Why Am I Interested In Kentucky Authors?

​

I was born in Kentucky and the more aged I become, the more of a Kentuckian I become.  That's the best that I can explain it.

​

As a teenager, I met my first Kentucky author through the writings of Jesse Stuart, reading many of his stories. I also laughed at the humor of Joe Creason's zany blurbs.  I was introduced to Thomas Clark's historical writings while at the University of Kentucky.

​

Time passed, life changed and my interests changed.

​

Then, one evening in the spring of 2017, while reading a magazine, my interest in Kentucky authors was re-ignited.

​

At that time, I subscribed to and read The Kentucky Explorer magazine, edited by Charles Hayes, Jr.   It was a short article in this magazine which rekindled an interest in me to read books by Kentucky authors.

​

The article recommended books by the Kentucky writers of James Allen, John Fox, Jr. and George M. Martin (Mrs. Atwood R. Martin).

​

I bought and read a book from each of these three authors and each was a good book.  It whetted my appetite to read from other Kentucky authors.   

 

But, which authors?  I scarcely had time to ponder this question when the answer appeared before me - literally.

 

I came across a book in a peddler’s mall in Frankfort which contained the answer to my question. The book is A Bibliography and Collector’s Guide of Kentucky Authors and Their Books by Larry L. Arnett (2005, Kentucke Publishing Company), which I now call The Guide.

​

My next move was to purchase The Kentucky Anthology: Two Hundred Years of Writing in the Bluegrass State by Wade Hall (2005, The University Press of Kentucky) which I now call The Anthology.

​

With The Guide in one hand and the The Anthology in the other, I had, at last, a roadmap into the universe of Kentucky authors and their books!

​

.....................................

​

(Read about who I am here.)