While this column usually focuses on Murfreesboro literary and spoken word events, October is an exception because of a big event in Nashville—and no, I’m not talking about country music awards. For us book lovers, The Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word is a paradise, a homecoming and a must-not-miss event. Now in its 31st year, the free three-day festival, Oct. 11–13, connects thousands of readers of all ages and over 200 writers of all genres through panel discussions, readings, book signings, exhibits and much more. It’s fun to browse the exhibit booths and festival bookstore run by Parnassus Books on Legislative Plaza, but don’t miss all of the sessions also going on in the Nashville Public Library and other locations.
Authors with Murfreesboro connections who are scheduled to appear include poet and MTSU English professor Gaylord Brewer with his latest poetry book, The Feral Condition; recent Murfreesboro transplant Mike James with his recent poetry book, First-Hand Accounts from Made-Up Places; writer and MTSU professor emerita June Hall McCash with her new novel, Eleanor’s Daughter: A Novel of Marie de Champagne; Murfreesboro Poet Laureate Kory Wells with her new poetry collection, Sugar Fix; and MTSU alumnus Josh Floyd speaking on self-publishing with IngramSpark. A full schedule and list of authors is available on the Humanities Tennessee website.
Poetry in the Boro takes a break in October because it conflicts with Southern Fest. But here at home there are plenty of other events to enjoy this month:
Wednesday, Oct. 16
The Tennessee Steam Festival is bringing popular author and NPR commentator Andrei Codrescu to Murfreesboro to speak on “Communicating Science Through Storytelling.” This event will be held at the MTSU Science Building. A reception at 5:30 p.m. precedes the 6:30 p.m. lecture. Founded by Murfreesboro’s Discovery Center, the festival runs Oct. 11–20 at locations throughout the state. Visit tnsteam.org for more information.
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Saturday, Oct. 19
MTSU Write will be holding its annual one-day writing conference. With a theme of “Keep Going, Keep Growing,” the event will feature keynote speaker Mary Laura Philpott (I Miss You When I Blink) and breakout sessions for a variety of genres. Registration is $60 for the public, or $40 for students and others affiliated with MTSU. Find more information at mtsu.edu/write.
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Monday, Oct. 21
Heidi Heilig, author of For a Muse of Fire, The Girl From Everywhere and other books, will be speaking at Linebaugh Public Library at 6:30 p.m. in a Friends of Linebaugh Library event. Free and open to the public.
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Thursday, Oct. 24
The local storytelling project Bloom will return to the Walnut House for its one-night show Moonlight, Magic and Mystery. The multigenre event will include Leeann Love with art and a story, Jimbo Hooten with magic and a story, live music, and other tellers and poets, including Nick Bush, Kheanne Fontaine, Amie Whittemore and organizer KJ Kemp. Donations will be accepted at the door, which opens at 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show. Two open-mic slots, five minutes each, will be available to interested audience members to share a story or poetry.
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Most Thursdays in October
The MTSU English department’s “In Process” series continues, with fiction writer Brian Kitely on Oct. 17, fiction writer Jennifer Wachtel Kates on Oct. 24, and poet Kory Wells with folk musician Kelsey Wells on Oct. 31.
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