Celebrations to Public Lecture Performance and Gala to be held on Nov. 9
July 18, 2024
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville Public Library and the Nashville Public Library Foundation are proud to honor National Book Award-winning and New York Times best-selling author, James McBride, as the 2024 Literary Award winner. He will be honored during the 20th Anniversary Literary Award Weekend, presented by the First Horizon Foundation. McBride’s extensive body of work examining our shared American experience makes him an ideal recipient for this award sponsored by Sandra Schatten Foundation.
McBride will be celebrated during the weekend at several events including a Public Lecture, sponsored by Dollar General, a Private Reception, sponsored by Pinnacle Financial Partners, and The Literary Award Gala, sponsored by Amazon and The Judy and Laura Anne Turner Endowment Fund. The weekend events are co-chaired by Margaret Riley King and Casey King, Joelle and Brant Phillips, and Marie and Charles Sueing.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mr. McBride to Nashville,” said Shawn Bakker, president of the Nashville Public Library Foundation. “Not only is he a powerful storyteller and one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2024, but he is an incredibly talented musician. We are excited that he plans to infuse this year’s literary celebration with his music as well as his exceptional writing.”
“First Horizon is honored to be the presenting sponsor of the 20th Anniversary Literary Award Weekend featuring James McBride,” says Carol Yochem, First Horizon Region President. “We look forward to an amazing weekend.”
The community will have a chance to hear from McBride during the free Public Lecture on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 10 a.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. High School. The Literary Award Gala will follow that evening at 6:30 p.m. in the breathtaking Grand Reading Room of the Main Library. These highly anticipated annual events will celebrate McBride and the Library’s unparalleled impact on the community.
The Public Lecture is free to the public and information about reserving tickets will be included in the Library Foundation’s newsletter. Sign up here. Tickets for the Gala are available now at nplf.org/gala. For more information on NPLF or to make a gift, visit nplf.org.
About the 2024 Literary Award Honoree James McBride
James McBride is an author, musician and screenwriter. His memoir, The Color of Water (Riverhead), is an American literary classic. He has written screenplays and teleplays for film icon Spike Lee (Miracle At St. Anna, Red Hook Summer) and television pioneer David Simon (Parting The Waters). James is a former staff writer for The Wilmington (Del.) News Journal, the Boston Globe, People Magazine, and the Washington Post (Style Section). His work has appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Essence, and National Geographic. In 2015, James was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters and in 2016, James was awarded that National Humanities Award by President Barack Obama. His 2013 novel, The Good Lord Bird, served as the basis for the 2020 Showtime miniseries of the same name. His 2020 novel, Deacon King Kong, was the Oprah Book Club pick of June 2020. His most recent work, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, was selected by both Barnes & Noble and Amazon as their Book of the Year for 2023 and won the Kirkus Prize in Fiction for 2023.
About the Nashville Public Library Foundation
The Nashville Public Library Foundation (NPLF), founded in 1997, is a 501(c)3 organization, supporting and fundraising for Nashville Public Library (NPL). The Library depends on public funding to support operations and maintenance; however, it thrives because of private investment. NPLF has raised over $68 million to advance the impact of NPL programs and initiatives, as well as extend the reach and essential nature of NPL. Gifts to NPLF unlock a world of opportunity and access for people of all ages through investment in library resources that build literacy, digital skills, workforce readiness, lifelong learning, and ultimately, create better lives.
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Literary Award Weekend presented by the First Horizon Foundation
Literary Award Honoree sponsored by Sandra Schatten Foundation
Public Lecture
Free and open to the public
Saturday, Nov. 9 at 10 a.m.
Martin Luther King Jr. High School, 613 17th Ave. N., Nashville, Tenn. 37203
Sponsored by Dollar General
Literary Award Gala
Saturday, Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
Nashville Public Library Main Branch, 615 Church St., Nashville, Tenn. 37219
Sponsored by Amazon and The Judy and Laura Anne Turner Endowment Fund