Chattanooga is known for pockets of creativity throughout the city across a variety of mediums, and it’s no different for writers. The city has been a setting for several novels — notably Neil Gaiman’s Rock City battle scene in “American Gods” — but it’s also the home or birthplace of several prominent authors + a host of up-and-coming writers.
Since 1952, the city has also been home to the Southern Lit Alliance, whose mission is to encourage reading and writing through “programming, outreach and stewardship.” Chattanooga also supports several great local bookstores — Star Line Books + Winder Binder — that host writing events and keep books by local authors in stock. (Pro-tip: The Hamilton Place Mall Barnes and Noble is also a great resource for locals.)
Here’s a roundup of some #CHA regional authors to check out. ⬇️
Jon Meacham | Author of six books including the Pulitzer Prize-winner “American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House” in 2009. 📚 He also regularly contributes political commentary on national news outlets + essays for The New York Times. His 2018 book “The Soul of America: The Battle for our Better Angels” was named one of the “best books of the year” by NPR and the Christian Science Monitor. He’s basically amazing.
Natalie Lloyd | YA author of five books including The New York Times bestseller “A Snicker of Magic.” 📘 The book was also chosen as one of the nine books then-President Barack Obama purchased on Small Business Saturday in 2015. Her next novel is “Over the Moon” and is scheduled for release on Mar. 26.
Arthur Golden | Author of the 1997 historical fiction novel “Memoirs of a Geisha.” The novel was a worldwide sensation and was even adapted into a 2005 film directed by Rob Marshall and starring Zhang Ziyi. 📕 Golden was born on Lookout Mountain and attended Baylor School in Chattanooga. He later attended Harvard University. “Memoirs of a Geisha” spent two years on The New York Times Bestsellers list.
Jamie Quatro | Award-winning novelist + short story writer. Quatro, a Lookout Mountain native, released her first novel “Fire Sermon” in 2018. 📙The novel was considered a notable release by several national publications, including The Economist, Bloomberg + San Francisco Chronicle. In 2013, her debut story collection “I Want to Show You More” was chosen as a favorite book of 2013 by James Wood in The New Yorker.
Kevin Wilson | Author of two novels + two short story collections, associate professor of English at the University of the South. 📚 Wilson’s novel “The Family Fang” was adapted into a 2015 film starring Jason Bateman and Nicole Kidman. His latest short story collection is “Baby, You’re Going to Be Mine.”
Other notable #CHA authors:
Matthew Hubbard | Author of the 2013 novel “Drowning” and 2014’s “I Am.” Hubbard is an advocate for LGBTQ youth.
Deborah Levine | Author of 13 books + editor of the American Diversity Report. Her book “Going Southern: The No-mess guide to success in the South” is designed to help newcomers adapt to common Southern traditions.
Cherie Priest | Author of more than 20 titles spanning multiple genres. Her most recent YA novel is “The Agony House.” She now lives in Seattle, Washington but spent many years in Chattanooga.
Don’t see your favorite Chattanooga author mentioned? Let us know below.
