In Henry Wise’s latest novel, an unknowable swampland hides dangerous secrets
In his latest Southern crime novel, award-winning author Henry Wise grapples with the violent history of an impoverished small town. Wise will appear at at Trezevant Manor in Memphis on September 8 and the 2026 Southern Festival of Books in Nashville on October 17-18.
Emilee Hackney traces her journey from Appalachia to Harvard
Two children pursuing safety and freedom embark on a perilous journey
Marcus Wicker’s Dear Mothership considers our humanity through an extraterrestrial lens
Poet Emily Skaja navigates the sorrow of infertility
Ways to Support the WorkChapter 16, launched in October 2009, is an online journal about books, writers, and literary events in Tennessee and serves as the state affiliate of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress.
We cover novels set here; histories involving Tennessee events or locations; authors who live here, were born or educated here; and out-of-state writers when they give readings or participate in book signings anywhere in the state. We also publish original poems and essays by prominent Tennessee authors (including previews of their works in progress).
Your donations help us continue to engage in the stories of the past and present to build a better future for Tennesseans. Contributions help make Chapter16 possible and ensure it remains free for the community. Individual gifts, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships help connect communities through shared stories and allow us all to build a better future for all Tennesseans.
