Reading Into the State of the Word

The fourth annual St. Petersburg Press Literary Event, held May 13 at The Palladium’s Side Door venue, celebrated the literary scene with the theme, “The State of the Word.” And the state of the word was good.

St. Petersburg Press is the foremost book publisher in the Tampa Bay area. The business was the brainchild of Joe Hamilton with collaborating insight from his coffee klatch buddies Paul Wilborn and Roy Peter Clark. All three are writer-celebrities in the local literary scene and beyond. Hamilton is not only the founder of St. Petersburg Press, but also of St. Pete Catalyst. Wilborn, who is the executive director of the Palladium Theatre, wore his familiar dual hats as master of ceremonies and chief piano player providing entertainment breaks for the event, now a tradition. Clark, or “RPC” (as he is often known), is vice president of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, and presents his namesake award to the nominee who makes an “outstanding contribution to the greater St. Petersburg literary community.” 

Featured speakers at The State of the Word covered four topics: the state of education and literacy, the state of brick-and-mortar bookstores, the state of journalism, and the state of publishing. Kim Lohrey and Chrissy Domonkos of Y Reads! Program addressed education and literacy; Julia Bodwell of The Gilded Page tackled the issue of brick-and-mortar bookstores; Mary Shedden of WUSF spoke about journalism; and Amy Cianci of St. Petersburg Press focused on publishing.

The RPC honorees were poet Giovanni Cerro of Gio’s Typos, bookseller Andi Pignato of the Book + Bottle bookstore, education and literacy promoter-teacher Britt Mosely of Pinellas County Schools, community storyteller Lillian Dunlap of Your Real Stories, Inc., and fiction author Gord Hume, creator of the popular “Samantha and the Sheriff” adventures. The Roy Peter Clark Award went to two winners this year: Mark Parker of the St. Pete Catalyst and Colleen Wright of TBT. 

Among the speakers and award honorees, three participants provided interviews for further insight on the State of the Word and their part in it. Honoree Andi Pignato as well as speakers Julia Bodwell and Amy Cianci shared their thoughts.

Andi Pignato is the marketing and events director at Book + Bottle. When she completed her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Louisville in 2021, she joined Book + Bottle’s team as a bookseller. Highlights from her four years there include building “a community-centric events program from the ground up” and “coining the term, ‘Book + Bottle Magic,’ a philosophy that centers Book + Bottle as a safe space for people to escape, much like within the pages of a good book.”   

In recognition of her contribution to The State of the Word, Pignato believes that she is adding to the future of brick-and-mortar bookstores as a safe space. “The community that we build through our events program, book clubs, and our passionate team is one that makes literacy in adulthood fun and accessible,” said Pignato. “Our hybrid business model [of book sales and wine bar] helps ensure that we can do this for a long time.”

During her acceptance speech, Pignato said, “The great misconception of reading is that it’s a solitary act…. If that were true, none of us would be here tonight.” She added that “the power of a good discourse [is] in how book clubs foster the ability for a room to hold people who love and hate a book at the same time.” 

Pignato described the purpose of a bookseller as one who “upholds a passion for reading that departs from the realm of education.” In going beyond education, Pignato believes a bookseller explores “reading for reading’s sake; knowledge for knowledge’s sake.” 

Julia Bodwell, proprietor of The Gilded Page bookstore in Tarpon Springs, is of like mind. With a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Tampa, Bodwell spent 10 years as a middle school language arts teacher before moving on to launch The Gilded Page two years ago. 

Bodwell said that owning a bookstore is not just about selling books. “In fact, with the competition of major retailers, owning an independent bookstore can’t just be about selling books; [it’s] first and foremost about building community.” Like Pignato, Bodwell focuses on creating an inclusive, safe, and comfortable environment for all.

Bodwell admits that she is an introvert, which gave way to the idea of including “Silent Book Club” gatherings “where attendees bring their own books and read silently together for about an hour.” Attendees chat about their books, but they are all reading different ones. The Gilded Page hosts the Tarpon chapter of this national movement (more at silentbook.club).

Amy Cianci, publisher and engagement director at St. Petersburg Press, is dedicated to publishing books that can be at the heart of any bookstores’ inventory of reads by Tampa Bay authors. Planning and running this event annually is something she looks forward to every year. “Bringing together so many wonderful, talented people and honoring those in our literary community who’ve made such heroic contributions is like my Super Bowl and prom combined.”