PHOTO: Tim Collins ©
Gurney
Norman
Kentucky Poet Laureate
2009 - 2010
Kentucky Poet Laureate Gurney Norman is Director of Creative
Writing at the University of Kentucky. His first novel, “Divine
Right’s Trip” (1971), was published by The Dial Press and Bantam
Books, and Pantheon Books of England. In 1978 Norman’s book of short
stories, “Kinfolks,” was published by Gnomon Press and subsequently
by Avon Books as part of its “Southern Authors Series.”
Norman is co-editor, with Katherine Ledford and Dwight Billings, of a
collection of essays, “Back Talk: Confronting Appalachian
Stereotypes,” published by The University Press of Kentucky in 1999. He is
also co-editor, with Sharon Hatfield and Danny Miller, of a collection of
essays, “An American Vein: Critical Readings in Appalachian
Literature,” published in 2005 by Ohio University Press. Norman’s
novella-length folktale, “Ancient Creek,” originally published as a
spoken word album by June Appal Records at Appalshop, will be released as a
book by Old Cove Press in 2010. It will be accompanied by an archival reading
of the tale produced by Appalshop.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s
Norman wrote and narrated three one-hour television documentary programs
concerning Kentucky history, landscape and culture. The films were directed by
John Morgan for Kentucky Educational Network. “Time on the River”
explores the Kentucky River Valley. “From This Valley” examines the
literary and cultural heritage of the Big Sandy River Valley. “Wilderness
Road” retraces Daniel Boone’s route through Cumberland Gap into
Kentucky in 1775.
In 1990 Appalshop produced a film based on “Fat
Monroe,” a short story from the “Kinfolks” collection. Directed
by Andrew Garrison, “Fat Monroe" starred actors Ned Beatty and William
Johnson. The film was featured at the 1990 New York Film Festival and other
festivals in the United States and Europe. In 1993 Andrew Garrison completed
work on a second film, “Night Ride,” also based on a short story from
“Kinfolks.” “Night Ride” was featured at the Sundance Film
Festival in Park City, Utah, in 1994. A third film, based on Norman’s
short story “Maxine” and also directed by Andrew Garrison, was
completed in 2000. Norman served as scriptwriter and creative consultant for
all three productions.
In 1999 Norman and his wife, editor and publisher
Nyoka Hawkins, founded Old Cove Press, a regional literary press. Its first
book was “Affrilachia,” a book of poems by Frank X Walker. In 2006
Old Cove released a new collection of poems by Walker, “Black
Box.”
The summer 2005 issue of “Appalachian Heritage”
magazine features a 40 page section devoted to Norman’s writing and
cultural work in the Appalachian region. Included are commentaries by other
writers, a critical essay, and a biographical article; plus new fiction from
Norman’s forthcoming novel “Crazy Quilt.” The Journal of
Kentucky Studies, published by Northern Kentucky University, devoted a section
of its fall 1995 issue to scholarly articles concerning Norman’s novel and
book of short stories. The summer issue of The Southern Quarterly, published by
the University of Southern Mississippi, included an excerpt from Norman’s
novel-in-progress, Crazy Quilt, as well as a lengthy interview with Norman. In
October 1996 Norman was the honored author at Emory and Henry College’s
annual two-day Literary Festival in Emory, Virginia. The festival included a
series of scholarly presentations on Norman's fiction and television
work.
Gurney Norman attended the University of Kentucky from 1955 to
1960 where he majored in Journalism and English. In 1960 and1961 he studied
fiction writing at Stanford University as a Wallace Stegner Creative Writing
Fellow. After a two year stint in the U.S. Army, he returned to his hometown to
work for two years as a reporter for the Hazard Herald. In 1967 he returned to
California where he wrote and published “Divine Right's Trip.” After
the publication of “Kinfolks,” he joined the English Department of
the University of Kentucky in 1979.
In addition to his writing, editing
and teaching, Norman carries on an active service role in Kentucky and
surrounding states as an advisor to community-based arts groups. He is a
frequent presenter at colleges and universities and education conferences.
Norman enjoys visiting small rural schools where Kentucky literature and
culture are under discussion. In April 2009 Norman was appointed Kentucky Poet
Laureate 2009-2011 by Governor Steve Beshear.
Kentucky Arts Council
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Page Updated: 02/04/2010
