Hello again, Nashville book and literary lovers. As we approach the end of the year, don’t think for one second that local literary events are slowing down. December will be epic.
The biggest event for your mind, body, and soul this season has to be RISE. On Sunday, December 6 from 2-5 p.m. at the Nashville Food Project (3605 Hillsboro Pike), $40 dollars will get you more good food and karma than you can imagine. The Nashville Food Project is hosting thirteen of Nashville’s most notable chefs, who’ll be preparing and serving holiday buns, breads and biscuits. In addition to all of the breads and treats from some of our favorite local food joints such as Sinema, Karla’s Catering, Biscuit Love Brunch, The Farm House, Lockeland Table and more, the Nashville Food Project will provide coffee and cider. There will be a variety of The Nashville Food Project’s own items for sale, along with cookbooks from local authors Jennifer Justus, Daisy King, Erin Byers Murray, Chris Chamberlain, Timothy Davis, Nancy Vienneau and Nicki Pendleton Wood. The Nashville Food Project prepares more than 1,000 meals each and every week to the homeless and working poor using residential-grade ovens which cannot adequately handle the volume. This event will raise money to purchase new equipment and all proceeds will go directly to the organization. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Nashville Food Project’s website.
December includes another month of East Side Storytellin’ at The Post (1701 Fatherland Street), combining the best of Nashville authors and musicians every first and third Tuesday. The 72nd edition on December 1 features author Melissa Gordon and musician Glen Martin. On Tuesday, December 15, we welcome Kathleen Cosgrove and musician Austin Manuel. East Side Storytellin’ is free to attend and begins promptly at 7p.m. sharp.
On December 5 at 7 p.m. at the Blair School of Music’s Ingram Hall, Southern Word and Vandy Spoken Word present The 8th Annual State of the Word. The event will feature the region’s top college and high school writers, poets, emcees, and spoken word artists, who of whom have received standing ovations at TEDxNashville, MNPS School Board, Leadership Nashville, and Child Advocacy Day. Nashville Mayor Megan Barry will kick things off, and then the best of the best will blow your mind. Get your tickets early because it is sure to sell out as in years past.
Jon Meacham
Salon@615
The Salon@615 speaker series has incredible back-to-back days this month. On December 6 at 3 p.m. at the Nashville Public Library (615 Church Street), Mitch Albom will discuss and sign his new book The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto. Then on Monday, December 7 at 6:15 p.m. at the Library, author Jon Meacham will discuss his new book Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush alongside none other than Tim McGraw! Both events are free too attend but you need tickets to reserve your spot. For information about the events and tickets, visit the Salon@615 website.
The Porch Writer’s Collective Workshops
The Porch Writers’ Collective is hosting several interesting creative writing workshops. The first workshop is Race and Writing in the South in Fiction and Memoir: A Workshop with Alice Randall. Randall will help writers to identify ways in which they construct and deconstruct race and racism in their text. The workshop is three hours and takes place on Saturday, December 5 from 9 a.m.-noon. Also notable is Magic Realism: A Workshop with River Jordan. Jordon will lead writers through a journey into the world of magical realism through examples, exercises and vigorous discussion. This workshop is also three hours long and on Saturday, December 5 from 2-5pm. Both workshops take place at The Skilllery in Germantown. You can find more information about The Porch Writer’s Collective and great events and workshops they continue to showcase on its website.
Alice Randall
Now for the rest of the things you shouldn’t miss this month. On December 14 at 7 p.m., The Regenerates Reading Series at The Stone Fox (712 51st Avenue North) will join forces with Christopher Pilny and That Time of the Month. There will be music, libations, liberations and quotations all around. With writers like Paulina Cornbow, Drew Holden and John F. Lavey, artists like Josh Shearon and Graeme Morris, music by Dead Martinis, comedy by Gary Fletcher, and a photobooth by Savannah Weaver, what’s not to love about joining this party at The Stone Fox?
As I remind you each month, don’t miss the Writings on the Wall monthly poetry event, led by the great Ciona Rouse. The theme for this round is “refuge” and potential readers should email wotwpoetry@gmail.com to see if there are slots still available. The event takes place at Atmalogy (2320 West End Avenue) on Thursday, December 17 at 6:30pm. It is free to attend and enjoy.
Gnome on the Roam
Before I let you go for this round of Beard on Books fun, I have two other fun events to share at East Side Story (1108 Woodland Street, Unit B). On Saturday, December 5 from 1-3 p.m., Jennifer May Harvard of Crescent Moon Jewels and Anne Armstrong, author of My Gnome on the Roam, are setting up shop to do a reading and make adventure kits for all who show up interested. On Saturday, December 12 at 4:30 p.m., author/musician Dustan Louque is driving into town from New Orleans to bring a little bit of holiday cheer and Louisiana creativity to our Nashville scene. I couldn’t be more excited to experience and share it with you.
Thank you for spending time with me again. I hope you get a chance to visit and experience a few, if not all, of the events mentioned above. Also, please remember to be nice to one another out there. I can’t say that enough. And if you are near East Side Story, drop by and say hello.
Much love,
Chuck
eastsidestorytn.com
ED Note: For a comprehensive list of upcoming literary events, be sure to check the Books and Poetry section at NowPlayingNashville.com.
