♪ ♪ >> Renee: THE 40TH ANNUAL KENTUCKY BOOK FESTIVAL RETURNS TO LEXINGTON THIS NOVEMBER WITH EVENTS SCHEDULED THE FIRST WEEK AND A SATURDAY EVENT THAT FEATURES 140 AUTHORS.

WE HAVE GOT THREE OF THEM HERE WITH US.

SILAS HOUSE, GWENDA BOND, JULIAN THOMAS.

THAT'S NOW ON "CONNECTIONS"!

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTIONS" TODAY.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THE KENTUCKY BOOK FESTIVAL IS A PROGRAM OF THE KENTUCKY HUMANITIES THAT CELEBRATES LITERARY LUMINARYS AND THEIR WORK AND BRINGS IN TOP-TIER WRITERS FROM ACROSS THE NATION TO SECT REARS AND PROVIDE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT WRITING.

IT IS THE FIRST AND LARGEST BOOK FESTIVAL THAT THIS YEAR, WILL FEATURE A MIX OF VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EVENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEK BEGINNING NOVEMBER 1.

AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE WITH US, THREE KENTUCKY LITERARY GIANT, SILAS HOUSE, NATIONAL BEST SELLING AUTHOR WITH SIX BOOKS.

FORMER COMMENTATOR FOR NPR ALL THINGS CONSIDERED AND MEMBER OF THE FICTION FACULTY AT THE SPAULDING SCHOOL OF CREATIVE WRITING.

GWENDA BOND, SHE WORKED FOR STATE GOVERNMENT FOR 17 YEARS.

BY DAY, BUT BY NIGHT, SHE DREAMED OF BECOMING A WRITER AND AN AUTHOR AND TODAY, GWENDA BOND IS A BEST-SELLING AUTHOR FROM ROM-COM TO YOUNG ADULT FICTION TO THE FIRST OFFICIAL STRANGER THINGS NOVEL.

SHE WRITES WITH STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS AND ONE IS HERSELF.

AND JOINING US BY SKYPE IS JULIAN THOMAS, AN AUTHOR WHOSE SPECIALTY IS GRAPHIC NOVELS AND RECENTLY CREATED HIS OWN PUBLISHING HOUSE THIS TEACHER AUTHOR AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR FROM LEXINGTON GOT HIS START PRINTING AND PASSING OUT PACKETS OF POEMS HE AUTHORED TO HIS FELLOW MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THE FORMER RAPPER GAVE UP THAT PURSUIT A FEW YEAR AGO TO CREATE A GRAPHIC NOVEL AND WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE ALL OF YOU WITH US.

SOME OF NEW PERSON AND EVEN SKYPE.

WE USE THE TECHNOLOGY.

SO, SILAS, I WANT TO START WITH YOU TALKING ABOUT THE BOOK FESTIVAL.

WHY IS THIS SO SIGNIFICANT, CAN IN THE WAY IT BRINGS ALL -- TOGETHER ALL OF THESE GREAT LITERARY GIANTS?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE'RE REALLY LUCKY IN KENTUCKY TO HAVE SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY.

NOT ALL PLACES HAVE THAT.

WE REALLY ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER.

IT IS SUCH A GENEROUS COMMUNITY.

WE REALLY LIKE EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW.

AND SO IT IS SORT OF LIKE A FAMILY REUNION EVERY TO SEE EACH OTHER AT THE BOOK FESTIVAL.

AND ALSO, I HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS AND THEY ARE STILL NOT ONLY THE WRITERS BUT THE PEOPLE -- THE READERS WHO HAVE COME, THEY HAVE BEEN COMING FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND SO YOU KNOW, YOU GET TO KNOW THEM TOO.

SO I JUST LOVE THAT REUNION FEEL TO IT.

IT FEELS REALLY DOWN HOME.

IT FEELS VERY KENTUCKY.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NOTHING BETTER TO ME THAN BEING IN A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE WHO LOVE BOOKS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND FOR THE READERS TO BE ABLE TO MEET FOLKS LIKE YOU AND GWENDA AND JULIAN.

PEOPLE THEY READ AND LEARN FROM AND INSPIRED BY.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A BIG TREAT FOR THEM AS WELL.

>> WELL, ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT, TWO YEARS, OF NOT REALLY BEING ABLE TO SEE EACH OTHER, READERS AND WRITERS, AND I MEAN, MOST WRITERS I KNOW ARE PRETTY INTRO VERTED EXCEPT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR READERS.

I THINK MOST OF US REALLY WANT TO SEE THEM.

AND SO I LOVE THAT ASPECT OF IT.

>> GWENDA, FOR YOU, I MENTIONED THAT YOU HAD A LONG CAREER IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND TO MAKE THIS LEAP AND TO THE LITERARY WORLD, BUT YOU SEEM OF BE DOING REALLY WELL, LITERALLY REALLY WELL.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I GET TO DO MY DREAM JOB.

AND I LIKED MY JOB BEFORE.

SO I REALLY HAVE NO COMPLAINTS.

>> YOU WERE A COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST SO THIS WAS KIND OF YOUR JAM.

YOU RIGHT?

I MEAN, YOU COULD PAR LAY, EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN'T DO FANTASY WHEN IT IS WORKING STATE GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNICATING FACTS.

>> SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> SO HOW LIKE FREE DO YOU FEEL NOW, AND DOES THAT REALLY -- DO YOU CHANNEL THAT INTO YOUR WRITING?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND I DO HAVE THE BLUE HAIR NOW WHICH I SAY THIS REMINDS ME EVERY MORNING WHEN I GET UP THAT I GET TO DO WRITING FOR A LIVING NOW.

DON'T HAVE TO HAVE LIKE, SERIOUS STATE GOVERNMENT HAIR.

AND, I DO FEEL VERY FREE.

AND AS SILAS SAYS, WE HAVE THIS GREAT COMMUNITY HERE AND I'VE BEEN FREED UP TO HELP TO TRY TO BUILD ON THAT LITERARY COMMUNITY AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

SO, I WANT US ALL TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> YEAH.

>> KENTUCKY IS WHERE IT IS AT.

>> ABSOLUTELY, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

>> AND YOU TWO OFFER -- DO YOU ALL TALK ABOUT LIKE, YOUR PERSPECTIVES AND HOW YOU APPROACH AND TRY TO PRESENT SERVE CULTURE, AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT KIND OF THING?

>> WE'RE FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

>> AND COULDN'T WRITE MORE DIFFERENT THINGS I THINK.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, YEAH.

>> WHICH IS WHAT IS COOL ABOUT IT.

APPALACHIAN STORY TELLERS CAN TELL WHATEVER KIND OF STORIES THEY WANT.

>> WITHOUT THE JUDGMENT, AND I LOVE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT, YOU KNOW, COLLABORATION.

LIKE, SOMETIMES YOU THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE COMPETITIVE, BUT, YOU REALLY LOOK AT THEM AS JUST LIKE YOUR KINDRED SPIRITS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS ONLY -- YOUR CAREER IS THE ONLY CAREER THAT YOU GET TO HAVE.

YOU DON'T GET TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE'S CAREER SO BEING COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER WRITERS IS REALLY DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

>> YEA JULIAN THOMAS I WANT TO G YOU IN.

YOU HAVE THIS NOVEL CALLED "BLACK HEART."

AND IT IS LIKE, BAM, IN YOUR FACE!

I MEAN, IT IS SO COLORFUL AND SO VIVID AND I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT, I KNOW YOU USED TO BE INTO, ALL CALL AT THIS TIME PERFORMING ARTS OF RAPPING AND THAT'S A LOT OF CREATIVITY THERE TOO.

BUT, THIS IS WHAT YOU TRADED IT IN ON.

TELL US ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHY THIS WAS YOUR NEXT STEP, AND, THE VALUE YOU SEE IN GRAPHIC NOVELS AND HOW IT REACHES ANOTHER AUDIENCE?

>> WELL, I HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN WRITING IN GENERAL.

BUT BEFORE I START DOING THIS, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT RAP MUSIC.

AND, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS MORE LIKE RHYTHMIC, IT IS STILL -- IT IS STILL WRITING.

SO AND BEFORE I DID THAT, I WROTE SPECULATIVE FICTION AND SHORT STORIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE SO I WAS TRAVELING THE COUNTRY AND SEEING THE IMPACT FIRSTHAND THAT WORDS CAN HAVE ON PEOPLE ON MY KIND OF REACHED THE GLASS CEILING WHERE FELT THE MESSAGE THAT I WANT TO LEAVE, ONCE I LEFT THIS WORLD, I DID NOT KNOW IF RAP MUSIC NECESSARILY WAS THE PROPER VESSEL FOR THAT MESSAGE.

AND THAT'S NOT AN INDICTMENT OF RAP MUSIC AT ALL.

IT IS WHERE I WAS WITH THE ART FORM.

AND, SOMETHING I HAVE NOTICED IS THERE IS THIS LARGE INTERSECTION BETWEEN SEVERAL BLACK POP INCLUDE COLOURS AND THIS GEEK CULTURE THAT'S OVERLOOKED.

SO NOT ONLY DESTROY AN INCLINATION TOWARD GRAPHIC NOVELS AND AMIMAE AND MANGA, I ALSO HAVE A BACKGROUND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THINGS.

SO I REALLY WANTED TO SHOW THAT INTERSECTION AND DRAW ATTENTION BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE LIKE ME WHO GREW UP LISTENING TO RAP MUSIC, AND, DRESSING IN A PARTICULAR WAY, STRAIGHT WEAR, THIS FASHION AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF.

BUT WE DON'T OFTEN GET OPPORTUNITIES TO EMBRACE OUR BLACKNESS.

AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE'RE EMBRACING OUR GEEKNESS.

SO SINCE I HAVE THE ABILITY TO WRITE LUCKILY, I DECIDED THAT I WOULD TRY TO BRING?

ATTENTION THERE.

>> YEAH, AND, YOU ALSO TEACH A COMIC BOOK CREATION WORKSHOP, RIGHT?

>> I DO.

I DO.

SO, I TEACH AT A WORKSHOP WITH A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION CALLED AMP, AND THE BEP WITH J CPS AT EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL.

AND WITH SOUTHERN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OF LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY.

WHOLE THING IS ABOUT TEACHING TO WORLD BUILD AND OUTLINE A PLOT, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.

REALLY PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE REACTIONS OF OUR OTHER THAN.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE THE THEMES THAT THEY ARE REALLY LASHING ON TO THAT THEY WANT EXPLORE THROUGH THIS TYPE OF MEDIUM?

>> I THINK THAT, WHAT THE STUDENTS REACT THE BEST TO IS, BEING IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE THINGS THOUGH MAY HAVE PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED HOBBIES OR PAST TIMES ARE BEING TREATED AS LEGITIMATE AVENUES TO SUCCESS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, OF ALL AGES, REALLY REALLY LOVE THESE MEDIUMS WITH AMIMAE, MANGA BUT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY GAIN A LEVEL OF STABLE TOY OR PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY WITH.

SO, TALK TO THESE STUDENTS AND TELL THEM ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE, AND SOME OF MY BOOKS AND TRAVELING THE COUNTRY AND AWESOME OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAVE GOTTEN, MAKES THE KIDS BE LIKE, WHOA, I CAN ACTUALLY DO THIS?

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT DRAWS THEM IN.

>> SILAS HOUSE WHAT KIND OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO JULIAN THOMAS?

>> LORD.

[ LAUGHTER ] MY BEST ADVICE IS HE'S FAR AHEAD OF THE ADVICE THAT I COULD GIVE WHICH IS JUST TO TELL GOOD STORIES AND CREATE CHARACTERS.

THINK THE CHARACTER IS THE THING.

SO, IT MAKES ME REALLY WANT TO READ HIS BOOK BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF IT.

>> I WANTED TO ASK YOU THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ASK YOU, PROBABLY ALL THE TIME.

HOW DO THEY CHANNEL YOU, NOT THAT.

BUT HOW DO THEY GET TO THE ESSENCE OF WHAT IT IS THAT THEY WANT TO SAY, AND TELL OR REVEAL?

>> WHAT I TELL EVERYBODY IS TO READ VORACIOUSLY AND NOT WORRY ABOUT PLOT AS MUCH US A WORRY ABOUT CHARACTER.

MOST BEGINNING WRITERS WERE SO MUCH ABOUT THE PLOT AND I CERTAINLY DID THAT I FIGURED OUT THAT I GREW OUT OF THE CHARACTER REALLY RELEASED ME I THINK.

>> AND YOU WERE HAPPIER WITH YOUR PRODUCT?

DID IT FLOW EASIER?

>> I'M NEVER HAPPY AND IT IS NEVER EASY BUT I GUESS, YES, I CAME DIFFERENTLY AND SEEMED TO FLOW.

I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK AS HARD FOR IT.

BUT, I ALSO -- THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE I WANT TO TELL WRITERS ESPECIALLY BEGINNING WRITER, IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE DIFFICULT AND HARD AND NEVER EASIER.

DON'T -- I NEVER THINKING OF WRITING AS FUN.

I THINK OF IT AS, IF I DON'T DO IT, I'M REALLY MISERABLE.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT THEN YOU'RE ALSO MISERABLE AS YOU'RE TRYING TO WRITE IT SORT OF.

>> OR IS IT THE DREAD OF THING IS WORSE THAN THE DRINK YOU DREAD?

GWENDA?

DO YOU GET CAUGHT UP IN THINKING ABOUT HOW TO MAKE IT BE AS PERFECT AS IT SHOULD BE THAT IT IS ALMOST LIKE, -- >> I ACTUALLY DO HAVE ONE WRITING.

[ LAUGHTER ] ESPECIALLY IF I'M TELLING A FUN STORY.

BUT, AND, HOW YOU WOULD DESCRIBE WHAT YOU WRITE?

>> WELL SMART AND FUN REALLY ACROSS DIFFERENT GENERAL AS WITH STRONG WOMEN AT THE CENTER AS YOU SAID.

I THINK THAT'S THE COMMONALTY IN ALL OF MY WORK.

AND REALLY FOR ME, DRAFTING IS PAINFUL SO I AGREE WITH YOU THERE, I HATE DRAFTING, BUT I REALLY LOVE REVISING.

>> I LOVE REVISING.

>> YEAH, AND SO TO ME, IT IS THAT PAIN OF GETTING SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT THEN YOU CAN FIX AND SHAPE.

AND YOU JUST GET BETTER AT THAT US A LEAN INTO YOUR PROCESS AND TRUST IT.

AND, THE THING THAT I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE IS, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE PUTTING ALL OF THE YOU IN YOUR STUFF THAT YOU CAN.

BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONE THING YOU HAVE TO OFFER THE WORLD THAT NO OTHER STORYTELLER HAS.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

ALL THE YOU THAT YOU CAN.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, 2020 WAS A PRETTY TOUGH YEAR.

AND I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE I SEE WRITERS AS VERY INTROSPECTIVE, THOUGHTFUL DELIBERATE PEOPLE WHO IN THE INTRO VERSION, THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF CONTEMPLATION.

>> OVERTHINKING.

>> I'M TRYING TO BE NICE.

[ LAUGHTER ] I MEAN, SERIOUSLY SO WHAT DOES THAT DO EITHER TO YOUR CREATIVITY?

DOES IT ENHANCE IT BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH TO BROOD OVER AND COMMUNICATE OR, DO YOU GO EVEN MORE INWARD.

WHAT'S THAT LIKE?

>> FOR ME THE PANDEMIC WAS REALLY PRODUCTIVE BECAUSE, I HAVE ALSO RESPONDED TO STRESSFUL SITUATIONS BY WORKING AND SO I WRITE THE BEST AT HOME.

A LOT OF PEOPLE GO ON RETREAT OR GET A CABIN.

AND YOU KNOW, I WAS HOME ALL THE TIME IN 2020.

SO I GOT A LOT DONE.

I FINISHED A NOVEL THAT I HAD ALREADY STARTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC AND WROTE ANOTHER NOVEL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> MY GOODNESS.

>> IT WAS A PRODUCTITY TIME AND I WAS THANKFUL.

>> THE AT LEAST TIME YOU TALKED I HAD AN ADVANCE COPY OF SOUTHERN MOST SO THAT'S -- WAS THAT -- >> THAT WAS 2018.

>> I CAN'T EVEN DO THE MATH ON THAT.

I'M CURIOUS, JULIAN, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE WHEN YOU THINK NOT JUST ABOUT THE PANDEMIC, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF SOCIAL AND RACIAL UNREST, IN 2020 AND HOW THOSE EVENTS MAY HAVE SPARKED SOME TYPE OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION OF YOUR OWN.

THAT YOU PREVIOUSLY HAD NOT TAPPED INTO.

>> I LOOK AT OUR ART IN GENERAL NOT JUST WRITING.

BUT ALL ART AS A VESSEL.

THIS IS A VESSEL FOR ENTERTAINMENT, IT COULD BE A VESSEL FOR -- A MESSAGE OR IDEOLOGY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT SO, THAT'S THE WAY THAT I HAVE VIEWED IT.

AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND ESPECIALLY AFTER THE MURDER OF BREONNA TAYLOR AND GEORGE FLOYD AND THE OTHER THINGS GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY, I SAW WITHIN MY SELF AND A LOT OF MY FEARS ARISING IN POLITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS AND AWARENESS.

AND SO AS PEOPLE ARE STARTING THE SAME THING THAT WE'RE JUST SAYING ABOUT LOOKING INTO YOURSELF AND LEAN INTO YOUR OWN PROCESS, WRITING IS A REALLY CATHARTIC THING THAT WE DO THE MORE THAT YOU LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF, I FEEL THE MORE THAT YOU CAN ADVANCE FORWARD WITH THE WRITING.

THE STUFF THAT I LEARN AND STARTED READING ABOUT, THE REALIZATIONS THAT I HAD ABOUT THE FABRIC OF SOCIETY BROUGHT KNOW A POINT WHERE I FELT, OKAY, I CAN TRY TO GET OTHER PEOPLE TO BE SAYING POINTS OF REALIZATION THROUGH ENTERTAINMENT WHICH IS THIS ART FORM THAT WE'RE ALL PARTICIPATING IN.

>> IS THERE ANY TIME THAT YOU CAN BE TOO OVERREVEALING OR TOO SHARING OR HIDE BEHIND THE CHARACTER AND HOPE PEOPLE DON'T QUITE GET THAT IT IS YOU.

>> >> MY CHARACTERS DON'T REALLY COME FROM LIFE IN THAT WAY.

I THINK WE TEND TO PUT A LITTLE OF OURSELVES BUT I SAY PUT YOURSELF IN A BOOK, WHAT I MEAN IS THE WAY THAT YOU SEE THE WORLD.

AND THE QUIRKY IDIOSYNCRASIES AND THE THING THAT YOU BRING FROM THE ART THAT YOU HAVE CONSUMED AND THE THINGS THAT YOU LOVE AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU HAVE HAD, AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU PUT IN YOUR WORK, AND YOU USE THEM TO TELL A FICTIONAL STORY.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO OVERSHARE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> AND NOT EVEN IN A LITERARY WAY.

>> SOCIAL MEDIA ET CETERA.

[ LAUGHTER ] I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHO WRITERS LOOKS TO FOR THEIR INSPIRATION.

WHO DO YOU READ, SILAS AND WHO DO YOU SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GOOD WRITER RIGHT THERE.

>> WELL, THAT CHANGES ALL TIME FOR ME.

>> THAT'S CERTAINLY THE FIRST ONE.

MAMARLIN -- I THINK THE BOOK THAT TRANSFORM MED THE MOST IS "THE COLOR PURPLE" BY ALICE WALKER.

>> WHY IS THAT?

>> IT BLEW MY MIND WIDE OPEN TO EVERYTHING.

NOT ONLY LIKE, RACE AND GENDER AND ORIENTATION, AND CONCEPT OF GOD BUT ALSO, WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THE NOVEL, EXPERIMENTALLY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I JUST THINK THAT'S THE BOOK THAT JUST CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR ME AND I LOOKED BACK TO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN.

>> GWENDA, HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> I HATE THIS KIND OF QUESTION.

[ LAUGHTER ] SO MANY DIFFERENT BOOKS AND AUTHORS.

I THINK THAT I LOOK TO MY CONTEMPORARIES LIKE THE BOOKS THAT I'M READING THAT ARE -- I'M ON A JURY RIGHT NOW SO I'M READING A LOT FOR THE RAY BRADBURY BOOK PRIZE AND A LOT OF THE SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY PUBLISHED ACROSS LITERARY AND IN THE GENRES AND, JUST THERE IS SO MUCH AMAZING WORK GOING ON TODAY AND SO MANY VOICES THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD IN THE PAST AND STORIES NEW AND BEING TOLD AND I THINK IT IS A REALLY EXCITING TIME TO BE WRITING.

>> JULIAN, HOW ABOUT YOU.

SAME QUESTION.

WHO IS A BIG INSPIRATION TO YOU OR WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION IN YOUR CRAFT?

>> >> WHEN I'M LOOKING FOR INSPA I OFTEN LOOK TO OTHER MEDIUMS AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING, WHETHER THEY ARE PAINTERS OR INDIVIDUAL JOYEDOGRAPHER.

I TRY FIND EXPRESSION IN OTHER FOR THE PURPOSE.

A LOT OF TIMES STUFF MAY NOT TRAPS LATE EXACTLY THE SAME BUT CERTAIN TECHNIQUES OR APPROACHES CAN BE APPLIED TO OTHER THINGS.

SO I TAKE IT FROM THERE.

AUTHORS SPECIFICALLY THAT HAVE WON ME INSPIRATION OVER THE YEAR, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TO SAY TOLKIEN, NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF HIS PROSE, NOT AGAINST HIS PROSE BUT IT WAS ABOUT THE LEVEL OF WORLD BUILDING.

WHAT I'M DOING WITH "BLACK HEART" I WANTED TO CREATE A WORLD, ESSENTIALLY HOW SILAS WAS SAYING EL EARLIER ABOUT CHARACTER, YOU KNOW, FOCUS ON THAT MORE SO THAN PLOT.

PLOT IS PROBABLY THE LAST THING THAT I CAME UP WITH WHEN I FIRST HAD THIS IDEA.

I SPENT TWO YEARS WORLD BUI BUILDING, AND A LOT OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND I GOT THAT SPECIFICALLY FROM TOLKIEN.

AS FAR AS SOMEONE LIVING AN AUTHOR THAT I'M A FAN OF AS FAR AS THE SCALE OF THE STUFF THEY WRITE AND THEIR CHOICE OF WORDS IS AUTHOR NAME PIERCE BROWN.

HE WROTE A SCIENCE FICTION SERIES, I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR OWN STUFF.

[ LAUGHTER ] BUT TOLKIEN AND PIERCE BROWN MY BIGGEST AUTHORS AND INFLUENCES.

>> WHEN WE WRAP IT, AND IT IS NEVER ENOUGH TIME.

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR BIG PEST PITCH FOR THE VALUE OF THE KENTUCKY BOOK FESTIVAL, AND KENTUCKY AND WHAT IT DOES EVEN FOR WRITERS AS FAR AS EDIFICATION OF YOUR OWN SPIRIT.

SILAS?

>> I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN UNDERSELL THE WAY IT VALIDATES AS A WRITER TO BE A PART OF KENTUCKY WRITING COMMUNITY, AND, HAVE THE KENTUCKY HUMANITIES AS DOING SO MUCH, THE BOOK FESTIVAL IS ALWAYS JUST CELEBRATES WRITING.

YOU KNOW, AND IN A WAY THAT LITERATURE DOESN'T OFTEN GET CELEBRATED THAT WAY, AND AGAIN, I WANT TO STRESS HOW LUCKY THAT WE ARE IN KENTUCKY TO HAVE THAT.

BECAUSE, A LOT OF PLACES DON'T HAVE IT AND PLACES LOOK AT KENTUCKY AND JUST, SO ILLITERATE.

WE'RE SO RICH IN OUR LITERATURE.

>> AND I'M GLAD YOU MADE THAT POINT THAT WE REALLY HAVE A RICH LITERARY LANDSCAPE HERE AND IT DEFIES ALL OF THE NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES AND I LOVE HAVING YOU HERE REPRESENTING APPALACHIA AND WE HAVE OUR YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO SHOW THIS IS KENTUCKY.

YOU KNOW.

WE ARE KENTUCKY.

SO, THANK YOU BOTH IN THE STUDIO.

JULIAN, JOINING US BY SKYPE CAN.

APPRECIATE IT AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL.

AND COMING UP WE'LL GIVE YOU MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE KENTUCKY BOOK FESTIVAL COMING UP THE FIRST WEEK IN NOVEMBER WITH THE STATE DIRECTOR OF THAT PROGRAM, WITH THE KENTUCKY HUMANITIES.

STAY WITH US.

SARA, I CAN'T GET THE KENTUCKY BOOK VEST.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US WITH KENTUCKY HUMANITIES.

THE A PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

AND, THE FAIR FESTIVAL THING, IT IS OKAY.

IT WAS 38 YEARS AS THE FAIR.

SO, IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE.

>> YES, AND WE ALL ARE TWO YEARS BEHIND ANYWAY IN EVERYTHING.

SO -- [ LAUGHTER ] >> RIGHT.

>> WE'LL GET GET IT RIGHT NEXT YEAR RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME AND TO HAVE THIS BACK IN LEXINGTON, AT JOSEPH BECK BOOK SELLERS.

140 AUTHORS.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT READERS ARE IN FOR.

>> >> YEAH, WE'RE SO EXCITED TO BRING THE BOOK FESTIVAL TO JOSEPH BETH.

IT WILL BE THE ONLY EVENT OF ITS KIND HOSTED AT A BOOK STORE SO WHEN YOU GO INTO A BOOK STORE AND YOU VISIT, AND YOU SEE BOOKS THAT YOU WANT TO READ, MAYBE YOU HAVE BURNING QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO ASK THE AUTHOR.

OR YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET THE BOOK SIGNED, WELL, AT THE BOOK FESTIVAL CAN DO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.

WE'LL HAVE 140 AUTHORS.

MANY OF THEM FROM KENTUCKY, THAT ALSO WILL HAVE AUTHORS FLY IN FROM ACCESS CALIFORNIA DO TO TALK ABOUT TEAR BOOK ON STAGE.

WE'LL HAVE TWO DIFFERENT AREAS FOR PROGRAMS IN THE STORE.

AND, A LOT OF MINGLING AND TIME FOR GETTING BOOKS SIGNED SO IT WILL BE A REALLY FUN EVENT.

>> WELL, WE HAD THREE OF THE AUTHORS WHO I THINK WILL BE THERE ON THAT SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6.

SILAS HOUSE, GWENDA BOND WHO TALK ABOUT THEIR WORK AND PASSION AND APPRECIATION FOR THIS BOOK FESTIVAL THAT'S LIKE NONE OTHER ANYWHERE ELSE, AND YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF KENTUCKY LITERARY LUMINARYS WILL BE THERE.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER NAMES THAT WE MIGHT SEE EVEN OUTSIDE OF STATE.

>> SURE.

FROM STATING SILAS, BOBBY ANNE MASON, FRANK WALKER, KRISTA WILKINSON WILL BE THERE.

WE'LL HAVE HW BRANDS WHO IS AN HISTORIAN WHO LIVES IN TEXAS.

HE HAS BEEN TO THE EVENT BEFORE AND HE'S A BIG FAVORITE SO HE HAS TWO NEW BOOK OUT AND WE HAVE THE EXCLUSIVE PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER TO SELL HIS BOOK EARLY FOR A ONE DAY ONLY AT JOSEPH BETH.

AND HE'LL BE TALKING WITH PETER WHO IS JOURNALIST FROM POLITICO AND WILL HAVE MAR WHO LIVES HERE IN LEXINGTON AS WELL.

WE'LL HAVE ONE VIRTUAL PROGRAM WITH AN AUTHOR ILLUSTRATOR ORIGINALLY FROM VIRGINIA AND NOW SHE LIVES IN BROOKLYN.

AND, WE'LL HAVE BOOKS FOR EVERYONE -- EVERYONE FROM LITTLE KIDS TO ADULTS.

SO, BRUCE CAMERON IS COMING AND HE WRITE THESE REALLY CUTE BOOKS, A DOG'S PURPOSE IS ONE OF THEM, AND THEY HAVE BEEN.

YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WRITING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE ON THE GROUND AND HOW TO PULL THAT OFF.

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> IT IS GREAT THAT YOU HAVE SUCH WELL-KNOWN NAMES AND THOSE RISING AS WELL.

AND I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT EVEN THOUGH IT IS AT JOSEPH BETH BOOK SELLER, THERE IS A VIRTUAL COMPONENT SO YOU'RE IN THIS HYBRID FORMAT.

TELL US HOW THAT WORKS.

>> YES.

IN ORDERS TO MAKE EVERYONE AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE IF THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE, YOU CAN CERTAINLY COME THE STORE AND BE PART OF THE AUDIENCE.

IF YOU WOULD RATHER WATCH AT HOME, WE'LL LIVE STREAM THE SESSION FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER TO T, THE WEBSITE ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CLICK ON WEBSITE AND SEE THESE WATCH NOW BUTTONS FROM THE EVENTS PAGE.

AND CLICK ON THOSE AND WATCH THE EVENTS STREAM LIVE.

SO, THERE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT OF A LAG TIME JUST BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY IS NOT PERFECT.

BUT, WE'LL ARCHIVE THOSE VIDEOS ON OUR WEBSITE AFTER THE FACT.

AND ONE AUTHOR THAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BRING IN IS ELLEN HELD BRANDT WHOSE BOOK GOLDEN GIRL WAS REALLY POPULAR, AND STILL IS.

BUT, SHE HAS THREE NEW BOOKS COMING OUT BETWEEN NOW AND CHRISTMAS.

AND SO SHE'LL TALK ABOUT GOLDEN GIRL AND TALK ABOUT HER NEW BOOK.

I THINK SHE'S WRITTEN 28 BOOKS NOW WHICH IS MIND BLOWING.

>> YEAH.

AND THAT'S AMAZING.

AND SO, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THIS.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS AT THE LAST BOOK FAIR, BOOK FESTIVAL, SCOTT PELLEY WAS THERE AND I GOT A CHANCE TO INTERVIEW HIM ABOUT TRUTH WORTH TELLING WHICH IS A FANTASTIC BOOK WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE IN THE JOURNALISM INDUSTRY OR NOT.

IT IS REALLY GOOD READ AND WE SHARED A FEW MINUTES ON STAGE AND REALLY GOT TO SEE A DIFFERENT SIDE OF THIS NEWS MAN IN THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT.

IT WAS AN INTIMATE SETTING AND I KNOW YOU'RE DOING EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE BIG BOOK FESTIVAL, CONVERSATIONS AND COCKTAILS IS WHAT IT IS CALLED.

YOU'VE GOT SEVERAL THINGS THAT ARE KIND OF PRECURSORS OR MAYBE EVEN COME AFTERWARDS.

>> RIGHT.

YES.

SO NOVEMBER 1 WE'RE KICKING THINGS OFF WITH JAYSON REYNOLDS.

HE'S THE NATIONAL AMBASSADOR FOR CHILDREN LITERATURE AND HE IS SERVING A VERY RARE THIRD TERM.

I THINK THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.

BUT, JAYSON HAS A NEW BOOK COMING OUT CALLED "STUNT BOY IN THE MEANTIME "AND HE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT IT IS A GRAPHIC NOVEL, GREAT FOR RELUCTANT READERS.

MAYBE KIDS HAVE TROUBLE FINDING BOOK THOSE HOLD THEIR ATTENTION AND GRAPHIC NOVELS ARE A GOOD STEP INTO FALLING IN LOVE WITH READING.

AND, JAYSON IS ALSO A VERY INSTIRRATIONAL GUY.

HE IS JUST WONDERFUL, SO, WE'LL KICK THINGS OFF NOVEMBER 1 WITH HIM.

WE'LL HAVE A LITERARY LUNCHEON WITH GWEDA MIKE A SHE'S WONDERFUL.

>> SHE HAS A BOOK.

IT IS GREAT.

>> YES.

>> SO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE KIND OF A BOXED LUNCH PICNIC STYLE.

DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, WE'VE HAD TO BE PRETTY CREATIVE WITH HOW WE'RE HOSTING IN-PERSON EVENTS ESPECIALLY RELATED TO FOOD.

SO, WE HAVE FOUND A WAY TO DO IT ALL SAFELY.

AND, ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WE'RE GOING HAVE ANOTHER EVENT AT JOSEPH BETH WITH MARGARET TO CELEBRATE HER BOOK THAT JUST CAME OUT OCTOBER 12.

WE'LL HAVE TRIVIA AT GOOD WOOD OF LEXINGTON WHICH I BELIEVE OPENED DURING THE PANDEMIC BUT IT IS ALSO REALLY CLOSE TO JOSEPH BETH SO THAT'S FUN.

AND THURSDAY NIGHT AND THAT'S FREE.

AND RALLY YOUR FRIENDS WHO LOVE BOOKS TO COME OUT FOR BOOK THEMED TRIVIA.

AND THEN WITH COMMERCE LEXINGTON, WE'LL HAVE A SPOTLIGHT BREAKFAST ON FRIDAY MORNING WITH JAMES HARDYMAN AND TERRY BIRDWHISTLE DISCUSSING THE MEMOIR ABOUT BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN AND, SATURDAY, OF COURSE, IT IS THE BIG BOOK FESTIVAL AT JOSEPH BETH.

>> WELL, IT IS A GREAT LINEUP AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL AND MY FORMER COLLEAGUE, BILL GOODMAN WHO RUNS THE KENTUCKY HUMANITYS.

SARA WORDS, THANK YOU.

I KNOW YOU PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO THIS BOOK FESTIVAL AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING SO IT SUCCESSFUL AS WE KNOW IT WILL BE THE FIRST WEEK IN NOVEMBER.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EDITION OF "CONNECTIONS."

YOU CAN LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE TO SEE PROGRAMS FROM THE PAST, AT KET.ORG/CONNECTIONS.

LISTEN TO PODCASTS AND FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND OTHER SPACES AND I'M THERE.