There’s a reason publishers launch their big, weighty, serious books in the fall—longer nights mean there’s more time to sit curled up reading with something really good.
But all that time alone? It gets, well, lonely.
Luckily for Knoxville lovers of literature, this fall also provides ample opportunity to get out and mingle with each other. There are readings from locally renowned poets and nationally renowned poets. There are book signings by romance novelists, mystery novelists, and historians. There are casual chats with authors and formal readings on campus. There are events downtown and in the suburbs and in Maryville. In short, there is no excuse for Knoxville readers to not put their books down and get out and hear from the people who write them. Best of all, almost all these events are free!
THURSDAY, SEPT. 15
Karen Kirst
Kirst will sign her new romance novel, The Reluctant Outlaw, the first in her “Smoky Mountain Matches” series.
Barnes & Noble • 6 p.m. • Free
FRIDAY, SEPT. 16
Bill Landry
Fans of Landry’s longtime WBIR feature The Heartland Series can now read the stories behind the stories in his coffee-table book, Appalachian Tales & Heartland Adventures.
Barnes & Noble • 6p.m.-8 p.m. • Free
SATURDAY, SEPT. 17
Bill Landry
Landry will sign Appalachian Tales & Heartland Adventures.
Southland Books (Maryville) • Noon-2 p.m. • Free
SUNDAY, SEPT. 18
Brian Griffin, Candance Reaves, and Beto Cumming
Griffin will read from his series of poems about the 2008 shooting at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.
Union Ave Books • 3p.m.-6 p.m. • Free
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21
Terrance Hayes
An informal chat with the National Book Award-winning poet.
1210 McClung Tower at the University of Tennessee • 3 p.m. • Free
A formal reading from the guy whose work has won almost every poetry award you can think of.
University of Tennessee John C. Hodges Library • 7 p.m. • Free
THURSDAY, SEPT. 22
Sharyn McCrumb
McCrumb signs her new novel, The Ballad of Tom Dooley. Her books have been named Notable Books of the Year by The New York Times, and she has won the Appalachian Writer of the Year Award.
Barnes & Noble • 7 p.m. • Free
SATURDAY, SEPT. 24
Jack Neely
Our own in-house historian signs the new edition of his book Market Square (likely left-handed).
Union Ave Books • 6 p.m. • Free
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28
Celebration of National Banned Books Week
Readings and discussion of banned books.
Union Ave Books • 7 p.m. • Free
FRIDAY, SEPT. 30
Pamela Uschuk and William Pitt Root
Root is the John C. Hodges Visiting Writer this fall at UT. Both he and his wife have won a bevy of awards for their poetry.
Union Ave Books • 6 p.m. • Free
SATURDAY, OCT. 1
Tom Hollis and Mitzi Soward
Book signing and discussion with the authors of The Lost Attractions of Sevier County.
Union Ave Books • 2 p.m. • Free
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 5
Tom Bird
Special appearance by the well-known author and teacher of novel-writing. His latest book is Birthing Your Book, Birthing Yourself.
Union Ave Books • Noon • Free
Vive la poésie! French-Flavored Poetry Fest
Poets J. Bradford Anderson, Darren Jackson, Rose Becallo Raney, and Marilyn Kallet will read French poems in translation and likely some of their own work, too.
University of Tennessee John C. Hodges Library • 7 p.m. • Free
THURSDAY, OCT. 6
Literary Anthology Launch
The Knoxville Writers’ Guild will launch its eighth literary anthology, A Tapestry of Voices, with a reading at the Guild’s monthly meeting.
Laurel Theatre • 7 p.m. • $2
FRIDAY, OCT. 7
Anthology Reading at KMA’s Alive After Five
The Knoxville Writers’ Guild continues the launch of its new anthology with readings from Mark Compton, Michael Gill, Melanie Harless, and William Isom II. Music by Jenna and Her Cool Friends.
Knoxville Museum of Art • 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. • $5-$9
Stephen Lyn Bales
Book signing and discussion with the author of Ghost Birds and Natural Histories.
Union Ave Books • 6 p.m. • Free
TUESDAY, OCT. 11
R.B. Morris
Songwriter, performer, poet, and playwright Morris will mix his poetry-as-performance-art with original songs for a provocative and unique reading.
Clayton Center for the Arts (Maryville) • 7 p.m. • Free
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 12
Reading Group Book Night
Led by Random House representatives Toni Hetzel and Eileen Becker, there will be refreshments, handouts, and door prizes.
Union Ave Books • 6 p.m.-8 p.m. • Free
SUNDAY, OCT. 16
Norma Watkins
Book signing and reading with the author of the new memoir The Last Resort: Taking the Mississippi Cure.
Union Ave Books • 1 p.m. • Free
Joyce Leo, Sonya Spell, and Connie Jordan Green
Three local poets will read from their latest works.
Union Ave Books • 3 p.m. • Free
MONDAY, OCT. 17
Amy Greene
Amy Greene’s debut novel, Bloodroot, a family saga set in the Smoky Mountains, won rave reviews when it was published last year. Her second novel, Long Man, is forthcoming from Knopf.
University of Tennessee John C. Hodges Library • 7 p.m. • Free
SATURDAY, OCT. 22
Wodehouse Society Reading
Jeeves and Wooster come to life.
Union Ave Books • 1-3 p.m. • Free
SUNDAY, OCT. 23
Julia Watts and Dianne Stewart
Children’s authors Watts (Kindred Spirits) and Stewart (Season of the Cold Moon) will give a joint reading and signing.
Union Ave Books • 3 p.m. • Free
MONDAY, OCT. 24
Blas Falconer
Falconer’s books of poetry include The Perfect Hour and A Question of Gravity and Light. He recently won a 2011 National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship.
University of Tennessee John C. Hodges Library • 7 p.m. • Free
FRIDAY, OCT. 28
Bill Landry
Landry will sign Appalachian Tales & Heartland Adventures.
Union Ave Books • 6 p.m. • Free
SUNDAY, OCT. 30
Knoxville Jewish Alliance Jewish Book Month Celebration
Writer and editor Ronda Robinson (Jerusalem Post, Ms., Rolling Stone) will give a talk titled, “Beyond Politics: Inspirational People of Israel.” Poet and UT English professor Marilyn Kallet will also read. Tennessee Schmaltz will kick off the program.
Union Ave Books • 2 p.m. • Free
THURSDAY, NOV. 3
Alan Gratz
The producer and young-adult author will speak at the Knoxville Writer’s Guild’s monthly meeting.
Laurel Theatre • 7 p.m. • $2
MONDAY, NOV. 7
Melissa Range
Melissa Range’s first book of poems, Horse and Rider, won the 2010 Walt McDonald Prize in Poetry and was published by Texas Tech University Press.
University of Tennessee John C. Hodges Library • 7 p.m. • Free
THURSDAY, NOV. 10
Claudia Emerson
Emerson won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for poetry for her collection Late Wife. She was the Poet Laureate of Virginia from 2008 until 2010 and is a 2011 Guggenheim Fellowship recipient.
Clayton Center for the Arts (Maryville) • 7 p.m. • Free
FRIDAY, NOV. 11
William Pitt Root
UT’s fall poet-in-residence will host a nosh-and-chat. (Think bagels and coffee.)
1210 McClung Tower at the University of Tennessee • Noon • Free
David Sedaris
Everyone’s favorite public radio humorist will make you laugh—and maybe cry.
Tennessee Theatre • 8 p.m. • $47-$64.50
SUNDAY, NOV. 13
Jay Rubenstein
Rubenstein will read from his new book, Armies of Heaven: The First Crusade and the Quest for Apocalypse, a work of military and religious history.
Barnes & Noble • 7 p.m. • Free
MONDAY, NOV. 14
Robert Morgan
A novelist, poet, and historian, Morgan will likely be reading from his new book of poetry, Terroir, or his upcoming saga of westward expansion, Lions of the West.
University of Tennessee John C. Hodges Library • 7 p.m. • Free
FRIDAY, NOV. 18
Leanne Tyler
A reading and brown bag luncheon with the founding member of Smoky Mountain Romance Writers. Her new novel is Season of Love.
1210 McClung Tower at the University of Tennessee • Noon • Free
FRIDAY, DEC. 2
Bill Landry
The local television personality will discuss his new book Appalachian Tales & Heartland Adventures, based on his longtime WBIR feature The Heartland Series, at the Knoxville Writer’s Guild’s monthly meeting.
Laurel Theatre • 7 p.m. • $2
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