Provided by Kentucky Book Festival
Among Kentucky’s many stellar claims to fame is being home to the biggest bookish celebration in the state—The Kentucky Book Festival. A program of Kentucky Humanities, it takes place in Lexington – the Horse Capital of the World on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Joseph-Beth Booksellers.
This annual celebration of reading, writing and publishing connects book lovers and authors—and not just a few authors, but hundreds. Among this year’s headliners are TODAY Show weather anchor and host Al Roker; past Kentucky poet laureate Crystal Wilkinson; Chef Edward Lee, chef/owner of Louisville’s 610 Magnolia and recipient of a James Beard Book Award; Yolanda Renee King, granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King; and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and biographer, Jonathan Eig.
About 150 or so authors in total will be in attendance for the 43rd annual Kentucky Book Festival, signing books in the Author Signing Gallery and in the Children’s Authors Tent and many of them participating in a variety of programs across two stages.
Can’t make the festival? Visit these Kentucky Capitals Quest destinations and while away the hours browsing the stacks. Not only does each KCQ destination have its singularly unique claim to fame, but each also claims an exceptionally cool indie bookstore—or a cozy coffee shop for reading.
Provided by Visit BGKY
Bowling Green – Corvette Capital of the World
New to the historic Capitol building downtown, which houses the Capitol Arts Center, is Capitol Books. A used book store operated by the Friends of Warren County Library, the shop features hardcover, paperback and board books, plus games, puzzles, DVDs, CDs, and box sets.
Oh, and with its checkered history that includes life as a vaudeville house and a fire in the late 1890s that destroyed the original building, you can bet the place is haunted.
“There is a lot of history at this address, which may account for the odd sounds and sightings people encounter,” said Lauren Guess, communications director at the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Heavy doors that move on their own, humanoid reflections in computer screens, apparitions of young children and mysterious footsteps have all been reported within The Capitol!”
Provided by Frankfort Tourism
Frankfort – Historic Heartbeat of Kentucky
Located across from the Old Capitol building, Poor Richards Books is named for past Kentucky poet laureate Richard Taylor and owned by independent bookseller, Lizz Taylor.
New and vintage books pack the shelves, including an extensive Kentucky collection of current and out of print titles, with rolling ladders on each wall sliding across the various sections. Art-themed puzzles and unique greeting cards are also available. The children’s area invites kids to search for 10 Waldo cut-outs and the attic tempts browsers with its collection of turn-of-the-century titles featuring beautiful, embossed covers.
“Books create a warm atmosphere in a room, and many folks search the attic for titles that will make a statement in their homes,” said Taylor. “Perhaps a relative from your past penned a novel that you can purchase.”
Provided by Blush & Bashful Romance Bookshop
Hopkinsville – Batter Capital of the World
Emily Ezell has created a sweet nook for lovers of romance literature with her new Blush & Bashful Romance Bookshop. Movie buffs will immediately recognize the name from Shelby Eatenton’s proclamation in 1989’s “Steel Magnolias”: “Pink is my signature color.”
“I wanted the atmosphere to be cozy and inviting, while also being aesthetically beautiful and romantic, which I hope we captured in our accents of colors, flowers, rugs, furniture and décor,” said Ezell. “We have a sitting area which I heavily promote for people to sit down and read a chapter or two of a book to see if they like it.”
The color, and the name, are fitting for this shop that carries all genres of romance—with about 1,000 or so titles representing both traditionally published authors and up-and-coming indie authors. Other merchandise, selected with the book lover in mind, adds charm as do the original creations of book art. Author signings happen a couple times a month.
Provided by Kentucky Book Festival
Lexington – Horse Capital of the World
Horses, bluegrass and books—it’s an unbeatable Kentucky combo. And as Kentucky’s hometown bookstore, Joseph-Beth Bookseller, host site for the Kentucky Book Festival, brings not only an enormous selection of books and bookish events to book lovers, but gift items galore and a café with gourmet beverages and cocktails and a menu dishing up appetizers through desserts.
Founded nearly 40 years ago in 1986, this large, indie bookstore maintains an active and ambitious calendar that connects readers with authors from all genres through events including book launch parties, story times, conversations and more. Additionally, the store hosts live music performances, book clubs and an annual Book Bash.
Provided by CoffeeTree Books
Morehead-Rowan Co. – Muskie Fishing Capital of the South
Lay down your fishing pole and pick up a good read at CoffeeTree Books—a general interest bookstore stocking over 13,000 titles—tucked behind Morehead’s Fuzzy Duck Coffee Shop.
“We also feature locally made crafts and yarn,” said shop owner Susan Thomas, who has worked hard to create an atmosphere that is welcoming to all.
“The thing I like most about being an indie bookstore is providing a space for our community to gather and connect,” she said.
And that includes not only book lovers, but knitters, crocheters and crafters, too.
Provided by From the Ground Up Books
Oldham Co. – Farm Tour Capital of Kentucky
From farm tour to bookstore, but not “just a bookstore.” From the Ground Up Books stocks new and used books from all genres. In fact, between its La Grange and Shepherdsville locations, about 15,000 titles, including several hundred children’s books, crowd the shelves.
But that’s not all. In addition to books, From the Ground Up Books offers a range of unique gifts and a focus on education for writers—all in a cozy, homey setting with plenty of seating warmed up by a fireplace.
“The La Grange location was built in 1840 and has a lot of character,” said Lynn Tincher, From the Ground Up Books owner, publisher and the author of the Mind Bending Series, a fictional psychological crime series set in Louisville. “We encourage hanging out and getting to know others.”
To that end, the bookstore features NovelTea, a monthly event wherein patrons can sit down and get to know an author over a cup of tea. Various book clubs—romance, mystery/thriller, SciFi/Fantasy—have their monthly meetings in the store as does a writers group.
“Books are my happy place,” said Tincher. “Being an indie bookstore gives me the opportunity to be surrounded by lots of books where I can chat with like-minded people who share in the love of reading!”
Provided by Displaced Books
Provided by Books, Nooks, & Crannies
Other capital good bookstores may be found in Owensboro – Bluegrass Music Capital of the World at micro bookstore Displaced Books and in Somerset-Pulaski Co. – Houseboat Capital of the World at Books, Nooks, & Crannies, an adorable chandelier-lit shop harboring a place called The Vault for exploring crime, mystery and fantasy reads.
Provided by Piper’s Tea and Coffee
In a town with (gasp!) no indie bookstore? No worries. Do the next best thing: Pack a book along on an outing to a locally owned coffee shop, like The Grind in London-Laurel Co. – Cycling Capital of Kentucky, consistently voted best coffee shop in London; Piper’s Tea and Coffee in Paducah – Quilt Capital of the World, specializing in small-batch, single origin and unique blends of coffee and bespoke small-batch tea blends; or The Hall Coffee and Social Club in Winchester – Beer Cheese Capital of the World, home to a good cuppa joe, as well as locally sourced beer and wine and specially crafted cocktails.