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! Join Us in FebruaryAt our February meeting we will be discussing book marketing and promotion with a panel of industry professionals.
—-Kelsey Merritt, owner of WooGirl PR https://www.woogirlpr.com/ —-Patsy Jones, owner of PJones & Co. https://www.pjonesandco.com/ We will also have a brief discussion and survey about our Book Club. Make plans to join us at Carrabba's at Green Hills Mall on February 3 at 6:00 p.m. Hope to see you there! 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: Agent/Query event Three literary agents will read up to 20 queries and give feedback. WHERE: Virtual WHEN: Thursday, January 22, 7-9 p.m. ET COST: $25, Free for Boston WNBA members REGISTER HERE 
WHAT: Pitch Perfect- Timely Tie-Ins for Media Exposure Success with Marika Flatt, Owner and Founder PR by the Book
WHEN: Tuesday, February 3 at 7 PM EST WHERE: via Zoom REGISTER HERE 
WHAT: Writing the Legacy of Your Life with Emily Thiroux Threatt and Sherry Richert Belul
Grief + Happiness expert Emily Thiroux Threatt and Simply Celebrate founder Sherry Richert Belul host a heartfelt luncheon conversation in which they explore how intentionally naming love and appreciation—through words, memories, and gratitude—can soften grief, bridge emotional distance, and keep us connected to people who matter most to us. This gentle, friendly, and warm conversation invites participants to reflect on love as an enduring force that continues long after loss, separation, or change. Emily and Sherry will also guide participants through a simple and meaningful writing practice: creating a short Love List for someone who has passed away or someone who feels far away. WHERE: Virtual WHEN: Thursday, January 29 at 12pm PT 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 November MeetingThe Women's National Book Association (WNBA) Nashville Chapter held a 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! Upcoming Events Monthly Programming for Members. Guests welcome! 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 |
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. 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.
Betsy Davies joined the WNBA in 2023, encouraged by her long-time friend Cathy Hooper and book club buddy Kathleen Dietz.
A voracious reader, Betsy ventured into writing after her husband passed away in 2019. What began as a coping mechanism soon became a passion. In 2020, Betsy created a Shutterfly book of personal photos of nature and what she felt God was revealing to her through the natural world. Oceans, streams and lakes, mountains, rocks, and flowers all display the interconnectedness of God’s created world. As a gardener, Betsy turned her attention to her backyard “victory garden.” She began a weekly blog in February of 2022 which chronicles her attempts at maintaining the garden without her husband and comparing life in the garden with life in general. Read her weekly blog at The Victory Garden – Gardening Tips for Spiritual Growth. In 2024, Betsy published Garden Devotions, on God, Grief, and Growth which is available through Logos bookstore, Parnassus bookstore, and Amazon. As a business major at UNC chapel Hill, Betsy’s writing was limited to marketing and business reports. To develop her creative skills, she took full advantage of classes offered through the Porch and soon turned her attention to fiction as well as maintaining her weekly blog. Her novels are still a work in progress. Betsy Davies | Author Betsy was born in Murfreesboro, TN, raised in Nashville, and lives in Brentwood. Her son and his wife live in Atlanta, and her daughter and her husband live in East Nashville with their three-year-old twins. When Betsy is not busy writing or being a grandmother, she plays bridge and mahjong and studies the Bible. In the summer months, you can find Betsy in her garden or on her boat at Center Hill Lake. She tries to make it to the beach at least once a year, preferring the under-developed “forgotten coast” of Florida near Apalachicola. For her next trip to the beach, she has invited her four living siblings and their spouses to join her. The WBNA has introduced Betsy to readers, writers, agents, and book lovers. She has enjoyed meeting other women writers and learning from their experiences. Primarily, she enjoys spending time with people who share a creative spirit and a love of literature. 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!
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]