courtesy Nancy Olson 2012
TRIBUTE
REMEMBERING NANCY OLSON Adapted from a eulogy by Sarah Goddin, manager of Quail Ridge Books, and Olson’s friend of more than three decades
N
ANCY OLSON, FOUNDER OF Quail Ridge Books and the owner for 29 years, died on Easter. Her love for literature and music, combined with her warm and expansive personality, inspired and influenced a literary renaissance in the Raleigh community and was felt well beyond it. I was fortunate to know Nancy for over 30 years and to work with her at Quail Ridge Books for almost 20. Like all who knew her, I will always be guided by her passion, integrity, and courage, spiced with a large dose of humor. Nancy was many things: a lover and champion of classic literature who also enjoyed reading mysteries, nonfiction, or even a Georgette Heyer historical romance; a lover of classical music who also enjoyed bluegrass and rock ‘n’ roll; a savvy and successful businesswoman who didn’t believe she was, and someone who was comfortable talking to great writers, former presidents, and rock stars, but just as
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enthusiastic, perhaps more so, about talking to novice writers and anybody looking for a good book to read. Na n c y was really that lucky person who figured out what she loved to do, had the unique qualifications to do it very, very well, and the commitment to dive into it 100 percent. She was also lucky in marrying Jim Olson, who was a complete partner in the store and a tremendous support to her in every way. Nancy was an acknowledged champion of writers, many of whom will say she jump-started their career. Her passionate beliefs were that the bookstore always had to stand on the side of literature, of good writing that would endure, not commercial writing, even though we carried commercial books and she sometimes enjoyed reading them. And, even though she held strong political views and was very politically active, she believed the store should not take a political stand because she wanted
everyone to feel comfortable in the store and to be able to explore any ideas, regardless of their beliefs. She believed in hosting authors with widely divergent views and respecting that her customers could make up their own minds and do it better if they had an opportunity to hear from many different perspectives. While she lost customers on both sides of the political spectrum for this stance, she stuck to it. Nancy also believed strongly in good old hospitality, greeting everyone who walked in the door and helping them to the fullest extent she could. Another key to Nancy’s success, I believe, is that she was not a team player. She was really a contrarian and a master of unconventional wisdom. She followed her own instincts and was most comfortable going with her gut. And, most of the time, she was right.
