Best Author

Photo: Heidi Ross

Former Scene contributor Margaret Renkl served as the patron saint of Tennessee authors as editor of Chapter 16, the all-about-books web publication of Humanities Tennessee. Lucky for us, she was also writing her own stuff. Each week, Renkl’s essays are among the best in The New York Times, dosing the embattled Opinion section with sanity, wisdom and wit. In July, Milkweed Editions published Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss, Renkl’s achingly beautiful collection of essays. Late Migrations explores the lessons we are taught by nature. Renkl weaves meditations about Carolina wrens and rat snakes with snapshots of her family history, and common themes rise to the surface between these seemingly disparate topics. Included in the book are gorgeous illustrations by Billy Renkl, Margaret’s brother. It’s a keeper. ERICA CICCARONE

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