Author Description

Chattanooga's dream of a brighter tomorrow is being turned into reality - a reality of enthusiasm and excitement, as well as bricks and mortar. Here is the story of how Chattanoogans are helping to "deliver the dream" in a city that "has changed so much in the past 10 years that change is becoming its most identifiable characteristic." From hundreds of hours of interviews with citizens from all walks of life, author Libby Wann has woven their voices around a selection of stunning photographs, creating an impressionistic look at a dynamic city. The colorful images throughout these pages present a city blessed by nature, situated on the Tennessee River and surrounded by the magnificent Smokies. They also capture the tangible evidence of Chattanooga's desire to be the best mid-sized city in America. The book's voices-collected here "by hunch, circumstance, and, occasionally, design"-deliver lively, diverse perspectives on Chattanooga's past and its future, but speak most eloquently to the present, to the here and now of a rejuvenated, motivated city. As Libby Wann discovered, "I began the project believing that the best way to describe Chattanooga was to ask people how they feel about where they live....It was a simple premise. It evoked complicated and, often, deeply personal responses....Everyone I interviewed took a big chance, opening up and sharing confidences, voicing hopes. That says a lot about this city's courage. For those who know Chattanooga, this is a beautiful opportunity to renew acquaintances. For those who have yet to experience this energetic city, Chattanooga: Delivering the Dream can be the beginning of a new and wonderful friendship.