It's hard to escape the influence of one of my favorite authors, Anne Patchett.

Anne is a prolific writer, a number one New York Times best-selling author, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.

She was also awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Biden for her extraordinary contributions to American culture.

Anne has written acclaimed novels like The Dutch House, a read with Jenna Book Club pick, and Bel Conto, one of her most beloved works.

She's also pinned moving works of nonfiction and even children's books that inspired the next

generation of readers. In 2011, Anne opened the doors to a new chapter in her career with the

launch of Parnassas Books, an independent bookstore in Nashville. She's become a passionate advocate for

indie bookstores and a true champion of literature. At our very first Read with Jenna Book

Festival in Nashville, I had the joy of sitting down with Anne to talk about the local literary scene,

why she opened Pernassus Books, and the woman who first inspired her love of reading.

She even shared some of her favorite book recommendations.

I'm Jenna Bush-Hager and welcome to a special episode of Open Book with Jenna, live from the

Read with Jenna Book Festival in Nashville.

I'm really excited because I'm going to bring up our first guest who is like this patron saint of Nashville writing.

She is the literary heart of this city and one of my all-time favorite authors, please welcome Ann Patchett.

Hi.

Y'all, she is a prolific, number one, New York Times best-selling author. She was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. But I didn't win.

I know, but you will win.

And she was named one of times

most influential people in the world.

Do you feel influenced?

I'm totally influenced by you.

...