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! A New Chapter of Giving
A New Chapter of Giving: WNBA Nashville Launches Fall Book Drive for the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center
by Molly Lyon Earlier this year, our chapter came together to provide over 140 books for children in foster care across Middle Tennessee. Seeing our members, friends, and families of the chapter unite around that effort was such a heartwarming reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together. This fall, I’m excited for us to channel that same energy into a new initiative: providing books for the women at the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center in Nashville. A need has been brought to our attention, and as a chapter, we have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by filling the shelves of the chaplain’s library at the center. We are on a mission to collect 200 new books that will provide residents with access to meaningful, spiritually uplifting reading materials. We will be collecting books now through the end of the year. You can participate by purchasing books through our specially curated Bookshop link, and spreading the word! Shop here: https://bookshop.org/wishlists/4f0f8aa2bb7aabb4ee62a1dc83d7827898e3ef6a Thank you for continuing to show what it means to put compassion into action. I am so proud to be part of a chapter that turns care and concern into tangible support for our community! Let’s make this next chapter of giving just as meaningful and just as impactful as the last. Party Time!
Our annual Members Only Christmas party is less than a month away! If you are a WNBA member and did not receive your invitation, let us know! Click on the Contact Page or email [email protected] for more information. To join, click here. 
November MeetingThe Women's National Book Association (WNBA) Nashville Chapter held its most recent meeting on November 4 at Carrabba's, and it was a night packed with exciting book news and community service!
Hot Titles from BookPage Magazine Our members were thrilled to welcome editors Phoebe Farrell-Sherman and Erica Ciccarone from BookPage magazine. They offered a fantastic preview of the season, sharing insights on the hot new book titles coming out this fall. Attendees got an insider's look at the must-reads for the upcoming months, fueling our reading lists and generating great conversation about the current literary landscape. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn from industry experts and get ahead of the curve on the next big hits! Recommended books were: Fiction Big novel: The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai Tearjerkers: Heart the Lover by Lily King Palaver by Bryan Washington The White Hot by Quiara Alegría Hudes Immersive historical fiction: The Silver Book by Olivia Laing Venetian Vespers by John Banville One-sitting read: A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar Underappreciated gem: Intemperance by Sonora Jha Nonfiction Book of Lives by Margaret Atwood Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy Paper Girl by Beth Macy Joyride by Susan Orlean Positive Obsession by Susana M. Morris Baldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas Boggs The Gales of November by John U. Bacon Motherland by Julia Ioffe The Perfect Tuba by Sam Quinones Middle Grade The Burning Season by Caroline Starr Rose Chickenpox by Remy Lai Crumble by Meredith McClaren, illustrated by Andrea Bell The Five Wolves by Peter McCarty The Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge, illustrated by Emily Gravett The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli by Karina Yan Glaser No Purchase Necessary by Maria Marianayagam Okchundang Candy by Jung-soon Go, translated by Aerin Park The Peach Thief by Linda Joan Smith Xolo by Donna Barba Higuera, illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson Casa Book Drive: Wrapping Up a Success! A major highlight of the evening was the successful conclusion of our children's book donation drive. We received dozens of generous donations from our members. Working together, we joyfully wrapped all the donated books! These gifts will be delivered to CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Nashville for dissemination to the foster children in their program. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this effort a meaningful success for the kids in our community! Great Group ReadsThe Women’s National Book Association is thrilled to announce the 2025 Great Group Reads—a collection of books selected by dedicated WNBA volunteers for their ability to spark meaningful conversations in book clubs everywhere. Enjoy these titles, chosen for groups to connect, reflect, and experience the joy of reading together—or to be savored on your own. To learn more about these books, click on the image below.
WHAT: The Rise of Literary Speculative Fiction
Join us for a virtual conversation with a literary agent, writers, and readers to discuss the rise of the speculative fiction market! WHEN: Monday, November 17 at 7pm EST WHERE: Virtual COST: Free REGISTER HERE Lines from Lauren
Hi everyone!
My name is Lauren Scott and I’m 12 years old. I’m a proud and the youngest member of the WNBA-Nashville chapter. Technically, when I was writing this post, I was 11, but 6 days away from being 12. My birthday is the 26th of October. wink wink! Today, I wanted to talk about a miracle event that just happened thanks to many organizers, volunteers, and ultimately, Vanderbilt University: the Southern Festival of Books! Many of you probably know that the WNBA had a booth/tent at the Festival and we raised several hundred dollars for the organization! We had many people volunteering there, around the clock, rain, shine, or winds that blew all our minds and stickers away (literally)! I had a lot of fun getting to help out at the Festival: we stuffed the gift bags for the authors, we helped out with Coffee with Authors, and we also helped out at the WNBA booth. I learned so much from each and every one of the other people spending their amazing weekend for such a good cause. I learned how to use a complicated checkout device, how to manage change. I memorized the whole “Welcome to the WNBA monologue and tried to remember the dates of WriterFest without awkwardly leaning over the table to see the paper. I ran to the Festival HQ tent to replenish our supply of the Festival schedule, and put on my best look-at-all-the-stuff-we-have-here-and-the-shirt-is-only-$20 smile. So my challenge for you this month doesn't have much to do with reading. Actually, it doesn't have anything to do with reading. It’s to go out somewhere and volunteer. It’s really fun and inspiring to see your work pay off, whether you are feeding homeless people, making shelter dogs happy, or giving kids awesome new books to read! Happy reading and volunteering, Lauren Scott P.S: Special thanks to Libby for all her guidance and support for the WNBA booth! Upcoming Events Monthly Programming for Members. Guests welcome! December 2 Christmas Party (members only) @ Old Natchez Country Club January 6 6-8 p.m. Carrabba's Italian Grill in Green Hills. New Year, New Books – Featuring BookPage and book review highlights with a focus on readers. January Book Club Discussion February 3 6-8 p.m. Carrabba's Italian Grill in Green Hills. Book Marketing and Publicity/Promotion 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 Social MediaDid you know WNBA Nashville is on Instagram and Facebook? Look at the bottom of this page to find the links to both! Want to see our monthly newsletter? Here's a link to do just that!
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 |
Southern Festival of Books
Coffee With Authors Recap and A Note of Thanks!
by Jennifer Sellers How? How is it over already when we only just started talking about it? Looking back on it now, it’s as if the whole of the festival was one big fever dream and in the center of that dream lived Coffee with Authors. I want to start my recap first by saying thank you. I have so much gratitude for every single volunteer. YOU are the ones who have helped make sure Coffee with Authors ran smoothly and was something that could be enjoyed by everyone. It was my dream to be able to bring romance to the festival last year and bring audio narration and accessibility to the conversation this year. Two topics that never get representation, and YOU SHOWED UP! So, THANK YOU! If you were fortunate enough to attend Coffee with Authors you would have seen Author and member Melissa Collings masterfully moderate the discussion on audio narration, its place in culture, how audio narration has changed over the years, and the working relationship between author and narrator; just to name a few! Melissa was joined on stage by Narrators Amanda Stribling & Austenne Grey along with Authors Jenna Levine & Bruce Holsinger. The conversation flowed so freely and naturally the authors even tried getting in on the action and started asking the narrators their own questions. It was so much fun to watch and, as always, way too short! If you missed it, keep an eye out on the WNBA website. We should have a copy of the recording soon. 
Behind the Mic: Moderating “Coffee With Authors” at the Southern Festival of Books
by Melissa R. Collings When Jennifer Sellers first asked me to moderate the “Coffee with Authors” panel on audio narration for the Southern Festival of Books, I said yes before my coffee had even cooled. The topic was one close to my heart as both a writer and a lifelong audiobook listener. What I didn’t anticipate was how electric that hour would feel once we were all on stage together. Our panel was a dream lineup of talent and insight. From the moment we sat down, the conversation took off like a well-tuned recording session: natural, dynamic, and full of laughter. We explored everything from the evolution of audio performance to the delicate collaboration between author and narrator, and the surprising ways voice can deepen a story’s emotional impact. What struck me most was the mutual respect between the authors and narrators. By the midpoint, as Jennifer mentioned, roles had practically flipped—authors were asking narrators their own questions, eager to understand how their words transform from page to performance. That exchange captured exactly what storytelling is about. As moderator, my goal was to keep things flowing while giving everyone space to shine. But honestly, the chemistry on stage made my job easy. It felt less like a panel and more like sitting around a table with old friends who just happen to make stories come alive for a living. And the audience was as engaged as any I’ve ever seen. You could feel the energy in the room—people nodding, laughing, and jotting down notes like they were attending a masterclass in narration. When it was over, I remember thinking the same thing Jennifer later wrote: How is it already over? I left the festival reminded that storytelling isn’t just about words on a page. It’s about the voices that carry them into the world. And if this year’s Coffee with Authors is any indication, the future of audio storytelling—and the readers and listeners who love it—is bright, connected, and full of heart. Much glitter, Melissa Doing GoodWNBA Nashville President Ami McConnell was recently 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!
WHAT: The DIY Book Festival
Guest Presenter: Dian Seidel Book festivals are a great way to promote your book and meet both readers and other authors. But participating isn't always easy due to competition for slots, entry fees, and inconvenient locations and times. So what's a writer to do? Build your own! Participants in this workshop will learn how to organize a local book festival and will be given a practically foolproof, step-by-step recipe that minimizes effort and expense and maximizes sales, community, and joy. WHEN: Tuesday, November 11 at 7 PM WHERE: Zoom REGISTER HERE
Kate Rybina is proud to join the WNBA Nashville Chapter, bringing her global marketing experience, love of storytelling, and new life as an author into the vibrant community of women writers.
Kate first heard about WNBA through author and motivational speaker Courtney “Court” Stevens, who introduced her to Ami McConnell, founder of WriterFest Nashville. Kate met Courtney at a Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce event, and she was deeply inspired by her energy and work. As Kate says, “Court is amazing—her storytelling style drew me in, even when thrillers aren’t usually my go-to.” Reading Tell Me Something Good and other works by Court strengthened her connection to Kentucky’s literary world and sparked her interest in WNBA’s community of authors. A lifelong reader—once teased by her sister for being a “bookworm”—Kate always dreamed of writing a book herself. For years, she attempted to balance her corporate career in brand marketing with writing, often finding her energy redirected to polished presentations rather than finished manuscripts. But in 2025, she completed her first book: SLOWRUN: A Lifeline for Moms Who’ve Mastered Multitasking but Lost Their Sense of Self. Part memoir, part self-coaching guide, the book is dedicated to working mothers like herself—women navigating the challenges of burnout while striving to live authentically. Kate’s story begins in Penza, Russia, a city of 600,000 with rich cultural and theatrical traditions that reminded her, years later, of Nashville. She grew up in the 1990s attending an English Speaking Club with teachers from the U.S. and U.K., which opened her world to international voices. After graduating from college in Moscow, she built a 20-year career in marketing for global brands including PepsiCo, adidas, New Balance, and Groupe SEB (T-fal). Moscow became her home, where she worked, married, and raised her daughters. In 2023, Kate and her family relocated to Bowling Green, Kentucky, where she now serves as Marketing Director at the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. She quickly grew to love the Southern hospitality, vibrant community, and natural beauty of Kentucky. Alongside her professional role, she continues to develop her writing and coaching practice, helping women prevent burnout and navigate multi-career lives. Kate is excited to connect with fellow WNBA members, contribute to Nashville’s creative scene, and share her passion for storytelling. “I’ve always been a reader and dreamt of being a writer,” she says. “Now, through SLOWRUN and through communities like WNBA, I finally feel I’m living that dream.” You can find SLOWRUN at this link on Amazon.com. 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] Holiday Fun
Lauren Scott, our youngest member and our dancer, wants to share with WNBA that she will be performing in Nashville's Nutcracker at TPAC in seven performances this holiday season. She is sharing a special Promo Code to get 15% off tickets.
Promo Code: LAURENS Click this Link: http://cart.tpac.org/overview/14610?promo=LAURENS Feel free to share the link with your friends and families. The promo code should work for all performances (not only Lauren's performances). Lauren will perform as Medium Mouse on the following days: December 7 (Sunday) at 6:30PM December 13 (Saturday) at 2PM December 20 (Saturday) at 7PM December 21 (Sunday) at 6:30PM December 22 (Monday) at 2PM and at 7PM December 24 (Wednesday) at 1PM We're proud of you, Lauren! |
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]