​Ann Patchett is an acclaimed American author celebrated for her literary fiction, nonfiction essays, and advocacy for independent bookstores. Born on December 2, 1963, in Los Angeles, California, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, at age six, where she continues to reside. Patchett earned her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.

In 2011, Patchett co-founded Parnassus Books in Nashville with Karen Hayes. The independent bookstore has become a hub for literary events and a symbol of support for independent booksellers.

In 2012, she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People and has received numerous honors, including a National Humanities Medal and a Guggenheim Fellowship. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Patchett continues to inspire through both her writing and her commitment to the literary world.