WNBA Nashville ChapterWe gather, celebrate, and serve book lovers in the
Greater Nashville area and beyond |
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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! To join click here. 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! Pasta, Publicity, and Professional InsightsOn the evening of February 3, the Nashville chapter of the WNBA gathered at Carrabba’s for an evening that was equal parts delicious and discerning. And it was a welcome respite from the ravages of Winter Storm Fern—for many of us it was the first time we had left our homes in a week!
Between bites of calamari and sips of wine, we dove deep into the ever-evolving world of book publicity and marketing. Our guest speakers—Kelsey Merritt, Patsy Jones, and Kat Hoort—delivered a masterclass in how to get books off the shelves and into the hands of readers. For more information on book publicity and marketing, see these websites. Kelsey Merritt: https://www.woogirlpr.com/about-kelsey Patsy Jones: https://www.pjonesandco.com/ Kat Hoort: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cat-hoort-b276822/ Hope to see you at our next meeting on March 3 at 6:00 pm at Carrabba's Italian Grill in Green Hills. January MeetingIt was an exceptionally fun night as WNBA-Nashville members gathered at Parnassus Books to celebrate WNBA member Jennifer Moorman’s new book release, The Charmed Library.
Attending members enjoyed a pre-event reception where we mixed, mingled, and connected, followed by WNBA-Nashville President Ami McConnell’s conversation with Jennifer in front of a large crowd. Thanks to everyone who attended. We love all the ways members gather together to support each other. Click on the pictures below to enlarge them. Love to read? Love to talk about books with other people? Want opinions from people of all ages? If the answer is YES, you would be a great WNBA Nashville book club coordinator. We’re looking for someone to take over the position which involves coordinating a time and place for meetings and the books to read. We meet every other month so it shouldn’t take up too much of your time. If you’re interested, please contact Ami at WNBA-Nashville Chapter <[email protected]> Thanks for serving our community! Great Group ReadsWhat is Great Group Reads and how can I become a reader?
Great Group Reads is a national WNBA program that annually selects a list of outstanding books especially well-suited for book clubs, reading groups, libraries, and community discussions. Committee readers play a vital role in reviewing submitted titles and helping shape the final list that is shared widely with booksellers, librarians, and readers across the country. We are currently seeking WNBA members who may be interested in serving as Great Group Reads readers for the 2026 cycle. Participation is a meaningful way for members to engage deeply with forthcoming books and to contribute directly to a highly visible WNBA program. What is expected of GGR readers:
Please email Su Phillips (she/her), WNBA Great Group Reads Chair if you would like to participate as a GGR Reader at [email protected] 
WHAT: Celebrate the Great Group Reads
Join us virtually to celebrate the books selected for this year’s GGR list! We’ll chat with Virginia Evans, author of The Correspondent, and Nanda Reddy, author of A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl. WHERE: Virtual WHEN: Tuesday, February 10 at 7 pm EST COST: Free REGISTER HERE 
WHAT: In Conversation with Novelist Brigitte Dale (Author of The Good Daughters, a 2025 Great Group Reads Pick!)
WHERE: Zoom WHEN: Tuesday, March 10 at 7 PM COST: Free REGISTER HERE 
WHAT: Save the Date~ Virtual Pitch-O-Rama is April 25
Are you developing a concept for a new book? Do you have a manuscript in progress? Have you always wanted to publish that book you’ve been working on for years? If this sounds like you, we would love to invite you to WNBA-SF's Pitch-O-Rama 2026! Everyone is welcome to participate! Pitch-O-Rama is a virtual event, where writers will be given the opportunity to pitch their works to agents and editors for publication. WHEN: Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 8am - 1pm PT WHERE: Virtual COST: Early Bird registration: only $85 as a WNBA member and $130 as a non-member (Rates go up February 1)! REGISTER HERE Holiday Party 2025
What a fun and festive December night! Members enjoyed mixing and mingling, Christmas ornament crafting, and delightful holiday merry-making at Old Natchez Country Club.
Chapter President Ami McConnell presented membership year highlights—7 in-person meetings, our signature Coffee with Authors event at SFOB, 3 Networking Happy Hours, 7 Book Club discussions, 3 Community Service projects, and 2 Members-only events. Thanks to everyone who attended. We look forward to a great 2026! Click on the pictures below to get a better view of our members who were able to attend and their guests. Lines from Lauren
Hi everyone! My name is Lauren Scott. I’m 11 years old, and I’m the youngest member of the WNBA Nashville Chapter. This month, I’d like to share an important message with you all.
In the month of February, there is a holiday that hopefully all of you know - Valentine’s Day. Many people think this holiday is only about romantic love. It can be, but it can also be something more. I think it’s a holiday about sharing love, kindness, and warmth during the chilly days of February. So my challenge for you this month is to spread love - even when it’s hard and even when you have to go out of your way to do it. Smile at your neighbor, babysit your sister’s rowdy dog, or give an apple to a homeless man. It can be big, or it can be small. The important thing is that you put time, thought, and effort into doing it. And since we are book lovers, maybe that love looks like recommending a favorite book, sharing a story with a child, donating a book, or simply making time to read and reflect. Keep on reading, and stay warm! |
Vanderbilt University Presents
the 38th annual Southern Festival of Books, a program of Humanities Tennessee OCTOBER 17 (9am to 6pm) OCTOBER 18 (10am to 5pm) Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, Tennessee State Museum, and Tennessee State Library and Archives We're excited to celebrate the written word with you downtown this fall! Initial lineup to come midsummer. In the meantime, happy reading! Greetings from Ami
Greetings, WNBA members!
I’m still smiling from our sold-out, members-only holiday party on December 2. We had a wonderful night together, thanks to Catherine Hooper, Membership Chair, and Linda Harris, Programming Chair. A huge, end-of-year thank you to the full Nashville board. You make this chapter so special: https://www.wnbanashville.org/2024-2026-board-members.html#/ 2025 has been surprising and fulfilling for WNBA Nashville with many opportunities for networking, socializing, and volunteering for the good of the community. Here’s a quick recap of the year: 7 chapter meetings https://www.wnbanashville.org/programsevents.html#/ 3 Summer Happy Hours at Pinewood Social https://pinewoodsocial.com 7 book club discussions https://www.wnbanashville.org/book-club-discussions.html#/ 3 community service projects including a spring book drive for foster families, a fall book drive for the Debra Johnson Rehabilitation Center, and a Christmas book wrap for CASA https://www.wnbanashville.org/philanthropy.html#/ 2 members only events: May Garden Party at Ami’s featuring Southern Festival of Books’ Serenity Gerbman + our annual Holiday Party at Natchez Country Club 2 amazing events at Southern Festival of Books https://www.sofestofbooks.org *Coffee with Authors, WNBA Nashville’s exclusive, ticketed event: https://www.wnbanashville.org/southern-festival-of-books.html#/ chaired by Jennifer Sellers and moderated by board secretary Melissa Collings with Bruce Holsinger (Culpability) Jenna Levine (Road Trip with a Vampire) and narrators Amanda Stribling and Austenne Grey https://www.wnbanashville.org/southern-festival-of-books.html#/ *Booth time at locations #57 and 58, thanks to Libby Simons, Southern Festival board chairperson and all of you who volunteered time and energy greeting and serve book lovers (and their dogs) at this free and open to the public event. Looking ahead we’ll continue programming on the first TUESDAY of each month, starting January 6. Reserve your ticket for free here: https://parnassusbooks.net/event/2026-01-06/jennifer-moorman-charmed-library-ami-mcconnell). I look forward to chapter meetings, summer happy hours, members-only events (Garden Party and Holiday Party), book club discussions, Southern Festival of Books celebration, & many other philanthropic projects. Count on your board to advocate for a growing, thriving community. And we welcome your ideas! If you’d like to serve, let a board member know. This chapter is strong because of YOU! Thanks for your continued support of our thriving Nashville literary and arts community. Gratefully, Ami McConnell, President WNBA Nashville Chapter 📚💙 WNBA Nashville exists to gather, celebrate, and serve book lovers in the Greater Nashville area and beyond.
Molly Lyon is a writer, publishing professional, and lifelong reader whose journey with books has been shaped by curiosity, community, and a deep love of story.
Molly grew up in Delaware, where reading was a constant part of everyday life, perhaps inevitable given that her mother is a reading teacher. As she got older, school responsibilities and required reading for classes slowly pushed personal reading to the side. That changed when Molly moved to Nashville for college. She initially came to pursue a career in music, but once she arrived, her creative passions began to shift. While songwriting taught her how to tell a story in three minutes or less, she found herself craving more space, more room to explore characters, worlds, and ideas. During college, she began writing a book and rediscovered her love of reading along the way. After graduating, Molly spent several years working in the music industry as a publicist, but found herself wanting a career more closely connected to her love of books. While searching for job opportunities in the publishing world, she discovered the Women’s National Book Association and was thrilled to learn there was an active Nashville chapter. Joining WNBA felt like finding the community she’d been looking for. Molly now works as a Production Manager at Readerlink, where she partners with printers and oversees the manufacturing process for books across multiple publishing imprints. Within WNBA Nashville, Molly has been actively involved in service initiatives, including helping manage the chapter’s spring book drive, which collected more than 140 books for children in the foster care system in Nashville. She is also proud to support the chapter’s current drive for the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center, which aims to provide residents with access to meaningful, spiritually uplifting reading materials. It has been an honor for her to see members, friends, and families of the chapter come together in support of these efforts. Molly is currently working on her first full novel, a young adult dystopian story. Outside of work and writing, she also hosts a monthly book club. She is grateful to be part of WNBA Nashville and looks forward to growing alongside such a thoughtful, passionate literary community. 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] Doing GoodWNBA Nashville President Ami McConnell was featured on two podcasts, including the Doing Good podcast hosted by Megan McInnis. In another podcast, Doing Good also featured Ami and member Molly Lyon discussing our spring philanthropy project. Watch and listen with these links. Just click on the images!
Melissa Collings was also featured in a podcast. To listen, click below! Congratulations, Melissa!
Upcoming Events Monthly Programming for Members. Guests welcome! March 3 6-8 p.m. Carrabba's Italian Grill in Green Hills. Book Publisher Update March Book Club Discussion April 7 6-8 p.m. Carrabba's Italian Grill in Green Hills. Novel and Verse – Poetry Month May Annual Garden Party for Members Only May Book Club Discussion 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 |
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]