-
Smoke and Silence: The Lives of Ol’ Mort is a folk epic memoir built from memory, myth, and the stories passed down across generations in eastern Kentucky. Told in the voice of Mort’s great-great-grandson and rooted in tales shared by Mort’s grandson, this is the story of a man who lived hard and loved quietly—who survived a world war, outran federal agents, raised his family from the land, and became something larger than life without ever asking to be. Through battles, bartering, backwoods stills, and front porch wisdom, Mort's story unfolds in a series of vivid, true-to-place chapters that feel more lived than written. Whether he was lifting wagons, dodging revenuers, or writing letters for dying men in the trenches of France, Mort carried himself with a strength that didn’t need explaining. SOFTBACK VERSION Tanner Willis -
The book is more than just a dog story – with celebration of America’s melting pot democracy as a significant theme, it’s full of sparkling social satire, native lore, and mountain magic. A dog of many masters and mistresses, Jerry-B Boneyard is first befriended by Glenna Powderjay. When she goes away to college, he feels he’s not wanted and clears out to make a name for himself. Then follows a series of delightful adventures as Jerry-B tries to find his place in the world. He runs wild with a family of foxes, enjoys a romance with a pretty vixen, and even falls into temporary disgrace as a drunkard while a watchdog at a still. Mongrel Mettle is made-to-order for dog lovers everywhere. Taking in a much wider field than the usual Jesse Stuart book, it still retains the familiar charm for all who know and enjoy his work. This 80th anniversary edition of Mongrel Mettle: The Autobiography of a Dog by Jesse Stuart is made possible by generous support from Donna and Richard Sanders who dedicate the book to their grandchildren. This softback edition has 201 pages and features illustrations by Woodi Ishmael. SOFTBACK VERSION By Jesse Stuart -
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Cornelia Fort was already in the air. At twenty-two, Fort had escaped Nashville’s debutante scene for a fresh start as a flight instructor in Hawaii. She and her student were in the middle of their lesson when the bombs began to fall, and they barely made it back to ground that morning. Still, when the U.S. Army Air Forces put out a call for women pilots to aid the war effort, Fort was one of the first to respond. She became one of just over 1,100 women from across the nation to make it through the Army’s rigorous selection process and earn her silver wings. SOFTBACK VERSION By Katherine Sharp Landeck -
Awakened by radio broadcasts urging the residents of a small Virginia town to take a snow day rather than travel to school and work, Peter Boyd finds himself with both an unexpected day off and an opportunity to find big truths in small moments and surprise encounters. Peter believes he has a good life, with a decent job and a family he loves. But he’s quietly worried he’ll be cut when downsizing takes effect at the factory, his family will lose the home they love, and his faith will crumble along with his bank account. Through the course of one day, Peter finds himself revisiting his past through old friends, finding out there is a Santa Claus - though he drives a truck instead of a sleigh - and rediscovering that whatever comes in life, hope is the only choice that makes sense. Debut novelist Billy Coffey offers a heartwarming and beautiful story about the faithful way God speaks, even when we won’t listen. Like Peter, you’ll reaffirm that faith is worth having and your worst fears are no match for an astounding, loving God. HARDBACK VERSION By Billy Coffey -
Sporty Creek is a series of short stories set in the Kentucky hills. Narrated by a young boy (a cousin of the narrator of Still's classic novel River of Earth), the book tells the story of his family during the Great Depression. With work in the coal mines sporadic, they move from place to place, trying to earn a living the best they can. The story is told with gentleness and humor. SOFTBACK VERSION By James Still -
“Wit, Wisdom and Other Stuff” is a compilation of 125 commentaries. He is a former reporter for The Associated Press and for newspapers in Ironton, Ohio, Ashland, Ky. and Huntington, W.Va. Keith Kappes is a retired university vice president who returned to community journalism to be publisher of the Morehead News Group for six years. Two years before this book project, he wrote and published “The View from my Keyboard." SOFTBACK VERSION By Keith Kappes -
Sale!
This book captures the spirit of Christmas in 43 true stories by 39 authors. Thirty-five of the stories are set in Kentucky and the others are from neighboring states. All of these powerful and well-written stories emanate from the heart of Appalachia, and many attach themselves to your heart. This is a great Christmas gift book! SOFTBACK VERSION FULL COLOR INTERIOR (You will receive 5 copies of this book for the price of 4) -
A fictionalized account of the life of Jennie Sellards Wiley, who spent a year as an Indian captive in Kentucky and eventually escaped and returned to her husband in Virginia. SOFTBACK VERSION By Arville Wheeler -
The Enduring Hills was the first of many novels Janice Holt Giles wrote in her lifetime. Based in part on her own experience with the Kentucky mountain country, this is the story of Hod Pierce, a young man who grows up on Piney Ridge, where generations of Pierces have made a living from stubborn soil. Hod loves his people and the land but longs for wider horizons, for more education, and for the freedom he imagines can be found in the outside world. It takes World War II to carry Hod away from the Ridge and out into the world, and it takes his city-bred wife to make Hod realize that Piney Ridge will always be home. SOFTBACK VERSION By Janice Holt Giles -
How to Build Your Dream Cabin in the Woods: The Ultimate Guide to Building and Maintaining a Backcountry Getaway This ultimate resource includes photos, blueprints, and diagrams, and covers the steps to constructing the cabin you've always wanted such as:- Selecting a site
- Gathering construction materials
- Deciding on a design that is right for you
- Managing your property
- Building add-ons, including shooting ranges, an outhouse, or an outside fire ring
- Installing cabin security
- And more!
-
Look through the lens of this kaliedoscope of Kentucky women and prepare to be dazzled! The biographical essays of the 95 women featured in this book are as varied as the loose bits of colored glass in the kaleidoscope, and their stories are just as spellbinding. Thirty-one scholars and history aficionados who generously contributed essays to this book agree that women's contributions are part of this state's history and heritage. With its scrapbook of photographs and biographies, this book introduces only a symbolic few, an inspiring group who represent Kentucky Women. HARDBACK VERSION By Eugenia K. Potter -
The Hunters of Kentucky: A Narrative History of America’s First Far West, 1750-1797 covers a wide range of frontier existence, from daily life and survival to wars, exploits, and even flora and fauna. The pioneers and their lives are profiled in biographical sketches, giving a rich sampling of the personalities involved in the United States' westward expansion. Author Ted Franklin Belue's colorful, vivid prose brings these long-forgotten frontiersmen to life. HARDBACK VERSION By Ted Franklin Belue
