Southern Lit Alliance introduces SouthWord

The Southern Lit Alliance and Fellowship of Southern Writers are revamping their biennial event, previously known as the Celebration of Southern Literature, to give it more of a festival feel. Now called SouthWord: A Literary Feast, this year’s event still features many of Southern literature’s most esteemed writers, but also incorporates food, music and more. Also, instead of holding the event midweek at the Tivoli, SouthWord is being held at the end of the week (Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3 and 4) in various locations to accommodate the schedules of more people, says Lynda LeVan, executive director of the Southern Lit Alliance.

Friday’s schedule features panels and authors speaking at UTC, such as keynote speaker Wendell Berry, an award-winning author of essays, poetry and novels who is also known as an environmental activist and farming advocate. Ticket-holders can also attend a reading with up-and-coming poet T.J. Jarrett, an author on Friday’s lineup who’s been drawing a lot of attention, says LeVan. Jarrett will be receiving an award Friday from the Fellowship of Southern Writers. Or, hone your skills through panels such as “Craft of Beginnings: How to Start a Novel or Short Story” with experts like Tom Franklin, Steve Yarbrough and Lee Smith.

“It’s a great event for people interested in being writers, but also a great event for readers of Southern literature who want to hear more from authors about it,” says LeVan.

Saturday’s lineup includes more discussions and panels with authors at Bessie Smith Hall, as well as the first-ever “Pig vs. Cow” barbecue competition at Lindsay Street Hall. John Shelton Reed, who penned a “Savor the South” cookbook on barbecue, will talk about how methods differ by region as he competes against fellow Southern writer Roy Blount Jr., who included a “Song to Barbecue Sauce” in his book “One Fell Soup.” “He’s a fun writer who will add a lot of personality,” LeVan says of Blount.

The festival concludes with a concert at Lindsay Street featuring multi-talented New York Times best-selling authors and North Carolina natives Jill McCorkle and Lee Smith, accompanied by their pal and country music singer-songwriter Matraca Berg, who penned hit songs “Strawberry Wine” and “We Danced Anyway” for country singer Deana Carter in the mid-90s, and “You and Tequila” in 2011 for Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter, along with many others.

Festival passes include lunch and are available for $50 for one day or $90 for both days. For more information and a full list of attending authors, visit southernlitalliance.org.