Sexton, Kay Age 91 of St. Paul passed away peacefully among family on October 17, 2014. Kay made an indelible mark on the lives of family members, as well as readers, writers, publishers and the many young people she hired and mentored. Kay began her career in books in the late 60's as manager of the first B. Dalton Bookseller. She went on to become VP of Communications and the public face of B. Dalton via her weekly TV show, Hooked on Books. Her weekly newsletter, also called Hooked on Books, became the bible of the publishing industry. She had an uncanny ability to take the pulse of the reading public. It was no longer just the New York Times Bestseller list driving book sales, but the reading habits of ordinary Americans as reported by the B. Dalton Bestseller lists published and interpreted by Kay. In addition to her B. Dalton work, Kay also helped create the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, served on the Board of Directors of Graywolf Press, and was a consultant to Barnes and Noble. The Kay Sexton Award is given annually by the Minnesota Book Awards committee to an individual who has made significant contributions to the publishing and literary arts in Minnesota. As significant as all of this this was, it was in her role as mentor and confidant that she made her lasting legacy. From her many nieces and nephews to her very first hires as a store manager to those who later sought her counsel and advice, one young person after another came under Kay's influence. All were affected by her straight forward advice: know your values, be true to your beliefs, and follow your passions, advice that worked when deciding not only what to read, but also how to live. She will be missed. We will share stories about Kay and celebrate her life on November 2nd from 1-5 pm at The Grill Bar in The St. Paul Athletic Club, 340 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN 55101 In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to The Friends of the St. Paul Public Library.