There will be no parades with marching bands or ceremonial speeches made on the courthouse steps. There will be no fireworks or drum circles to arouse the cheering throngs. No, Friday, November 1, will celebrate a quieter, but even more powerful act of civilization, one that has the ability to take us deep inside our psyches or transport us vicariously to distant lands—National Author’s Day.
The day was officially recognized in 1949 by the United States Department of Commerce following a 20 year campaign by Nellie Verne Burt McPherson of the Bement, Illinois Women’s Club. While one can celebrate the occasion in any number of ways, Knoxville readers and writers are being helped along for the first time this year by the Authors Guild of Tennessee, who has organized events to honor local authors and present their works for consideration.
A special guest presentation will be made by author Robert Gipe, the author of Weedeater and Trampoline, at the East Tennessee History Center. In addition, eight authors were selected by a panel of book sellers and literary professionals to present their work and meet readers throughout the day. The Knoxville Writers’ Guild and Union Ave Books will be co-hosting these author presentations throughout the day along with the AGT.
Here are the winning authors and the event schedule for Friday, November 1:
Union Ave Books • 517 Union Ave.
10:30am – Save the Ocean by Bethany Stahl
10:50am – King Alfred and the Queen’s Missing Crown by Anna Skjei
• Break for book signing•
Knoxville Visitors Center • 301 S. Gay Street
12:00 – Word Stream: The Weekly Writers Voice Broadcast – Joe Casterline, actor
12:30 – Kari Gunter-Seymour, Poet Laureate of Athens, OH, and founder of the Women of Appalachia Project
Union Ave Books • 517 Union Ave.
3:30pm – Never Justice, Never Peace by Ginny Ayers
3:50pm – The Garden of Fragile Beings by Carolyn Welch
4:10pm – Geezer Stories by Laura Mansfield
• Break for Signing•
5:00pm – The Dead Shall Rise by Melanie Hutsell
5:20pm – Pushing Back by Jim Hartsell
5:40pm – Jack and the Dragon Man’s Daughter by Devon Koren
East Tennessee History Center • 601 S. Gay Street
7:00pm – Special Guest Presentation – Weedeater by Robert Gipe
