Nashville’s reputation as a literary city is as solid in 2024 as it’s ever been. We’re a frequent stop on book tours, and we have independent bookstores like Parnassus Books, The Bookshop, Novelette Booksellers and The Green Ray that celebrate local writers, host book club discussions and serve as go-tos for niche publications and magazines.
We also have The Porch, which offers writing classes, live storytelling events, writing retreats and affinity group meetups like Nashville Black Storytellers, Latine Creative Collective, Nashville AAPI Writers, Queer Writers, Parent Writers, Writers Over 40 and Songwriters.
We’ve rounded up a sampling of events happening this season. For a complete list of events, check the websites of Parnassus Books, The Bookshop, Novelette Booksellers, The Green Ray, the Nashville Public Library and, of course, The Porch, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year. Your TBR pile might never recover.
Thursday, Jan. 25: Tender Headed: A Reading and Panel with Olatunde Osinaike, 6 p.m. at All People Coffee, 347 Douglas Ave.
Thursday, Jan. 25: Novelette Book Club: Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind by Molly McGhee, 7 p.m. at Novelette Booksellers, 1101 Chapel Ave.
Friday, Feb. 2: Crystal Wilkinson, author of Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts, presented in collaboration with The Porch, 6 p.m. at The Bookshop, 1043 W. Eastland Ave.
Saturday, Feb. 3: Heartbreak Happy Hour: The Anniversary Show, with Megan Stielstra, Eva Cassel and more, 6 p.m. at The Blue Room at Third Man Records, 623 Seventh Ave. S.
Saturday, Feb. 3: Kiley Reid, author of Come & Get It, in conversation with ZZ Packer, 6:30 p.m. at Parnassus Books, 3900 Hillsboro Pike
Sunday, Feb. 11: In Other Worlds Book Club: The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey, 4 p.m. at Hanna Bee Coffee, 1035 W. Eastland Ave.
Saturday, Feb. 17: Unlikeable Females Book Club: Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter, 4 p.m. at Hanna Bee Coffee
Sunday, Feb. 18: Meet Cute Book Club: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming, 4 p.m. at Hanna Bee Coffee
Sunday, Feb. 18: Heartbreak Happy Hour, featuring six Porch community writers, 7 p.m. at Jackalope Brewing Company, 429B Houston St.
Tuesday, Feb. 20: 21 female artists celebrate the release of Slow Noodles, a memoir by Chantha Nguon (with Kim Green), 6 p.m. at Julia Martin Gallery
Tuesday, Feb. 20: Mary Liza Hartong, author of Love and Hot Chicken, in conversation with Kim Baldwin, 6:30 p.m. at Parnassus Books
Friday, Feb. 23: Paths to Publishing, hosted by The Porch, noon at Parnassus Books
Saturday, March 2: The Porch Presents Mirror House, with Hilary Bell, Justin Taylor, the Styrofoam Winos and Cassie Berman, 7 p.m. at Tempo Nashville, 2179 Nolensville Pike
Thursday, March 14: Anna Quindlen, author of After Annie, in conversation with Ann Patchett, 6:30 p.m. at Parnassus Books
Thursday, March 14: Caroline Frost, author of The Last Verse, in conversation with Ann Powers, 6:30 p.m. at The Bookshop
Tuesday, March 19: Between the Covers Book Club: Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver, 7:15 p.m. at Parnassus Books
Friday, March 22: Visiting Writers Book Club: Maurice Carlos Ruffin, author of The American Daughters, moderated by Susannah Felts, 5:30 p.m. at The Porch House, 2811 Dogwood Place
Friday, March 22: Steven Hale, author of Death Row Welcomes You, in conversation with Demetria Kalodimos, 6:30 p.m. at Parnassus Books
Monday, March 25: Percival Everett, author of James, in conversation with Khalil Ekulona, 6:30 p.m. at Parnassus Books
Saturday, March 30: Get the Right Shot! Professional Headshots for Writers, with photographer Emily April Allen, 9 a.m. at The Porch House, 2811 Dogwood Place
Tuesday, April 2: Jenna Voris, author of Every Time You Hear That Song, in conversation with Brian D. Kennedy and Jenna Miller, 6:30 p.m. at The Bookshop
Friday, April 5: The Porch’s 10th Anniversary Fundraiser with Ross Gay, check porchtn.org/happening for details
Saturday, April 6: A Reading and Signing With Ross Gay, hosted by The Porch, 3 p.m. at the Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St.
Thursday, April 18: Rebecca Makkai, author of I Have Some Questions for You, Vanderbilt University, College of Arts and Science, Buttrick Hall, Room 101
A look at the state of Nashville’s visual arts scene, along with previews of coming art, theater, dance, film and book events
