hugs!
Shari, Jeff, and your Main Street Reads family
Coming Up – Click on the captions below images for full details. Have a question, give us a shout at mainstreetreads@gmail.com or call the store at 843-875-5171
Team Thrill or Team Chill?
Tickets are selling briskly for February’s Thrills & Chills! When you register, don’t forget to pick Team Thrill or Team Chill (you’ll see why on the day of the event). So far, Team Chill is winning by a slim margin… REGISTER HERE!
This incredible author mashup at the James F. Dean theatre happens February 25th, 2023 and will feature two of our favorite authors, Stacy Willingham of A Flicker in the Dark fame and Grady Hendrix of The Southern Bookclub’s Guide to Slaying Vampires and The Final Girl Support Group, all of which have been book club picks (and have movie/TV deals!)
Both authors have new books releasing in January – your ticket includes one each of BOTH books that you can pick up when they release in January, and have ’em to get personally signed when the authors join us for a rollicking afternoon of fun, food and fabulous conversation. The event will benefit both the Flowertown Players and the Timrod Library again, as we all do our part to support the art of storytelling in our incredible community!