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SOUTHERN FESTIVAL OF BOOKS

Musicality For Modern Humans has been selected for a presentation at the cherished Nashville institution the Southern Festival of Books. It means a lot to be invited, and it means a lot that the festival is even happening this year at all. After DOGE swept through the federal government with the infamous chain saw, the SFB’s own budget found itself in dire trouble. 

The Nashville Scene reported it this way:

The annual event, which has been held in Nashville since its inception in 1989, is among the most beloved events in Nashville, and last year brought out an estimated 25,000 attendees and 175 authors over a weekend-long series of panel discussions, kids' events and author Q&As. The fest is also a sizable platform for dozens of independent bookstores and publishers. The loss of the SFOB would be a huge blow to the local literary community, to say nothing of the residents and tourists who spend time at the free event every year.

It’s welcome news, then, that Humanities Tennessee announced Thursday that the Southern Festival of Books will be returning for its 37th year, thanks in large part to an expanded partnership with Vanderbilt University. This year’s event — titled Vanderbilt University Presents: The Southern Festival of Books, a Program of Humanities Tennessee — will take place Oct. 18 and 19 at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, the Tennessee State Museum and the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

I was able to present my first book Air Castle of the South way back in 2007, and it was a thrill for a first-time author. I’ll be thrilled this year because one of my dearest friends, Tamara Saviano, will be presenting her book Poets & Dreamers: My Life In Americana Music. Other valued colleagues like Geoffrey Himes and Don Cusic will have new books there as well.