Author! Author! Benefits Literacy Council

Author! Author!, Williamson County Literacy Council’s biggest fundraiser of the year, is planned for June 11th, 2015  at Brentwood Country Club, 5123 Country Club Lane, Brentwood. Now in its 11th year, this year’s featured authors are: Tamera Alexander, Sedrik Newbern and Andrew Maraniss.

Through free programs, the non-profit, volunteer Literacy Council helps approximately 800 Williamson County residents each year improve their literacy skills or advance their education. The annual event opens at 10:30 a.m. with a silent auction and meet and greet with the authors. Luncheon seating follows promptly at 11:15 a.m. with the program to begin shortly after 11:30. There will be an additional opportunity to purchase books and book signing following the program.

Tickets are $50 per person (of which $30 is tax-deductible). Online reservations can be made at authorauthoreventtn.org.  The Author! Author! event is perfect for local book clubs and they are encouraged to attend as a group.  If you book club  group  chooses to attend,  call the council office to request members be seated together.

“Over the past decade, Author! Author! has grown to be a ‘must do’ for book clubs, those interested in promoting literacy and individuals who simply love to read and, in turn, learn about the writing process,” said Rita Dozier, the council’s executive director.

“Each year we strive to offer a trio of authors who bring with them diverse backgrounds, writing styles and reading audiences and we’ve had amazing response to them all. You never know what – or how — the authors will share their stories.

“Some of our past authors, like Lisa Patton, could have careers in stand-up comedy,” Dozier said. “Others, like songwriter Marshall Chapman, have used music to share their stories.”

One of this year’s author, Andrew Maraniss has achieved national recognition for his first book, “Strong Inside,” a biography on Vanderbilt University’s first African-American basketball player, Perry Wallace. Soon after its release in late 2014, “Strong Inside” was named to the New York Times’ bestselling sports book list.

In addition to  Maraniss, USA Today bestselling author Tamera Alexander who is  the author of inspirational historical romances set in both the Colorado Territory and in post-bellum Nashville. Her latest novels, “A Lasting Impression,” “To Whisper Her Name,” and “A Beauty So Rare” are set at two of the South’s most famous antebellum homes, the Belmont Mansion and the Belle Meade Plantation.

Sedrik Newbern is an author and motivational speaker specializing in marketing consulting and relationship coaching. In “Unconditional Forgiveness, Lessons on Letting Go to Build Better Relationships,” he shares the impact growing up without his father had on his life.

For more information on the Literacy Council of Williamson County or to purchase tickets, call 615-224-3471 or visit its website, The Literacy Council. 

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