An Evening With Jeff Zentner
East Tennessee History Center
Friday, May 9th, 6pm
We are beyond excited to announce a special author event you won’t want to miss! On May 9 at 6:00 PM, join us at the East Tennessee History Center for a captivating evening with the talented Jeff Zentner, author of The Serpent King, In the Wild Light, Colton Gentry’s Third Act, and many more. Get ready to dive into his world of storytelling as he shares insights into his writing process and the journey behind his celebrated works.
Jeff Zentner is the author of two New York Times Notable Books: The Serpent King and In the Wild Light, as well as Goodbye Days, Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee, Colton Gentry’s Third Act, and Sunrise Nights. His work has won numerous awards, including the ALA’s William C. Morris Award, the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award (twice!), and two long-listings for the Carnegie Medal. Zentner’s books have been translated into 15 languages, and he currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to hear from Jeff Zentner himself, ask him your burning questions during a lively Q&A, and even get your copy signed! Union Ave Books will be on-site, offering a selection of Zentner’s books for purchase. Tickets for admission are $25 each.
There will be a free giveaway to win prize packages that include Jeff Zentner’s books, and your ticket gains you one entry into the free giveaway drawing!
Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to Jeff Zentner’s work, this event is sure to be an unforgettable experience. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more exciting details leading up to the date. We can’t wait to see you there!
Since 1986, Friends has brought authors, poets, musicians, and filmmakers to Knoxville to inspire, inform, and entertain. Those appearing since 2013 include the following:
2024
February 29: Carolyn Finney, 2024 Wilma Dykeman Stokely Memorial Lecture
April 2: Patti Callahan Henry
May 13: Erik Larson
2023
February 28: Ashley York and Elaine McMillion Sheldon in conversation during the 2023 Wilma Dykeman Stokely Memorial Lecture
June 14: Julia Franks
September 12: Jerry Craft
September 15: Lauren Groff
2022
March 3: Kathleen Dean Moore, a virtual conversation with WUOT’s Chrissy Keuper during the 2022 Wilma Dykeman Stokely Memorial Lecture
May 6: Adriana Trigiani
2021
March 9: Wiley Cash and Frank X Walker, a virtual presentation of the 2021 Wilma Dykeman Stokely Memorial Lecture
2020
February 11: Michael W. Twitty, 2020 Wilma Dykeman Stokely Memorial Lecture
February 25: Erik Larson
2019
February 7: Jessica Wilkerson and Ginny Savage Ayers
March 14: Silas House, 2019 Wilma Dykeman Stokely Memorial Lecture
April 8: Barbara Brown Taylor in conversation with Dr. William Pender, senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church
May 21: Rick Bragg
2018
March 8: Elaine Weiss
April 5: Nikki Giovanni, 2018 Wilma Dykeman Stokely Memorial Lecture
July 8: Jon Meacham in conversation with Senator Lamar Alexander
August 7: Vince Vawter
2017
March 23: Amy Greene, 2017 Wilma Dykeman Stokely Memorial Lecture
April 9: Anne Lamott
May 16: Nathaniel Philbrick
September 19: Kerri Maniscalco
October 5: Denise Kiernan
October 10: Sharyn McCrumb
November 12: Julia Watts, James E. Cherry, Mahayla Smith, Melanie Haws, Tom Ray, David Hunter, and Charles Dodd White, speaking about Unbroken Circle: Stories of Cultural Diversity in the South
2016
March 22: Erik Larson
April 7: Robert Morgan, 2016 Wilma Dykeman Stokely Memorial Lecture
May 25: Sharyn McCrumb
August 4: Dan Zak
September 11: Jim and Dykeman Stokely, sons of the late Wilma Dykeman Stokely, speaking about her posthumous memoir, Family of Earth: A Southern Mountain Childhood
2015
March 12: Dom Flemons, 2015 Wilma Dykeman Stokely Memorial Lecture
June 2: Steve Inskeep
2014
March 4: Ron Rash, 2014 Wilma Dykeman Stokely Memorial Lecture
April 9: Amanda Ripley
September 23: Robert Reich, Fifth Annual Anne Mayhew Distinguished Honors Lecture at the University of Tennessee
October 9: Sharyn McCrumb
October 19: Vince Vawter
2013
February 18: Jon Meacham
May 19: Rick Atkinson
May 21: Denise Kiernan
September 25: Abraham Verghese, Fourth Annual Anne Mayhew Distinguished Honors Lecture at the University of Tennessee
November 2: Elizabeth Gilbert
These events were made possible by our many community friendships:
Knox County Public Library
Knox County Public Library Foundation
University of Tennessee Libraries
John C. Hodges Society of UT Libraries
Union Ave Books
WUOT
East Tennessee History Center
East Tennessee Historical Society
Center for Children’s and Young Adult Literature (CCYAL)
UT’s Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education
First Presbyterian Church
Tennessee Theatre
Bijou Theatre
Knoxville Museum of Art
The Press Room
Keurig Green Mountain
Knox Education Foundation
The Episcopal School of Knoxville