Perry Pidgeon Hooks has had a love affair with books that started with trips to the public library in Memphis, TN where she grew up.  Perry’s love of reading (just about anything), combined with an immense respect for the talents and efforts of writers has kept her engaged in the book business for more than 22 years!

From the University of Virginia, her post college journey led her to England, New York City and then home to the Deep South. Wherever she lived, Perry fostered her love of reading by joining and starting book clubs and attending book events.

For more than 20 years, Perry has worked with independent book stores including Davis-Kidd in Nashville, TN and at Politics and Prose in Washington D.C. – in marketing or as an independent contractor – promoting authors by bringing them to the stores as well as to non-traditional book venues. She remains partial to the independent book stores – working with Politics & Prose when producing events for clients in the metro DC area, as well as with Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, MA and Parnassus Book Store in Nashville.

Perry is excited about the direction of Hooks Book Events; infusing ideas everywhere will be the driving force and purpose of this new phase of the company.  It is time to build bridges to those with limited access to the amazing thought leaders that Hooks Book Events brings to its clients.  Everyone can use information on leadership, management, grit, perseverance, drive and motivation.  The new HBE Bridge Builder Events will work to bridge that access gap.

Perry’s various detours through financial services marketing, advertising and trade association work have all helped her hone her skills in designing programs and author series that fit the needs of her clients.  Going forward, Hooks Book Events will broaden the reach of these programs.

Heather Patchett is a life long student who spent her fundraising career at colleges in Alaska, Minnesota, South Carolina and Tennessee. She is a mother of two and grandmother of three, and has also served as a fire fighter, emergency medical technician, woodworker, theater stage manager and fundraising consultant. Heather returned to Parnassus four years ago to work with her sister, author Ann Patchett, to build a robust special sales program for the store. She is thrilled to welcome Hooks Book Events to the Parnassus family, expanding the store’s ability to bring relevant books to people while remaining committed to personal service and attention.

Niki Coffman has over fifteen years of work experience in the literary world, including at a top-tier literary agency, the Nashville Public Library Foundation, and several bookstores. Prior to joining the Hooks Book team, she served as the Director of Events at Parnassus Books, where she oversaw an event program which hosted nearly 400 events per year. During her time at Parnassus, she delighted in building relationships between authors, readers, and the community. Together with her husband and young son, Niki now resides in Tupelo, Mississippi, where she continues to work tirelessly to support the literary arts.

Ginger Knight has spent more than 20 years in the book industry. She joined the Parnassus Books family in 2015, and was a 13 year veteran of Davis-Kidd Booksellers. She is thrilled to be back in the book business after spending three years working as a librarian in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where she lives with her family. She serves the community there as the market manager for the SOKY Farmer’s Market and operates a hobby farm called Fable Stables that is home to goats, sheep, chickens, dogs and cats.

Chelsea has been a bookseller at Parnassus Books for four years while also dabbling in the bookkeeping and accounting world on the side. Before bookselling, Chelsea was a middle and high school educator, teaching both English and mathematics. With her young son Henry and husband Bryan, Chelsea lives in the suburbs of Nashville and enjoys watching hockey (go Preds!) and going on family walks.

Robin is a seasoned strategic marketing executive with over two decades of global marketing experience in Fortune 500 organizations as well as small, private companies across the technology and finance industries. She is the founder of Blue Egg, the marketing department for growing businesses.

Prior to founding Blue Egg, Robin led marketing for Updata Advisors, a leading investment banking firm serving the information technology industry; and Updata Partners, a growth-stage venture capital firm investing in software and software-enabled services companies. Earlier, she managed marketing and business development programs for a number of innovative technology companies.

Robin began her career with a decade of experience in AT&T’s Caribbean & Latin America regional organization. She earned an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a BA from the University of Notre Dame.