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About Us

 

Meet Allyson

Allyson Hickey, Executive Director, brings over 15 years of experience in children’s bookselling, publishing, children’s literacy programs, consulting, and event planning to booked.

How It Works

Growing up a reluctant reader, Allyson eventually connected with books in her early 20s. Since then, she has been passionate about exposing all individuals she meets, especially children, to the delights of literacy.

Allyson worked as a children’s bookseller encouraging young readers to experience the joys of reading. The bookstore served a perfect venue to pair readers to the books they were meant to enjoy. She created and ran “Chat n Chew” book clubs and writing workshops in local schools exposing young readers to the impact of written stories.

 

A huge supporter of authors, Allyson received her Certificate in Publishing from Sarah Lawrence College to better understand and appreciate the journey an author embarks on when writing and publishing a book. With event planning experience from a major hotel chain and an internationally known research organization, Allyson has experience in the many facets of orchestrating a successful event.

In addition to reading and inspiring readers of all ages, Allyson is the mother of four children, loves yoga, playing golf with her husband, cooking, art and walking her puggle, Winston.

Meet Mari

Mari Allen serves as a Partnership Coordinator for booked.

How It Works
As a child, Mari spent much of her time playing bookstore and library, creating her own cataloging system complete with cards and checkout policies.  A lifelong book lover, a pivotal moment was a school visit from author Katherine Paterson who would soon go on to win the Newbery Award for Bridge To Terabithia.  The opportunity to meet an author who cherished telling sophisticated stories for children changed Mari’s reading life forever. 
After several years as an elementary and middle school classroom teacher, Mari pivoted to working in a bookstore and libraries when she lived in the SF Bay Area for 20 years. She currently works as the Children’s Librarian at a branch of the Ferguson Library in Stamford, CT and as an Early Literacy Program Specialist at the Perrot Library in Old Greenwich, CT.
When she is not reading, you can find Mari running, cooking, seeing Broadway shows, or spending time with her three adult children who are scattered across the country.  She currently lives in the NYC suburbs with her husband and dog.

Meet Nikki

Nikki Ritchie serves as a Partnership Coordinator for booked.

How It Works
Growing up in rural South Africa, Nikki found in her local library a retreat from the heat and a gateway to magical places, from Narnia to New York City. Her love of reading soon grew into a love of writing, and she published her first poem in a children’s magazine at age 8.
While earning degrees in English and Creative Writing, she continued to study children’s literature, including a course on Writing for Children with Jacqueline Wilson in London. She went on to spend nearly two decades as a communications consultant, supporting global clients on media training and strategic communication campaigns, all while staying connected to reading and writing communities — volunteering with library book clubs and story times, mentoring students in a Bronx high school, and performing with a collective of female poets at the New York Poetry Festival.

Nikki now lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with her husband and son, a busy toddler who shares her love of stories and wild imagination. She spends her spare time cooking, swimming, enjoying live music, and exploring the bookstores and museums of NYC.