Kudzu vines trailed across bookshelves and wound around framed artwork, while table lamps and candles illuminated displays of the novel. Arrangements of pink and purple flowers added color throughout the room, and gift totes cascaded down the wooden spiral staircase.
The Library at The Ned NoMad set the tone for actress and bestselling author Christy Cashman’s celebration of her second novel, What Happened in Beulah. Cashman, also an executive producer of The Kids Are Alright, transformed the dimly lit space into a setting reminiscent of the Smoky Mountains during the mid-1980s, where the novel takes place. Kudzu vines draped the room, while the faint scent of the Smoky Mountains evoked the atmosphere of Beulah, Tennessee.
Cashman joined NBC News entertainment correspondent Chloe Melas for a conversation about the inspiration behind the book. The coming-of-age mystery explores family secrets and the ways the past shapes the present.
Music offered another connection to the story. In a nod to its protagonist, Barrett, Natalie Douglas performed a cappella renditions of Dolly Parton favorites, including “Jolene” and “Islands in the Stream.”
Photo by Lauren Anzevino
The Tennessee influence extended to the bar, where guests could order whiskey cocktails inspired by the novel’s setting. The Kudzu combined Tennessee whiskey with orange blossom and Moroccan mint tea, while the Beulah featured cassis, allspice, lemon, and ginger. Nearby, silver trays held cupcakes topped with green frosting and miniature images of the book’s cover.
Among those celebrating with Cashman were Harry Connick Jr., Jill Goodacre, and Colum McCann. From the kudzu-covered decor to the Dolly Parton soundtrack, the evening offered guests a glimpse into the world of What Happened in Beulah before they even turned the first page.
