Gov. Andy Beshear has appointed award winning author Silas House as Kentucky’s next poet laureate. His induction will be during Kentucky Writers’ Day ceremonies on April 24 at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort, an event that is open to the public.
House, a Laurel County native, is a New York Times bestselling author of seven novels and teaches at Berea College. A former rural postal carrier, House is also a published poet and nonfiction writer. He resides in Lexington.
In 2022 House was named Appalachian of the Year in a nationwide poll and received the Duggins Prize, an award honoring LGBTQ authors who have published multiple novels.
“I’ve always felt that being part of Kentucky’s literary tradition is great. I’m proud of that,” House said, according to a story in the Lane Report. “Some of my favorite writers have been poets laureates, making my appointment to the position extra special. I’m especially proud to serve under a governor I admire and respect so much.”
House spoke in Hopkinsville on April 3, 2022, during the celebration of life for his friend, the author and Hopkinsville native bell hooks.
His induction will be part of several events planned for Kentucky Writers’ Day, which occurs on the birthdate of Guthrie native Robert Penn Warren.
Warren, born on April 24, 1905, received the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction for “All the King’s Men” and two Pulitzer Prizes in Poetry. In 1986 he became the first U.S. Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry.
House follows Crystal Wilkinson as Kentucky Poet Laureate. Wilkinson and other former poets laureate, including Richard Taylor, Joe Survant, Sena Jeter Naslund, Maureen Morehead, Frank X Walker, George Ella Lyon and Jeff Worley, will be present for Kentucky Writers’ Day. The Kentucky Arts Council provides this guide to Kentucky Writers’ Day.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
