New York Times bestselling author Silas House named next Kentucky poet laureate
Seven-time New York Times bestselling author and Eastern Kentucky native Silas House has been named the next Kentucky poet laureate.
Gov. Andy Beshear made the announcement during a Thursday press conference. He will be inducted Monday, Kentucky Writers’ Day, at the state capitol at 10:30 a.m.
“I know he will represent our commonwealth and all of our people through this role and his talents,” Beshear said in a tweet. “Congratulations, Silas!”
I am proud to have named @silasdhouse as Kentucky's new poet laureate. I know he will represent our commonwealth and all of our people through this role and his talents. Congratulations, Silas!
— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) April 20, 2023
House said he is honored to become the new poet laureate.
“As a writer who was raised working class in the trailers of Appalachia, as a questioning person of faith, and as the first openly gay poet laureate in the Commonwealth, I will do my best to represent my place and my people,” House said in a Facebook post.
The Kentucky poet laureate’s tasks are to promote the literary arts and lead the state in literary activities, according to the Kentucky Arts Council. Nominations for the position are submitted to the Kentucky Arts Council and an independent panel gives the governor a recommendation for the next poet laureate after a review.
Poet laureates serve a two-year term, according to the Kentucky Arts Council. The position was established in 1926. The current poet laureate is Casey County native and former Lexington Herald-Leader news assistant Crystal Wilkinson.
House has written seven New York Times bestselling author novels, including his most recent, “Lark Ascending.” The novel also was a Booklist Editors’ Choice and is the winner of the 2023 Southern Book Prize, according to House’s biography on his website.
In 2022 he was the recipient of the largest award in the LGBTQ writing community, the Duggins Prize. That same year he also was named Appalachian of the Year in a nationwide poll.
House’s work has been featured in the Washington Post, The Atlantic, Time, Garden & Gun, the New York Times, Oxford American, Ecotone and Tri-Quarterly, among other publications. He currently teaches at Berea College and resides in Lexington.
