Chapter 16
A Community of Tennessee Writers, Readers & Passersby

The Best-Laid Plans

Jeff Zentner’s new novel signals a change in literary direction

With Colton Gentry’s Third Act, award-winning YA author Jeff Zentner tries his hand at adult contemporary romance with a Southern flair. Zentner will appear in conversation with Silas House and David Arnold at Parnassus Books in Nashville on April 30.

Read more

Memphis Mourning

Sara Koffi’s fast-paced debut thriller packs commentary on racism, police brutality, and inequality

In her website bio, Memphis novelist Sara Koffi describes herself as a writer who likes to “humanize Black women by giving them space on the page” and “explore the nuances of ‘unlikeable female characters.’” She does both in her widely anticipated debut While We Were Burning, a thriller whose plot hinges on the killing of a Black teen. Sara Koffi will discuss the book at Novel in Memphis on April 16.

Read more

Reality with a Twist

Bradley Sides explores the supernatural in Crocodile Tears Didn’t Cause the Flood

Bradley Sides’ sophomore short story collection, Crocodile Tears Didn’t Cause the Flood, combines the mundane with the supernatural.

Read more

Fryin’ Up an Identity

Mary Liza Hartong’s debut queer romance novel captures West Tennessee living

In her debut romance novel, Love and Hot Chicken, Mary Liza Hartong presents Southern love and queer romance at its finest. Hartong will discuss the book at Parnassus Books in Nashville on February 20.

Read more

A Murder on Campus

The psychology of deception takes center stage in R.J. Jacobs’ new thriller

R.J. Jacobs’ This Is How We End Things delivers a twisting, turning grad school murder mystery.

Read more

Forgotten Wars

Ron Rash’s latest, The Caretaker, is a haunted fable of love and loss

At the center of Ron Rash’s latest novel, The Caretaker, is Blackburn Gant, who does his best to look after both the dead and the living. Ron Rash will appear via Zoom with George Singleton at The Emporium in Knoxville on October 5.

Read more
TAKE THE SHORT READER SURVEY! CHAPTER 16 SURVEYOR SURVEYING