WNBA Nashville ChapterWe gather, celebrate, and serve book lovers in the
Greater Nashville area and beyond |
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It's time to renew or join WNBA! Expect another great year of programs and networking and social activities, starting with our Summer Happy Hour at Pinewood Social.
To join, click here! or on the image above. 
Porch Fundraiser
President of the WNBA Nashville Chapter and Founder of WriterFest Nashville, Ami McConnell, recently hosted a fundraiser for The Porch.
Friends of WriterFest and The Porch gathered at Nelson's Green Brier Distillery to celebrate and support The Porch, a local non-profit serving our reading and writing community through classes and literary events. Attendees enjoyed unique cocktails and a mixology lesson from Mike Wolf, Assistant General Manager of Food & Beverage at Nelson's and author of four cocktail books, and a delectable demonstration from Executive Chef Brian Baxter. We listened to Mike and Brian discuss their respective journeys in cocktail-ing and cooking, learning about Mike's philosophy of incorporating the natural world into beautiful drinks and about Brian's experience as executive chef at The Catbird Seat where he brought Southern staples into his globally-inspired menu. Mike and Brian also shared their co-authored part-luxury cookbook, part memoir, In the Catbird Seat: A Nashville Chef's Journey at the Convergence of Art and Cuisine, with its beautiful watercolor illustrations (painted by Brian himself!) and storytelling. July Happy Hour
On July 3, we held our July Happy Hour at Pinewood. Considering it was the day before the Fourth and roads near the venue were closed for Let Freedom Sing, the Nashville fireworks extravaganza (considered one of the best in the nation!), we had a great turnout.
PInewood is easy to find and there is free parking at the Trolley Barns Garage at 15 Lea Ave. You do have to scan the QR code at the garage, and it looks like you will be paying. But on the front desk at Pinewood, there is another QR code to scan which will be applied and your parking will be free! It's really easy, and the hostess at Pinewood will help you figure it out! So join us again at Pinewood for our August Happy Hour on August 7! Hope to see you there! WNBA Award 2025
UPDATE! Judy Blume has shared her gratitude for the WNBA Award on Facebook! Click on the picture above to see her post! The Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) announces that the 2025 WNBA Award winner is Judy Blume, prolific author of books for adolescent girls. The award is presented to a living American woman who has done meritorious work in the world of books beyond the duties and responsibilities of her profession or occupation. Nominees must derive part or all of their income from books or the allied arts. “Nominations for this year’s award ranged from memoirist to community-minded bookseller,” said NC Weil, WNBA Award co-chair. “What distinguishes Blume is her meritorious work in speaking out against book banning and censorship in schools and libraries. At an age when she could deservedly rest on her accomplishments, she chose instead to open a bookstore in Key West with her husband, and to speak out nationally about threats to books. Books & Books @ The Studios of Key West (https://booksandbookskw.com/) describes itself as “Key West’s locally-owned, nonprofit, independently-minded neighborhood bookstore. Affiliated with Books & Books, one of the nation’s great independent bookstores, our home is part of The Studios of Key West, a non-profit arts center and cultural organization.” Polina Pompliano of TheProfile.com says this: “Judy Blume is one of the most banned authors of the 20th century… Her most popular [titles] include, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Forever… Deenie, and Blubber. “I felt only that I had to write the most honest books I could. It never occurred to me, at the time, that what I was writing was controversial,” she says. “Much of it grew out of my own feelings and concerns when I was young.” (4.26.23 https://www.readtheprofile.com) The WNBA Award (formerly the Constance Lindsay Skinner Award) has been continuously awarded since 1940. Recent recipients include Eve Bridburg, Hannah Oliver Depp, Lisa Lucas, Carla Hayden, Louise Erdrich, Amy King, and Ann Patchett. The full list of recipients includes former First Ladies, authors, activists, booksellers, librarians, and publishing professionals—all dedicated literary women whose achievements have enhanced the book world. The May 31 awards ceremony hosted by the NYC Chapter of WNBA will honor Ms. Blume in absentia – the Award will be accepted on her behalf by Cheryl Davis, General Counsel, The Writers Guild. About the Women’s National Book Association (WNBA): The Women’s National Book Association is a professional organization dedicated to promoting books and literacy and to supporting women in the book world. Formed in 1917 by a group of female booksellers in New York City who were not allowed to join the all-male booksellers’ organizations, the WNBA continues to advocate for equality and representation in the book world. The WNBA welcomes members of all genders and professions. Lines from Lauren
Hi Everyone! My name is Lauren Scott. I am 11 years old and a proud member of the WNBA. I am the author of the book The Tale of Two Fawns: A Unique Gift of Destiny. I love reading, writing and just books in general, even the smell . Today, I wanted to write a little bit about one of my favorite places: the library.
Yesterday, I went with my grandparents to the Bellevue library. We all had a lot of fun browsing through the many aisles of books, but we especially had fun reading books together! Since my grandparents don't speak very good English, we practiced reading picture books together. Not only was it helpful (for them and for me, because I want to be an ESL teacher), but it was also very fun. Going to the library is a great bonding time with friends or family. So my challenge for you this month is to go to a library with a friend, a family member, a loved one or even by yourself. Not only is reading a mood booster, but the long walk from the car to that book you have been recommended to read 20 times releases endorphins! May Book ClubA mighty group of book-loving members braved a torrential storm to discuss Author and WNBA Member Melissa Colling's debut novel, THE FALSE FLAT. Melissa shared fun and entertaining facts about her characters and inspiration for the novel, her writing process, and plans for Book Number Two now in the works, to be published in 2026! Many thanks to Melissa and co-hostess Jennifer Sellers for a memorable evening at Melissa's gorgeous home. .
Nashville Board
Your Nashville WNBA board met on June 21 for our annual board retreat where we planned next year's programs and activities. Planning our activities and making our organization better is a year round endeavor! Let us know if you have ideas or if you would like to serve on the board and help us make WNBA Nashville even better. If you want to make good friends in WNBA and get to know the members of our organization, serving on the board is the way to do it! For more information about our board members and duties, click here.
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July Book Discussion
Exciting update! Author Kaylon Bruner Tran will be at our book discussion via Zoom! Join us!
Our July book discussion will be at the home of Shelby Bowles in Southeast Nashville on July 29. Details on the time and place will be sent out in July. If you don't get them by July 25, use the Contact Page for information. Time Intertwined by Kaylon Bruner Tran weaves neglected aspects of the Vietnam War into solving a modern-day genealogical mystery. War doesn’t end just because the fighting stops. Anh was only ten when American Green Berets first set foot in Vietnam. Within two years, she would be orphaned and sickened by the deadly herbicide known as Agent Orange. After nearly two decades of war, Anh and her newborn daughter were desperate to escape. But in the chaos and confusion of the fall of Saigon, mother and child were separated. Would she ever see her baby again? Anh’s daughter Mikayla grew up in the U.S. with no memory of her mother. When a DNA test unexpectedly reveals that she was adopted, Mikayla is left angry and confused—and she is determined to discover her true identity. As Anh struggles to rebuild her life, Mikayla uncovers long-kept secrets that threaten to rip her family apart. Can either woman find happiness again? Just as Anh and Mikayla begin to adjust to the changes forced upon them, the toxic legacy of Agent Orange begins to be revealed. The war may be over, but another battle rages on. Is it possible to defeat an invisible enemy capable of harming generations yet to come? June Happy Hour
On June 5, WNBA Nashville had its first Happy Hour of the summer and the new membership year. Almost 20 members and guests were in attendance, a fabulous number for a summer gathering! We socialized, introduced ourselves to the group, and shared a bit about our interests and background. It was great to see so many new faces! Come join us on July 3 when we meet again!
WNBA Nashville’s “Spring for the Kids” Book Drive: Mission Accomplished!
by Molly Lyon As our WNBA Nashville “Spring for the Kids” campaign comes to a close, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in and supported our book drive! Thanks to your generosity, we collected 146 books—far surpassing our original goal of 100! Throughout April and May 2025, we conducted a summer reading project in partnership with Fostering Hope TN, a Tennessee-based nonprofit serving children in foster care. With guidance from members of the fostering community, we curated a thoughtful book list full of stories that educate, inspire, and entertain. Each of these books are now on their way to children in foster care across Middle Tennessee. We hope these stories will spark imagination, bring joy, and remind these young readers that they are seen, supported, and valued. It’s been an honor to help lead this initiative, and I’m so grateful to be part of a chapter that puts compassion into action. Thank you for making it such a success!
Heather Ahmie is a new member to the WNBA Nashville chapter, but not to the world of publishing! Having been an avid reader since childhood, it is no wonder that she was drawn to the vibrant and rewarding world of children’s publishing. She currently acts as the Director of Marketing and Awards Coordinator for Publisher Spotlight, a publisher marketing team dedicated to shining the light on small and independent presses from around the world. She has helped clients land their books on lists such as the Notable Books for a Global Society, the Mildred L. Batchelder Award for translation, and the USBBY Outstanding International Book Award.
As a marketing professional, she is able to blend creativity with strategic thinking to create and make the best of opportunities that introduce the world to new and exciting books. This role not only allows Heather to work closely with hundreds of picture books, chapter books, and YA novels every year, but occasionally invites her to travel the country meeting teachers and librarians at various educator conferences such as the American Library Association Annual conference and the National Council for the Social Studies event to discuss the importance of books in our schools, homes and libraries. Working with agencies such as the ACLU, Unite Against Book Bans, and PEN America, Heather is dedicated to advocating for right to read and access to books. Luckily, as a former manager of all things hospitality, Heather has been graced with the gift of gab and the ability to talk about books to anyone she suspects will listen. This comes to great advantage when presenting titles to review journals such as The New York Times and Shelf Awareness, or when introducing library collection development teams throughout the country to upcoming titles. As her company’s in-house arts & crafts expert, Heather enjoys pairing children’s books with easy-to-do craft projects or bringing recipes from books to life in her kitchen. When she’s not traveling or working, Heather enjoys peaceful, quiet days at her home in Lascassas with her fiancé, Adam and their two cats, Ravioli and Gnocchi where she can crochet, bake, garden, and of course…read! Let's all welcome our new member Heather to WNBA Nashville! Would you like to be in The Spotlight? This is a great way to get to know our members and for us to get to know you! Contact Nancy at [email protected] Upcoming Events Monthly Programming for Members. Guests welcome! July 29 July Book Club discussion at the home of Shelby Bowles. Time Intertwined by Kaylon Bruner Tran. The author will be zooming in! Details to follow via email or use the contact page for info. August 7 Summer Happy Hour at Pinewood Social 6-8 Socialize and get to know one another in a relaxed setting. Great networking opportunity! September 4 “Shop Local” featuring Indy Bookstores September Book Club discussion October 2 Southern Festival of Books Round-Up with special guest speaker. November 6 Best Books Lists “Wrap-Up” + Wrapping Party for A Good Cause November Book Club discussion December Christmas Party (members only) @ Old Natchez Country Club January New Year, New Books – Featuring BookPage and book review highlights with a focus on readers. February Book Marketing and Publicity/Promotion March Book Publisher Update April Novel and Verse – Poetry Month May Annual Garden Party for Members Only WNBA Social MediaDid you know WNBA Nashville is on Instagram and Facebook? Look at the bottom of this page to find the links to both!
WNBA Loves Books!
We write them, we publish them, we sell them, we teach children and adults to read and appreciate them, we loan them, we borrow them, we give them, we read them, we listen to them, and we share them with friends. --Lee Fairbend Did you realize there are more pages on our website than this one? Click above the website header on the three lines or the plus sign to find the links to our other pages. You'll find lots more content and information! And don't forget to let us know when you have news for our Member News page! We want to share your accomplishments with our members! |
About the Nashville Chapter
Since 1955, the Nashville chapter of the Women’s National Book Association has been promoting reading, supporting literacy, and advancing the role of women in the community of the book. We offer informative programs and networking opportunities from September through May, a book discussion group that meets six times a year, and various charitable and outreach activities
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Questions?
All events, with the exception of the annual Christmas dinner and the Garden Party, are free and open to the public. For more information, contact [email protected]