LIT CITY As the Southern Festival of Books celebrates 25 years this month, we take a closer look at some of Nashville’s greatest writing talent—and highlight a few rising stars.

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10.14 NL 113-128new.indd 120 9/15/14 8:37 PM rying off her rescue dog, Sparky, to Maggie AN OPEN BOOK down the street. Among causes with which Celebrated novelist Ann Patchett Patchett is involved, the Nashville Humane shares her thoughts on the state of the Association is at the top of the list, and publishing industry, Googling herself, Sparky’s August ceremony drew donations and press coverage alike. (Read more about and her dog’s recent wedding. Patchett’s passion for canines in her essay “This Dog’s Life” in Happy Marriage.) BY KRISTIN LUNA And, of course, there’s Parnassus Books, which Patchett and business partner Karen Ann Patchett will never see this interview. Hayes opened in 2011. Never did 2,500 While she’s often the subject of news square feet of space in a strip of shops across stories—whether promoting a new novel or from the Mall at Green Hills debut to such inadvertently acting as the spokesperson for national acclaim, particularly at a time when independent bookstores everywhere—the bookstores were closing left and right. Patch- acclaimed author opts not to read a thing ett, now 50, moved from written about her. Los Angeles to Nashville “Is it like hearing your with her family at the age voice played back to you of six and says the 2010 after it’s been recorded?” shuttering of beloved I ask her. local bookstore Davis- “Yes!” she says. “[It] Kidd was the catalyst for makes me crazy. Hearing her jumping into such a myself say stupid things tumultuous industry. or seeing myself in direct “Do I think that quotes saying things that bookstores are dead, I never said.” Simi- it’s all over, we’re going larly, you’ll never find to be taken over by e- Patchett Googling her readers? No,” she says name or reading Amazon firmly. “People are very reviews. “Never, never, into [what we’re doing]. I never look up anything don’t think that we could [about yourself] on the have a 30,000-square- Internet,” she advises. foot bookstore. I think “That’s the number one those days are gone. But rule in life. It’s not that I I think a really smart, well-curated, well- am opposed to criticism, but it’s that freaky, staffed bookstore [will survive].” cruel pack mentality of ‘They should live; Although Kindles are banned from they should die.’ I can’t be a better writer— her household, Patchett isn’t opposed to in fact, I’ll be a worse writer because I’ll get e-readers altogether. “What I find as a book- scared.” seller, but really as a writer, is that people For Patchett, it’s easy to avoid stumbling will come up to me all the time and say, ‘I upon such commentary; she doesn’t own read your book on my e-reader and I really a smartphone, nor is she on social media. liked it, so now I want to buy the book,’” When I stopped by her West Nashville she says. “You’ll get people who are buying house, the multitasking wordsmith was busy in a few different formats. It’s really, really in her home office, knee-deep in a few dif- interesting.” ferent projects: tinkering with the manu- Parnassus, which is tucked discreetly off script of a half-finished novel, reviewing the the street in a bustling commercial area, also paperback release of her latest book, This Is benefits from having a recognizable figure the Story of a Happy Marriage (HarperCol- like Patchett as its promotional face, a walk- lins), drafting a commissioned political piece ing billboard for its products, her books the for the November issue of Vogue—and mar- best possible advertisements. Today, people

10.14 NL 111-128new.indd 121 9/17/14 3:21 PM pilgrimage to Nashville from all over the country than usual, at which point she takes a step back. “I THE SOUTH, UNPLUGGED just to visit the store, poke around its shelves, and have to remind myself that the kindest thing I can This quartet of books will be your hopefully catch Patchett in person. do for the health and well-being of the bookstore guide to the happenings in Music A unique way the writer has remained a com- is to write another book,” she says. “That’s what City and beyond. petitor in the literary game during the meteoric we sell a lot of: my books.” rise of e-book sales is by offering to autograph ev- Those who admire Patchett for the suspenseful ery one of her own books sold through the shop’s story lines of Bel Canto (HarperCollins) and State website, parnassusbooks.net. In fact, when she of Wonder might have found last year’s collection went on The Colbert Report in 2012 to promote of nonfiction pieces—some humorous, others raw, State of Wonder (HarperCollins), host Stephen all laced with her token fluent and intoxicating Colbert directed viewers to go purchase the book prose—a refreshing change of pace. But before from Amazon; Patchett chimed in: “I want this to she became known as a novelist, nonfiction domi- register on the Parnassus website. If you buy it nated Patchett’s career: After graduating from there, you can get it signed [by me]!” The result Sarah Lawrence College, she obtained a master’s

“Do I think that bookstores are dead, it’s all over, we’re going to be taken over by e-readers? No. People are very into [what we’re doing]." The Southern Slow Cooker Bible was a huge influx in online sales for the store. of fine arts in creative writing from Iowa Writer’s Tammy Allgood As she tells it, sitting at the helm of a bookstore Workshop and freelanced for Seventeen magazine (Thomas Nelson) is incredibly rewarding, especially since she gets for the better part of a decade. She then dove Discover new takes on classic regional to do what she calls “the fun stuff” while co-owner into the world of long-form writing and has since dishes—like a bacon and chive creamed and store manager Hayes handles the day-to-day. published six novels and three works of nonfic- corn or bourbon candied sweet pota- “I always say I am to Parnassus what Julia Roberts tion. Happy Marriage is essentially Patchett’s toes—via this tasty tour of the region’s is to Lancôme mascara: I don’t formulate it, I don’t curated portfolio, a compilation of her best pub- best cuisine from local food personality package it, I don’t distribute it, I just wear it,” says lished clips with a few new essays woven into the Tammy Allgood. Patchett, a celebrity in her own right. “And yet, it’s mix. It’s also an excellent guidebook of sorts for a really helpful role. The Tennessean will do a piece those looking to get into a writing profession of on my dog getting married, and that’s great because any kind, as Patchett entwines nuggets of advice that brings people into the bookstore. gleaned from her own experiences. “The best part [of being an owner of Parnassus] is And while she might be too busy to read—or how much fun it is for me,” she adds. “I’m sure it’s simply not interested in reading—what I or not the same for Karen, who is the one who does all anyone else has to say about her, she’s probably the work. She’s there day in, day out, and I’m flitting the only one. After all, Nashville stands to benefit in and out saying, ‘This is so much fun!’ I kind of from every work Patchett publishes, from the have all the upside and none of the downside.” traveling talent Parnassus brings to the commu- There are times, though, when the “fun” side of nity, and from having such an accomplished writer owning a bookstore keeps Patchett more tied up serving as the face of the local literary scene.

The Southern Foodie’s Guide to the Pig FAMILY TIES Dr. Michael E. Glasscock III—Ann Patchett’s mother’s former Chris Chamberlain husband of 20 years, with whom the author is close and whom she (Thomas Nelson) still considers a father figure—released the third book in hisRound Vegetarians, beware: Nashville Lifestyles Rock series, The Life and Times of Jamie Lee Coleman, last month. contributor Chris Chamberlain scoured While Glasscock currently resides in Austin, the internationally the South for everything hog-related known surgeon and adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University he could find. The result is this culinary Medical Center draws from his own Southern upbringing to build journey through pig anatomy, recipes out the fictional town in which the book is based. (bacon-infused bourbon? Yum!), and the South’s best restaurants that feature pork prominently on their menus.

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10.14 NL 111-128new.indd 122 9/17/14 3:22 PM Staff Spotlight

Nashville Lifestyles’ own managing editor, Erin Byers Murray, has a new cookbook, The New England Kitchen: Fresh Takes on Seasonal Recipes (Rizzoli New York), out this month. A collaboration with Boston chef and restaurateur Jeremy Sewall (Lineage, Creek Oyster Bar, and Row 34), this tome of recipes highlights some of Murray’s favorite dishes from her years living in Massachusetts, like dayboat cod, maple-brined pork rack, and crab chowder, divvied up by season.

Nashville Food Trucks Julie Festa (American Palate/The History Press) If you have a penchant for mobile din- ing, look no further than Julie Festa’s new compilation of the best food trucks and events in Nashville, which also includes recipes from the truck owners.

100 Things to Do in Nashville Before You Die Abby White (Reedy Press) Journalist Abby White took it upon herself to weed through all those iconic local experiences—catch a movie at the Belcourt Theatre; have a day at the races at Steeplechase—and compile a quirky book of things every Nashvil- lian must do before kicking the bucket. White also added a few of her own favorites, like singing karaoke at Santa’s Pub and digging for gold at the monthly flea market.—K.L.

10.14 NL 111-128new.indd 123 9/17/14 3:22 PM 2012 biography that targets middle rooted in true love, as so many school-aged youth. are—only in the Meachams’ case, “I’m totally new to this market,” it was true love for a house. says Meacham, whose own kids “My wife says we did this are 12, 9, and 6. “It’s increasingly in such a madcap way; it was hard in a world with a gazillion more instinctive than rational,” distractions to get folks interested Meacham shares of their im- in history. So anything that serves promptu decision to uproot their as a gateway drug, I’m in favor of.” lives and purchase their dream In 2010, Meacham left News- home in Belle Meade. And since week when the Washington Post leaving the fast pace of Manhat- Group tan more than sold it and two years ago, was trying Meacham adds, to decide the family hasn’t whether had a bad day: he was “We just love going to it. We’ve been “just write, struck by the or try to genuine sense write and of welcome, edit” when the upsides we Random intuited have all House, his turned out to be own book true, and there publisher have been a lot since the we couldn’t have 1990s, approached him with a pro- known about that have emerged.” posal: They wanted him to oversee When asked how he makes their nonfiction titles and come such a demanding job work some on board not as a writer but as 900 miles from New York City, executive vice president. Primarily, Meacham quips: “Gate C-10.” He Meacham would be editing manu- quickly adds, “This is the one kind scripts and seeking out new talent. of day job that one can do remote- “It just felt like a natural fit—and ly.” He says he’s in Nashville 90 it’s been fun,” he says. percent of the time but heads up PUBLISHING POWERHOUSE Luckily for the editor, his to the Random House headquar- new employer was open to him ters for brief overnight trips here The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian—and executive vice president working remotely—a necessity and there. Most days, he’s holed at Random House—chats about his new book, his family’s move to considering he and Mississippi- up in his home office putting the Nashville, and U.S. presidents. born Keith later decided to move finishing touches on his The Last to Nashville. Meacham had Gentleman, a biography about BY KRISTIN LUNA gotten to know several folks while George H. W. Bush tentatively researching and writing Ameri- slated for late 2015 publication. When Jon Meacham returned to his Southern roots in 2012, he had the red carpet can Lion: Andrew Jackson in the Meacham got to know Bush rolled out for him. Al Gore sat at the helm of the welcome wagon by throwing a “meet White House—for which he won Sr. over the course of a decade, as the Meachams” soiree to introduce the journalist and his wife, Keith, to the movers the Pulitzer Prize for Biography George W. Bush was running for and shakers of the Nashville community. or Autobiography in 2009—and and presiding in office. Once his Then again, Meacham isn’t just anybody. The Chattanooga native logged 15 years at his family had long been in and son’s administration was coming to Newsweek, the last four of which he served as editor-in-chief, after starting his career out of Tennessee for frequent an end, the 41st president offered as a reporter at the Chattanooga Times then writer for Washington Monthly maga- trips to their summer place up at Meacham unrestricted access to zine. He has published six nonfiction books and is on Time magazine’s masthead as a Sewanee, where he went to col- his diary and papers that had not contributing editor. Last month, Meacham debuted his first young adult read,Thomas lege. At the end of the day, though, been widely seen. “If you do what Jefferson: President & Philosopher (Random House), a heavily illustrated version of his the deciding factor to move was I do, you don’t get many of those

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10.14 NL 111-128new.indd 124 9/17/14 3:22 PM [offers],” Meacham says. “The ability to have this document—both presidential and vice- presidential dictations—it offers a remarkable window on governing in really difficult times, and it just was irresistible.” As someone who has long straddled the line between journalism and book publish- ing, Meacham is not as concerned about the state of the latter as he might have been had he remained on the media side. “It’s all changing rapidly and will keep doing so,” he says. “Everything creates its own static place…but it’s hard to see how institutions endure for a long time in this climate.”

“On one level, this is a golden age because more people have more access to more eyeballs than ever. This is Gutenberg on steroids, and that can’t help but be good for both writers and readers.”

Still, he remains optimistic about the future of books, mainly because book publishers never gave away their key product for free, he says; rather, there’s always been the expecta- tion that people would pay for books. “I do think people are as eager as ever—if not more so—to have something that is not coming at them episodically,” Meacham says. “Not that great books are a refuge, but they are more considerate, they’re by their very nature more immersive, and so I’m quite bullish about the future of reading. The key thing obviously is: How do you convince people that it’s worth their money, their time, and their attention when they have so many other things they could be doing? That’s the fundamental transaction.” Meacham, who has seen media at both its peaks and valleys, describes the state of the book publishing industry today as “a lot of creative chaos,” which he believes has its pros and its cons—but mostly the former. “On one level, this is a golden age because more people have more access to more eyeballs than ever,” he says. “This is Guten- berg on steroids, and that can’t help but be good for both writers and readers.”

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