Join the Nashville Black Storytellers for our spring meetup at PorchTN HQ. This event will be a submission party. Come for a bite to eat and bring your best work to submit.
Calling all local birth workers: Join the Nashville Black Storytellers and BirthManifesta for an immersive storytelling workshop. Hosted by Tonya Abari (Storyteller and NBSHost) and Tanzye Hill (Founder) followed by a restorative sound bath. FREE with lunch provided. Register here.
Join Tonya, along with other creatives, for a reading from PorchTN inaugural Swing magazine. Back by music, writers will read pieces that were published in the magazine.
Host Tonya Abari will be in conversation with author/professor Janaka Bowman Lewis to discuss her latest work, LIGHT AND LEGACIES: Stories of Black Girlhood and Liberation.
Join hosts Tonya Abari and Trenise Ferriera as they talk with debut author Margarett McBride (Dear Dad, Love Nelson) and filmmaker/director Monique Wilholt (Jahleel and Star) about their latest work in bringing the topic of parental incarceration to mixed media formats. *This event will not be recorded.
In partnership with Soul’D and PorchTN — and hosted by PorchTN teaching artist Tonya Abari — the CBA workshop is a 4-hour intensive for creatives who are looking to scale their brands and businesses. Register here.
Attention Nashville Black Storytellers (NBS): After a year-long hiatus, we’re back, baby! Join me for the 2023-2024 virtual kickoff. We’ll discuss goals, future events, and upcoming collaborations. For additional information and to register, click here.
It’s a book birthday! Join author Tonya Abari and illustrator Chasity Hampton to celebrate the launch of Locs, Not Dreads. This is an online fiesta hosted by award-winning storytellers Ambreia Meadows-Fernandez and Yolande Clark-Jackson. Giveaways galore! Register by 9/3/23.
In community partnership with The Black Book Project and Juneteenth615, stop by the annual Fort Negley Juneteenth Celebration and Fireworks Spectacular. We will be giving away 350+ FREE books from 5:00pm–7:00pm! Chat with author Tonya Abari and get a signed copy of Let’s Celebrate Juneteenth for your little reader.
Join me for a reading of Let’s Celebrate Juneteenth at the TN State Museum’s Juneteenth celebration. This event is for children ages 0-10.
SCBWI Midsouth regional meetup at Bellevue Library. Bring a manuscript to critique!
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators quarterly Mid-South regional meetup. Icebreaker, writing activity, and critiques for writers local to Nashville and its surrounding areas.
Location: Nashville, TN
First 2019 Permission to Write Quarterly Write-Up. This meeting's theme is Goals in Writing. Permission to Write is a magazine and community committed to showcasing and amplifying writers of color. RSVP here.
Location: Nashville, TN (TBD)
The PorchTN Writer's Collective Writing in the Real World workshop. Discussing how to write through life's daily challenges as well as strategies to minimize distractions while amplifying creativity.
Location: Nashville, TN
I'll be hosting the first local Permission to Write Quarterly Write-Up. This meeting's theme is Activism in Writing. Permission to Write is a magazine and community committed to showcasing and amplifying writers of color. RSVP here.
Location: Nashville, TN
The 30th Annual Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word. More than 200 authors from around the nation in every genre will be in TN for readings, panel discussions, book selling, and much more. There's even activities for the kiddos. For additional information, check out the official Humanities Tennessee website.
Location: Nashville, TN
Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators Midsouth Conference.
Location: Franklin, TN
26th Annual Great American Think-Off weekend. Philosophical writing and debate competition (one of four finalists selected from around the world). Who will be crowned America's Greatest Thinker?
Location: New York Mills, MN
Chicken Soup for the Soul podcast featuring "Have Fun. Be Silly. Dance Crazy," Be sure to tune in!
Location: Remote
On-location filming for an upcoming documentary. Details to be released at a later date.
Location: Mi casa
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Empowered Woman releases today. Featured in the collection of essays is my piece, "Have Fun. Be Silly. Dance Crazy." Join us on Twitter for a special conversation and hear from the writers behind the empowering stories.
Location: Remote
2018 Madcap Writing Cross-Culturally retreat. In partnership with WNDB, this four-day workshop is open to writers and editors. The purpose of this retreat is to provide resources, testimonials, and tools for telling stories with care, respect, and sensitivity.
Location: Lyles, TN