Bonus Features
Southern Mansion Reader Weekend
A reader event hosted by Tamera Alexander—guided tours, Southern dinners, and behind-the-scenes access at the historic sites that inspired her novels.
What Is the Southern Mansion Reader Weekend?
The Southern Mansion Reader Weekend is an intimate reader event Tamera hosts on occasion, gathering a small group of readers for a weekend of history, food, fellowship, and story. Together you'll tour the very mansions and sites that inspired Tamera's novels—with Tamera herself as your guide—enjoying behind-the-scenes access, meals in historic settings, and conversations about the history and heart behind the books.
Think of it as the ultimate reader weekend for lovers of Christian historical fiction, Southern history, and delicious food.
Past weekends have included guided tours and special dinners at Belmont Mansion, Belle Meade Plantation, and Carnton in Franklin, Tennessee. And with In These Hills releasing in September 2026, Tamera is adding Lynchburg's Jack Daniel's Distillery and the legendary Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House to the rotation.
The Destinations
Belmont Mansion—Nashville, TN
Home of the extraordinary Adelicia Acklen, one of the wealthiest women in antebellum America. Dinner in the grand salon—Adelicia style—is an unforgettable experience, and the setting for Tamera's Belmont Mansion novels A Lasting Impression, A Beauty So Rare, and A Note Yet Unsung.
Belle Meade Plantation—Nashville, TN
A storied antebellum estate and legendary Thoroughbred stud farm. Breakfast in the historic carriage house, a tour of the mansion and the old Harding Cabin, and walks through the grounds that inspired To Whisper Her Name, To Win Her Favor, To Wager Her Heart, and To Mend a Dream.
Carnton—Franklin, TN
The McGavock family plantation that served as a Confederate field hospital during the Battle of Franklin and is home to the largest privately held Civil War cemetery in the United States. A tour of the house, grounds, and cemetery is followed by dinner and the history behind With This Pledge, Colors of Truth, and Christmas at Carnton.
Jack Daniel's Distillery & Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House—Lynchburg, TN New
New to the Southern Mansion Reader Weekend rotation with the release of In These Hills (September 2026)! The historic Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, and the beloved Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House—where Southern hospitality has been served family-style since 1908—bring the world of Tamera's newest novel to life. (Lynchburg, TN is about 75 miles south of Nashville; an easy 1.5 hour drive.)
Who's Invited?
You are—if...
- ✦You love touring historical mansions and sites, learning the history behind the homes—with the author who wrote the novels about them
- ✦You appreciate delicious Southern food and table fellowship
- ✦You adore talking history, novels, writing, and romance
- ✦The thought of dining in a grand antebellum salon, historic carriage house, or Miss Mary Bobo's very own home makes your heart happy
- ✦You'd love a reader weekend getaway with fellow book lovers who share your passions
- ✦You want behind-the-scenes access you simply can't get on a regular tour
If this describes you, the Southern Mansion Reader Weekend is for you — and perhaps your book club, too!
Be the First to Know
The Southern Mansion Reader Weekend is hosted on occasion and fills quickly (limited to 105 attendees). Subscribe to Tamera's Newsletter to be notified the moment a new weekend is announced—before it opens to the public.
A Peek Inside a Southern Mansion Reader Weekend
Photo Credit—Scott Schrecker Photography
Be the First to Know
The Southern Mansion Reader Weekend is hosted on occasion and fills quickly (limited to 105 attendees). Subscribe to Tamera's Newsletter to be notified the moment a new weekend is announced—before it opens to the public.