John W. McCauley writes non-fiction and poetry. His first book, “Kentucky Is My Home: A Journey into the Life of Jesse Hilton Stuart,” was released in April 2025. The book climbed to #1 on the Jesse Stuart Foundation best-seller list in October 2025. He was also a contributing author to “Hidden Heroes of Greenup County,” which was released last fall by the Jesse Stuart Foundation. John’s work has been published in anthologies, literary journals, magazines, newsletters, and newspapers. His poem “Appalachian Christmas” was published alongside Christmas poems by legendary Kentucky Poet Laureates Jesse Stuart and Jim Wayne Miller.
John retired from a public service career that spanned over 40 years, which included an appointment by President Barack Obama. He served two terms on the Kentucky Governor’s Commission on Literacy and in that capacity chaired the Local Issues Task Force. John is a member of the Jesse Stuart Foundation Board of Directors and the Bluegrass Writers Coalition. He and his wife Rebecca spend time between homes in Kentucky’s Appalachian and Bluegrass regions.
In recent years, Mr. McCauley has been one of our most active board members. In addition to playing important leadership roles in both our annual writers workshop and Jesse Stuart Weekend, John has compiled, edited, and introduced two books.
In 2025, the JSF published his “Kentucky Is My Home: A Journey Into The Life Of Jesse Hilton Stuart,” a 236-page hardback book featuring never-before -published poems by Stuart.
This year, John published “Harvest of Life,” a softback book that presents 22 unpublished essays by Jesse Stuart.
Mr. McCauley will be signing these books at the JSF Bookstore, 4440 13th Street in Ashland, on Tuesday, June 30 from 1 to 2 p.m. After a 30-minute coffee and conversation session, John will present an author talk to the Regional Readers Book Club, which meets the last Tuesday afternoon of every month, March through November, at the JSF bookstore. The book club is open to the public. Mark your calendar and please join us on June 30.
Kentucky Is My Home is available for $30 per copy in the JSF Bookstore at 4440 13th Street in Ashland. For more information or to place an order call 606-326-1667 or email jsf@jsfbooks.com.
James M. Gifford, Ph.D.
CEO & Senior Editor
John W. McCauley writes non-fiction and poetry. His first book, “Kentucky Is My Home: A Journey into the Life of Jesse Hilton Stuart,” was released in April 2025. The book climbed to #1 on the Jesse Stuart Foundation best-seller list in October 2025. He was also a contributing author to “Hidden Heroes of Greenup County,” which was released last fall by the Jesse Stuart Foundation. John’s work has been published in anthologies, literary journals, magazines, newsletters, and newspapers. His poem “Appalachian Christmas” was published alongside Christmas poems by legendary Kentucky Poet Laureates Jesse Stuart and Jim Wayne Miller.
John retired from a public service career that spanned over 40 years, which included an appointment by President Barack Obama. He served two terms on the Kentucky Governor’s Commission on Literacy and in that capacity chaired the Local Issues Task Force. John is a member of the Jesse Stuart Foundation Board of Directors and the Bluegrass Writers Coalition. He and his wife Rebecca spend time between homes in Kentucky’s Appalachian and Bluegrass regions.
In recent years, Mr. McCauley has been one of our most active board members. In addition to playing important leadership roles in both our annual writers workshop and Jesse Stuart Weekend, John has compiled, edited, and introduced two books.
In 2025, the JSF published his “Kentucky Is My Home: A Journey Into The Life Of Jesse Hilton Stuart,” a 236-page hardback book featuring never-before -published poems by Stuart.
This year, John published “Harvest of Life,” a softback book that presents 22 unpublished essays by Jesse Stuart.
Mr. McCauley will be signing these books at the JSF Bookstore, 4440 13th Street in Ashland, on Tuesday, June 30 from 1 to 2 p.m. After a 30-minute coffee and conversation session, John will present an author talk to the Regional Readers Book Club, which meets the last Tuesday afternoon of every month, March through November, at the JSF bookstore. The book club is open to the public. Mark your calendar and please join us on June 30.
Kentucky Is My Home is available for $30 per copy in the JSF Bookstore at 4440 13th Street in Ashland. For more information or to place an order call 606-326-1667 or email jsf@jsfbooks.com.
James M. Gifford, Ph.D.
CEO & Senior Editor
