Kentucky Authors

James Lane Allen (1849–1925), called the state's first important novelist, Born near Lexington

Harriette Simpson Arnow (1908–1986), Writer of novels, memoirs, and regional histories, Born in Wayne County, raised in Pulaski County

Wendell Berry (born 1934), Author and poet, Born in New Castle

Harry M. Caudill (1922–1990), Author, historian, and attorney, Born in Whitesburg

Irvin S. Cobb (1876–1944), Author, humorist, Born in Paducah

Clive Cussler (1931–2020), Author and oceanic explorer, Lived in Louisville

Rachael Denhollander (born 1984), Author, advocate, lawyer, Lives in Louisville

Greg Downs (born 1971), Author, Raised in Elizabethtown

Joey Goebel (born 1980), Author, Born in Henderson

Bell Hooks (Gloria Jean Watkins) (1952–2021), Author, feminist, and social activist, Born and raised in Hopkinsville

Silas House (born 1971), Author, Born in Corbin, Kentucky, raised in Lily (Laurel County)

Robert Kirkman (born 1978), Comic book writer, co-creator of The Walking Dead, Raised in Cynthiana

Bobbie Ann Mason (born 1940), Author, Born in Mayfield

Robert K. Massie (1929), Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Born in Lexington

Ed McClanahan (1932–2021), Novelist, essayist, professor, Born in Brooksville; lived in Lexington

Tony Moore (born 1978), Comic book illustrator, co-creator of The Walking Dead, Born and raised in Cynthiana, Kentucky

Gurney Norman (born 1937), Novelist, documentarian, professor, Raised in Allais; worked for Hazard Herald; professor at University of Kentucky

Marsha Norman (born 1947), Author and lyricist, Born in Louisville

Andrew J. Offutt (1934–2013), Author; father of Chris Offutt, Born near Morehead, lived in Louisville

Chris Offutt (born 1958), Author, Raised in Haldeman (Rowan County)

Elizabeth Madox Roberts (1881–1941), Poet and novelist, Born in Perryville, spent most of her life in Springfield

Charles P. Roland (1918–2022), Historian, Spent academic career partly at University of Kentucky, retired to Lexington

Adelaide Day Rollston (1854–1941), Poet, periodical literature contributor, wrote novelettes, Born and died in Paducah

Jesse Stuart (1907–1984), Novelist, poet, short-story writer, Born in Greenup County, poet laureate of Kentucky 1954

Allen Tate (1899–1979), Poet, novelist, literary critic, Born in Winchester

Robert Penn Warren (1905–1989), First poet laureate of the United States, Born in Guthrie

Maurine Dallas Watkins ( ) wrote the play Chicago, in the 1920s, which was transformed into a musical in 1975. Native of Louiville

Anne Elizabeth Wilson (1901–1946), Kentucky-born Canadian poet, writer, editor, Born in Frankfort