Almost two years ago I came to work at Lemuria. On my second night of work we had a HUGE event celebrating the release of the book My Bookstore, and long time friend of the store Barry Moser joined us to read the essay he wrote for the book about Lemuria. I remember sitting in Dot Com, which was packed to the gills, beer in hand (you could drink at WORK?), marveling at how much this community swelled with pride to think that their bookstore was featured in the list of greats. I think that’s what got me more than anything: the ownership that our community feels towards Lemuria. It’s no longer just John’s bookstore, it’s yours.

You’ve seen us through multiple locations, an awful recession, what feels like hundreds of John Grisham releases, and the fight to make room for ourselves on the Internet. I can’t tell you how often you come up to the front desk to buy a newspaper or to pick up your First Editions Club book and tell me with a look of satisfaction on your face, “I grew up in this store. I remember shopping at Lemuria when you were still in The Quarter”.

So many independent bookstores all over the country have had to close their doors over the past two decades, and I believe it is a fate that we have escaped because of YOU. Because for so long you’ve believed that this store is important, that we have a positive impact on the community, and because you so value the significance of reading and supporting authors.

So I’d like to take the time today, a HUGE day for our bookstore, to say thank you. Thank you for investing in us, and for giving me the best two years of my professional career. Thank you for coming to signings for first time authors- authors who have now won Pulitzer Prizes and National Book Awards. Thank you for encouraging us and sticking with us during the two year process of publishing our book on Jackson, and thank you, thank you, thank you for your continuing patronage.

It is my pleasure to officially invite you all to an open house in Banner Hall tonight at 5:00, featuring the official release our new book, Jackson: Photographs by Ken Murphy. Ken will be joining us to sign the book in Lemuria, and Banner Hall will be rocking and rolling into the night. You can expect live music from Sam Mooney and Abigail Osteen , a pop-up art gallery from Art Space 86, $1 beers in Lemuria, and general good cheer towards our great city. We owe so much of this to you.

 

Written by Hannah

Jackson: photographs by Ken Murphy is available now for purchase. To order a copy, call Lemuria Books at 601.366.7619 or visit us online at lemuriabooks.com. 

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