HelpfulGardener.com

I'm in Nashville, and am about to start my first garden. Are there any books out there that will help a rookie get up to speed this fall/winter so I can start planting next spring?

Actually, rather than a book, I'll suggest you read the discussion on "Teaming with Microbes" in this forum.

Even though I don't have the book, the discussion was enough for me to totally change the way I've been thinking about gardening.

With all of the other information on this forum you'll be kept busy for quite a while.

The Sunset Garden Book is also a great help. And of course, when in doubt, ask! Folks here are tremendously knowledgable and helpful.

I'd suggest Cheryl Merser's "A Starter Garden" or Sydney Eddison's "Self-Taught Gardener" as good beginner books. They are quite readable and cover basics that other books don't, like how to assess the site, basic design principles, types of gardens, preparing the soil, etc.