From panels to performances, here’s all you need to know for this weekend’s event
The 36th annual Southern Festival of Books is returning to downtown Nashville this weekend!
The Southern Festival of Books returns to Nashville, offering more than 150 authors for panels, book signings, readings and discussions, from October 26 to 27 at Bicentennial Mall, the Tennessee State Museum and the Tennessee State Library. Presented by Humanities Tennessee, the festival represents one of the oldest and largest literary events in the country and will host authors from a wide variety of genres, including fiction, nonfiction, young adult literature, poetry, science fiction, mystery, and more.
“Every year, the Southern Festival of Books attracts some of the most dynamic, successful and talented authors from around the world,” said Humanities Tennessee Executive Director Tim Henderson. “We are honored and excited to welcome these brilliant writers to Nashville for a weekend celebrating the written word. In addition to our amazing lineup of authors, the festival offers a wide array of programming for the entire family, from live music to puppetry to theater. It’s truly an event the whole family can enjoy.”
Spotlight on BIPOC Authors
Like previous years, the festival will boast a diverse lineup of authors. Here’s a guide to festival authors of color and their recent books:
Phyllis Dixon: A Taste for More
Terah Shelton Harris: Long After We Are Gone
Andre Johnson: Summer of 2020: George Floyd and the Resurgence of the Black Lives Matter Movement
Micaiah Johnson: Those Beyond the Wall
Rachel Khong: Real Americans
Charles McKinney: From Rights to Lives: The Evolution of the Black Freedom Struggle
Corey Miles: Vibe: The Sound and Feeling of Black Life in the American South
Leslye Penelope: Daughter of the Merciful Deep
Neesha Powell-Ingabire: Come by Here: A Memoir in Essays from Georgia’s Geechee Coast
Alice Randall: My Black Country: A Journey Through Country Music’s Black Past, Present, and Future
Julian Randall: The Dead Don’t Need Reminding: In Search of Fugitives, Mississippi, and Black TN Nerd S**T
Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez: Tias and Primas: On Knowing and Loving the Women Who Raise Us
Renee Watson: Skin & Bones
Crystal Wilkinson: Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks
Julian Winters: Prince of the Palisades
*For a complete list of authors visit https://www.sofestofbooks.org/2024-festival-authors.
Sneak Peaks
While the main festival begins on Saturday, there are special offerings prior to the festival. A few events to note:
Student Day: On Thursday, October 24, the festival will welcome 500 Metro Nashville Public Schools high school students for author meet-and-greets, writing exercises, and book giveaways.
Southern Festival of Books Writer’s Workshop: On Friday, October 25, this one-day workshop will be held at the Tennessee State Museum with workshops by various authors. To register, visit porchtn.org.
Authors in the Round Dinner: This popular dinner on Friday, October 25, will be hosted at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The festival’s signature fundraiser allows guests to dine alongside more than 40 regionally and nationally known authors, and also ensures the annual festival remain free of charge for attendees.
Presented by Humanities Tennessee, the festival will welcome approximately 175 authors and 25,000 visitors to War Memorial Plaza and the Nashville Public Library this Friday through Sunday, Oct. 14-16. From panels to performances, the family-friendly event has something for everyone, and best of all, it’s completely free. Here’s a look at what to expect from this year’s Southern Festival of Books. For the full list of events and more info, visit sofestofbooks.org.
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