This summer, Next Chapter Society (NCS) welcomed a new slate of committee chairs:
- Rosemary Rapolla, Chair
- Liz Affleck, Treasurer
- Ashleigh Karnell, Secretary
- Reid Berry, Fundraising Chair
- Caitlin Christman, Membership Chair
- John Williams, Governance Chair
- Becca Zeglovitch, Marketing Chair
My Weekends Are Booked Fundraising Campaign
Supported by a dedicated group of committee members, they’ve already hit the ground running with the launch of their annual t-shirt fundraising campaign.
Local designer Andrew Cook, owner of EZCO, generously volunteered his creative talents to design this year’s t-shirt. The NCS team collaborated closely with Cook to develop the design, which was printed locally in Nashville by Friendly Arctic. To boost sales, NCS enlisted the help of influencers, writers, musicians, and athletes to promote the campaign. Due to high demand, pre-order sales were extended by a week. The fundraiser was a huge success, raising over $10,700 to support Nashville Public Library.
Spooky Cocktails at The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club
October brings even more exciting events for NCS. Throughout the month, The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club is offering a special Goosebumps-themed spooky cocktail menu in partnership with NCS. For every drink sold from this limited-edition menu, $1 will be donated to Nashville Public Library Foundation. Be sure to stop by!
Spooky Trivia
On October 16th, Spooky Trivia was held at Park Cafe, where teams competed in horror-themed literary trivia and a costume contest on the back patio. The event featured a surprise lineup of fantastic hosts, including characters from Wishing Chair Productions, local paranormal author Meredith R. Lyons, and NCS member Lindsey Siebe. The event raised over $1,500, with winners receiving gift cards generously donated by: Answer, Edley’s BBQ, 5 Points Pizza, M.L. Rose, Nashville Symphony, and Studio Pilates International.
Next Chapter Society at The Southern Festival of Books
The Next Chapter Society’s events this month will conclude at the Southern Festival of Books, beginning with an NCS Members-Only Reception from 1:30-2:00 PM on October 27th at the Tennessee State Museum. Following the reception, NCS’s 2024 Author Ambassador Lindsay Lynch will host a public conversation featuring NCS’s 2025 ambassador, Lauren Thoman. The pair will discuss Thoman’s latest novel, You Shouldn’t Be Here, released earlier this year.
About Lauren Thoman
Lauren Thoman writes speculative fiction for teens and adults. Her debut novel, the timeslip mystery I’ll Stop the World, was published in 2023 by six-time Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling’s imprint, Mindy’s Book Studio. Kaling described the novel as “unputdownable” and “dazzling.” Thoman’s sophomore novel, You Shouldn’t Be Here, has continued to earn praise since its 2024 release.
Originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia, Lauren now lives just outside Nashville with her husband and two children, surrounded by rescue dogs and an impressive number of fish. In addition to her novels, Lauren is a freelance pop culture writer with bylines in Parade, Vulture, and The Wrap. When she’s not writing, you can find her hunting for tacos or coffee, tending to her garden, or enjoying time with her dogs.