Nashville’s collection of music scenes has played significant roles in many people’s lives — and not just those of musicians. East Nashville-residing author Liz Riggs is one such individual; she went to tons and tons of shows around town circa 2010 and 2011, a time during which famous indie musicians began visiting our fair city more frequently and a burst of activity in local music was leading to more Nashville musicians becoming known far and wide. Holding an MFA from NYU, Riggs has written about education, culture and (naturally) music for publications as diverse as The Atlantic, Bon Appétit, MTV and American Songwriter. It won’t come as a surprise that her debut novel also draws extensive inspiration from her formative time embedded in Nashville music.
Lo Fi, out Tuesday, July 9, via Riverhead, blends mystery and romance. The story follows Alison Hunter, better known as Al, who works the door at a club called The Venue. Several kinds of personal turmoil — including the return of her ex amid a devastating storm and her preoccupation with the disappearance of a musician — frame Al’s questions about her creative ambitions, derailed years earlier by an ill-fated attempt to perform onstage. While the drama swirls, Al is getting at the question underneath “What do you want to do with your life?” — namely, “How do you know what you want to do with your life?”
Riggs will read from and sign copies of Lo Fi during a launch event Tuesday evening at The Basement, presented in partnership with The Bookshop. There’s no cover, but space is limited, so registration is required. The event runs 6 to 8 p.m. and features performances from songsmiths Chris Housman and Vinnie Paolizzi. Riggs will be visiting other indie bookstores in support of the book, and if you miss out tomorrow, you have another chance coming up Wednesday, July 31. Riggs will join Lindsay Lynch for a reading, signing and discussion at Parnassus Books. That event starts at 6:30 p.m.; like the launch party, it is free but registration is required.
