James Lane Allen (1849­1925), a short story writer and novelist. Many of his works (such as Kentucky Cardinal and The Reign of Law: A Tale of the Kentucky Hemp Fields) involves themes about Kentucky. He was one of the leading 'local color' writers of the Piedmont South. The Choir Invisible is among his best-known works.
Harriet Arnow (1908­1986), whose work is closely associated with mountain life. She drew on her own experiences to create such memorable novels as The Dollmaker and Mountain Path , as well as short stories and works of nonfiction (Seedtime on the Cumberland).
Cleanth Brooks (1906-1994, born in Murray, KY) Literary critic, literary historian; co-founder and editor with Robert Penn Warren of the "Southern Review," the most highly respected literary journal in America during the 1930s; "Modern Poetry and the Tradition," "The Well-Wrought Urn: Studies in the Structure of Poetry," "A Shaping Joy: Studies in the Writer's Craft." Though he wrote several critical studies on William Faulkner, Brooks was most widely known as the quintessential New Critic: his ideas, critical studies, and textbooks embodied everything that New Criticism stood for.
Irvin S. Cobb (1876­1944), the favorite son of Paducah, was well known as a reporter and humor columnist (Paducah's Daily News and Democrat, Louisville's Evening Post, New York's Evening Sun, the Saturday Evening Post, and Cosmopolitan ) and as the author of several collections of short stories as well as humorous books (Exit Laughing).
John Fox, Jr. (1863-1919) "The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come," "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine."
Sue Grafton (1940­ ), a Louisville native who now lives in Santa Barbara, California, and Louisville. In addition to her locally famous alphabet series (A Is For Alibi), Grafton has also written screenplays (Sex and the Single Parent; Mark, I Love You; and Nurse).
A. B. Guthrie, Jr.(1901-1991) Pulitzer Prize winning novelist; "The Big Sky," "The Way West," "These Thousand Hills."
James Baker Hall (1935-) Author, poet, photographer, educator; Kentucky Poet Laureate 2001-2002; "Music for a Broken Piano," "Getting It Up to the Brag," "The Mother on the Other Side of the World.," "Her Name."
Elizabeth Hardwick (1916- ) Literary critic, editor, essayist and novelist; "Sleepless Nights," "Seduction and Betrayal," "Bartleby in Manhattan," "A View of My Own," "Sight Readings: American Fictions, "Herman Melville."
Duncan Hines (1880­1959), a Bowling Green native often called the nation's first recognized food critic, who wrote several popular books which focused on food and traveling (Adventures in Good Eating, Lodging for a Night, and Adventures in Good Cooking).
Gilbert Imlay (1754­1828), who came down the Ohio River to Kentucky in 1784 (before Kentucky's statehood). His 1793 novel The Emigrants, or the History of an Expatriated Family is among the earliest works describing life on what was then the western frontier.
Marsha Norman (1947­ ), Louisville, who won a 1983 Pulitzer Prize for her acclaimed play 'night, Mother and a 1991 Tony Award for The Secret Garden. She has also written for television and film (Face of a Stranger).
John Ed Pearce (1919­ ), the Pulitzer-winning journalist whose many books include The Ohio River, Days of Darkness: The Feuds of Eastern Kentucky and Divide and Dissent: Kentucky Politics 1930-1963.
Elizabeth Madox Roberts (1881­1941), a poet, short story writer and novelist whose "love of Kentucky ancestry, old tales‹all were mingled and played an integral part in her writing." Her works include Great Meadow, and My Heart and My Flesh.
Jesse Stuart(1906-1984), the most famous of the writers who have treasured the Kentucky mountains as their home and inspiration. Over sixty of his books have been published, including novels (Taps for Private Tussie), nonfiction (The Thread that Runs So True, about his teaching experiences) short story collections (Head o' W-Hollow and Men of the Mountain), children's books and collections of poetry (Harvest of Youth and Man with a Bull-Tongue Plow).
James Still (1906­ ), Kentucky's Poet Laureate (1995­97), who has been a powerful literary force for more than sixty years. His novels ( River of Earth, Sporty Creek), stories and poetry (The Wolfpen Poems) depict Appalachian Kentucky life in the early part of the 20th century.
Alan Tate (1899­1979), a native of Winchester, who gained fame for many years of writing poetry (Collected Poems, The Winter Sea), biography (Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson: The Good Soldier ), criticism (Reactionary Essays on Poetry and Ideas) and essays (Essays of Four Decades).
Marianne Walker , a nonfiction writer whose works include Margaret Mitchell & John Marsh: The Love Story Behind Gone with the Wind and When Cuba Conquered Kentucky: The Triumphant Basketball Story of a Tiny High School that Achieved the American Dream.
Robert Penn 'Red' Warren (1905­1989), perhaps Kentucky's best-known writer. Warren was America's first Poet Laureate, and the winner of Pulitzer Prizes in both fiction (All the King's Men) and poetry (Promises: Poems, 1954­1956 and Now and Then: Poems, 1976­1978). In addition, Warren has written biography, textbooks, short stories, and literary criticisms.http://www.ncteamericancollection.org/litmap/kentucky.htm">Famous Kentucky Writers