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Kathy Bennett

Visitors dash in for a great beach read, bright-eyed kids fidget through the children’s section and slightly-grizzled mainland transplants comb the used-book shelves in search of bargains. You never know who you might see at Undercover Books & Gifts, a store Kathy Bennett opened 10 years ago that has evolved into a home for St. Croix’s literary soul. “I’ve always loved books and independent bookstores,” says Bennett, a former paralegal who had no previous retail experience. “I learned about the book industry by trial and error and, yes, from books.”

A native of Massapequa, New York, Bennett and her husband Bruce moved to St. Croix in 1981. When a prime location across from the bustling Gallows Bay Post Office became available in 2000, she seized the opportunity to open a business that was heartily welcomed by an island where the only place to get current paperbacks was Kmart.

While the couple raised two children (Blake, who studies Marine Biology at the University of the Virgin Islands-St. Thomas, and Molly, an 8th grader at St. Croix Country Day School), Bennett set out to raise consciousness about the wealth of Caribbean literature. She stocked books on St. Croix’s culture and history and launched signing events for island authors like Richard Schrader, Emy Thomas, Nina York and many others. She created an electronic mailing list, hosted a book club and expanded her events to include artists and photographers.

“We’ve had killer events with some ‘big name’ authors like famed chef Rocco DiSpirito; John McPherson, the ‘Close to Home’ cartoonist; and Bonnie Anderson, a veteran CNN journalist,” says Bennett. Last year, her daughter Molly began hosting her own story time for children most Saturday mornings, making the bookstore a magnet for even its youngest patrons.

The spirited shop spills beyond four walls on occasion. Last year, Bennett celebrated the DVD release of “Mokolution,” a documentary film by Willard John about the island’s Mocko Jumbie stilt walkers, with performances by the towering Guardians of Culture out front. At Christmas, she organizes the Gallows Bay Holiday festival and schedules free street performances by cultural icons like Quadrille Dancers and the Quelbe band Bully and the Kafooners.

Bennett constantly looks for new ways to keep reading fresh for both residents and visitors, and to give back to her community. “I have been very fortunate that I have had so many smart people walk into my life and share their talents and energy,” says Bennett. “I owe a lot to these people and always look for ways to repay them.”