Wren’s Nest program goes ‘Beyond Books’

Author Rice to appear Wednesday as part of monthly literary series.

There is always history in the air at the Wren’s Nest. The historic home of Joel Chandler Harris — Atlanta Constitution editor, and author of the “Uncle Remus” tales — has served as a museum in Atlanta since opening to the public just a few years after his death in 1908.

But on March 14, the Queen Anne-style house on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard will play host to a different kind of historic celebration. As part of the Wren’s Nest Beyond Books series, author Angela Harrington Rice will read from her upcoming book, “Resurrecting the Souls of Liberated Women,” in honor of Women’s History Month.

Beyond Books is in its second year, with authors typically speaking at the Wren’s Nest on the second Wednesday of each month from 7-9 p.m.

Rice, who hosted the program “A Woman’s Place” for more than 20 years on the Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters network, highlights 20 women in her book. All of them positively influenced her life, and all have since passed

away. Her book debuts in May, but Rice will be presenting its subject matter, reading excerpts and interacting with the audience during her Beyond Books showcase.

“She will be talking about a lot of women who have come through her life who are now dead, and what wisdom they imparted to her,” said Kalin Thomas, program director at the Wren’s Nest.

The chief inspiration for Rice’s book is her grandmother, Sabrie Loudella Turner, who raised her from a young age.

Though Turner died in 1980, her influence remains. In fact, the book began as a series of stories about Turner, then expanded when Rice began thinking of the other women who had influenced her.

“All of these women had a quality that ran through their lives, and that quality was their independent thinking,” she said. “They didn’t go along with the crowd. They were, in their own way, liberated.”

Rice describes her grandmother as the type of person who could earn anyone’s trust in a matter of minutes, as a great listener who made everyone feel important. Like the other women in the book, Turner was not famous or well-known beyond her local community, but still became a role model for those around her.

“We often send a message that only people in the public square can be mentors,” Rice said. “Sometimes we forget about the lady who was at church every Sunday who always brought you little gifts. I want women to think about people like that.”

Presenting at the Wren’s Nest is special because Rice is also a fan of the Uncle Remus stories. She admires the way Harris captured and preserved oral tales through his books. And she aims to do the same in her work — preserve oral traditions and stories she has heard from those who influenced her.

“They are physically gone,” said Rice. “But they are still here.”

The Beyond Books series continues on April 4 with “Invisible Sisters” author Jessica Handler. And on May 9, author and Decatur Book Festival founder Daren Wang will read from his novel, “The Hidden Light of Northern Fires.”

Later presenters will be announced shortly, and the series isn’t necessarily limited to writers.

“We call the series ‘Beyond Books’ because we want to be able to invite participants who aren’t necessarily published authors,” said Thomas. “For example, we have people we’re interested in who have done stories through photography and we’d like to be able to host them as well.”

Angela Harrington Rice