Authors in the Round was founded in 2008 by Jean Bottorff, and has quickly become a signature event in Nashville and a vital part of the Festival fundraising effort. The dinner takes place on the Friday of the Festival weekend at the historic War Memorial Auditorium. Guests mingle and dine with 40 Festival authors for an evening of literary conversation and celebration of the written word. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails under the stars in the courtyard. For dinner, each table is paired with an author, and each guest at the table receives a copy of the author’s book. The evening concludes with champagne and cocktails in the courtyard.
Authors who participated in the 2011 included: Clyde Edgerton, Chad Harbach, Bobbie Ann Mason, Stewart O'Nan, Walter Mosley, Justin Torres, and many others. Tickets are $200 each and $1,600 for a table of eight. A portion of your ticket purchase is tax-deductible and all proceeds benefit the Southern Festival of Books.
The 2012 Authors in the Round dinner takes place on October 12. If you’d like to purchase tickets, a table, or sponsor the event, please contact Jennifer@HumanitiesTennessee.org.
Thank you to this year's Authors in the Round sponsors:
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |















