Books written by authors with ties to Lexington

What’s better than a good book? A good book written by your neighbor (or former neighbor). Brew up a batch of your favorite tea or coffee and get ready to meet your next read, because we’re talking about locally written books in Lexington.

Fiction

• “Mr. & Mrs. Witch” by Gwenda Bond | Release date: March 27, 2023 | Read the twist and turns of a pair of newlyweds who discover each other’s supernatural identities + their mission — to take each other out.
• “Lark Ascending” by Silas House | Release date: Sep. 27, 2022 | This book places readers in the shoes of a refugee — reminding them to hold on to hope even during dark times.
• “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” by Kim Edwards | Release date: May 30, 2006 | Two different families are forever bound by a father’s rash decision.
• “The Natural Man” by Ed McClanahan | Release date: Jan. 1, 1993 | This comedy documents the unlikely friendship between a high school bookworm and Hulk-ish high school basketball star.
• “Torrent” by Anthony B. Gray | Release date: Dec. 26, 2024 | This action-packed thriller follows an attorney who finds himself hiding from some unexpected predators while on a hiking trip.
• “Turn a Blind Eye” by Billy Parks Burton | Release date: March 1, 2025 | A World War II veteran returns home to Henderson, Kentucky, only to find his town overrun by corruption and violence, forcing him to risk everything to confront the criminal grip tightening around the place he once knew.

For the family

• “For Black Girls Like Me” by Mariama J. Lockington | Release date: July 30, 2019 | Follow along as a young adoptee learns to navigate life in a new city.
• “Mommy Goose: Rhymes from the Mountains” by Mike Norris | Release date: Dec. 17, 2016 | Teach kids to celebrate Appalachian culture with ~50 different nursery rhymes.
• “Under the Ocelot Sun” by Jeremy Paden | Release date: July 14, 2020 | A mother tells the story of her homeland while struggling to find her place in a new environment.
• “Mosquitoland” by David Arnold | Release date: March 3, 2015 | This young adult novel follows a young girl searching for her mother, meeting a quirky cast of characters along the way.

Part of a series

• “The Secret Weapon” by Bradley Wright | Release date: April 26, 2020 | The first of six books, this thriller series follows the life and work of CIA agent Alexander King.
• “Bluegrass State of Mind” by Kathleen Brooks | Release date: Nov. 17, 2013 | After witnessing a violent crime in NYC, the lead character seeks refuge in Kentucky only to find that trouble has followed her to the Bluegrass.
• “Greater Than Rubies” by Hallee Bridgeman | Release date: Dec. 20, 2012 | A woman with a troubled past meets her match — a handsome billionaire. But is it all too good to be true?
• “The Hilltop Murder Mystery” by Steve Demaree | Release date: Jan. 1, 2006 | This humorous murder-mystery novel follows two detectives who interview eight different suspects — all with ironclad alibis.
• “The Hunt for the Peggy C: A World War II Maritime Thriller” | Release date: Nov. 1, 2022 | The Hunt for the Peggy C follows Captain Jake Rogers as he risks everything to smuggle a Jewish family out of Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, facing U-boat attacks and a mutinous crew in a gripping World War II thriller. Fun fact: Miller is an award-winning journalist and has reported for the Associated Press and served as a reporter and editor for the Lexington Herald-Leader, among other outlets.

Personal stories

• “Kentucky Basketball: Two Decades Behind the Scenes” by Mike Pratt and Tom Leach | Release date: Nov. 23, 2021 | A candid collection of intimate conversations between two longtime UK basketball analysts, Tom Leach + the late Mike Pratt — both of which are almost as famed as Rupp Arena itself.
• “My Century in History: Memoirs” by Thomas D. Clark | Release date: Aug. 4, 2006 | This University of Kentucky history professor spent more than three decades researching, writing, and teaching about Kentucky — this is his story, in his own words.
• “Hill Women” by Cassie Chambers | Release date: Jan. 12, 2021 | Tracing her family lineage through the hills of Eastern Kentucky, this author tells the stories of the strong women that raised her.
• “On Stage with Bette Davis: Inside the Famous Flop of Miss Moffat” By Kevin Lane Dearinger | Release date: April 15, 2022 | A behind-the-scenes look at Broadway’s notorious “Miss Moffat,” this memoir recounts a young actor’s experience in the ill-fated 1974 musical starring Bette Davis. Pro tip: Dearinger is a local retired Broadway actor-singer and English teacher who blogs for The Lexington Theatre Company via its newsletter + social media.
• “If We Never Meet Again” by Matthew M Cornett | Release date: Jan. 21, 2025 | If We Never Meet Again follows a former Lafayette High School teacher who, after more than twenty years in the classroom, steps into the role of hospice care. Through these experiences, he learns lessons about love, loss, and the true meaning of compassion.
• “Dark Horses: A Memoir of Redemption” by Arthur B Hancock III | Release date: December 3, 2024 | Hancock, a once-reckless son of a racing legend, shares how he overcame self-destruction to rebuild his life, form a racing empire, and chase the Kentucky Derby.

Learn something new

• “Jon Carloftis Fine Gardens” by Jon Carloftis | Release date: December 16, 2023 | Take a peek into beautiful world of this renowned designer where you’ll be treated to breathtaking photos of 24 of Carloftis’ gardens.
• “A New History of Lexington, Kentucky” by Foster Ockerman Jr. ” Release date: October 11, 2021 | Lexington is so much more than the “Horse Capital of the World.” This book educates readers on the lesser-known historical events of the city.
• “Scientific Kentucky” by Duane S. Nickell | Release date: July 18, 2022 | This book documents the scientists and inventors from the Bluegrass who made significant contributions to the world of science.

Poetry

• “Affrilachia” by Frank X Walker | Release date: November 17, 2000 | With the publication of this book, Frank coined the term “Affrilachia” and helped pave the way for future African American poets living in the Appalachian south.
• “Bright Dead Things” by Ada Limón | Release date: September 15, 2015 | The collection of poems in this book explore the idea of leaving your world behind to find something new — a finalist for the National Book Award.
• “All These Ghosts” by Silas House | Release date: September 9, 2025 | Silas House’s poetry captures Appalachian life, nature, and community with heart and honesty.

Cookbooks

• “Just a Few Miles South” by Ouita Michel | Release date: April 27, 2021 | Read the stories behind + learn the recipes of Holly Hill & Co.'s famous menu items including Honeywood’s Hoecake Burger and the Inside Out Hot Brown.
• “Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts” by Crystal Wilkinson | Release date: January 23, 2024 | This award-winning author takes us inside the heart and kitchen of her Appalachian upbringing.

Graphic novels + comic books

• “The Walking Dead” by Robert Kirkman | Release date: May 19, 2009 | This comic spawned the award-winning, 11 season AMC show of the same name.
• “Nat Turner’s Rebellion” by Shawn Pryor | Release date: Aug. 1, 2020 | A gripping depiction of the real-life story of enslaved people fighting for freedom.

Sci-fi + fantasy

• “The Navigating Fox” Christopher Rowe | Release date: Sept. 26, 2023 | Join the world’s only navigating fox on a whimsical journey to the underworld in this “half fable, half caper.”
• “Vigil’s Justice” by James A. Hunter | Release date: Aug. 23, 2022 | This action-packed futuristic extravaganza is the first of a four book series featuring monsters, magic, and more.

Need more recommendations? Stop by Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Black Swan Books, Glover’s Bookery, or SQecial Media, to get expert advice from Lexington’s local booksellers.