Chattanooga Times Free Press

Ron Rash, Daniel Wallace, Rick Bragg booked for SouthWord Literary Festival

- — Compiled by Barry Courter

SoLit, formerly known as the Southern Lit Alliance, a non-profit literary arts organizati­on since 1952, will celebrate the 40th year of its SouthWord Literary Festival, April 14-15 at the Chattanoog­a Convention Center.

“For decades, SouthWord was one of our regions’ most successful and prestigiou­s arts and humanities events, and we are proud to return from the pandemic with one of our strongest and most diverse lineups ever,” SoLit Board Chairman Tim Mickel said in a news release.

“Our mission is to deliver experience­s that engage young people and adults in a life-long love of reading, writing and community conversati­on. Every single author we have curated as part of this year’s SouthWord lineup does that, and we are thrilled to bring them to Chattanoog­a — many for the first time.”

Over the course of two days, authors will speak about their current works individual­ly, in an interview style with another author or in panel discussion­s. Book signings will also take place on site.

The 2023 SouthWord Literature Festival line-up includes:

› Richard Bausch.

› Rick Bragg.

› Kimberly Brock.

› Clyde Edgerton.

› Silas House.

› Beverly Lowry.

› Ron Rash.

› Maurice Carlos Ruffin.

› Alina Stefanescu.

› Han VanderHart.

› Juan Vidal.

› Daniel Wallace.

› Janelle Williams. According to the release, more authors will be announced in the coming days. One-day and two-day passes are limited and are on sale now at solitchatt. org/2023southw­ord.

SoLit was created by a grant from the Ford Foundation in 1952 and was formerly known as the Southern Lit Alliance. Its mission is to deliver literary arts experience­s that engage young people and adults in the love of reading, writing and community conversati­on.

It serves more than 5,000 adults and children each year through literature festivals, author visits, writing workshops, writing contests for children, and outreach to area jails and underserve­d communitie­s.

 ?? CONTRIBUTE­D PHOTO ?? Rick Bragg will be among the writers, poets and essayists at the SouthWord Literary Festival in April.
CONTRIBUTE­D PHOTO Rick Bragg will be among the writers, poets and essayists at the SouthWord Literary Festival in April.

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