The James Baker Hall Foundation, in partnership with Accents Publishing, is pleased to announce the results for the James Baker Hall Book Award. The inaugural award recognizes an emerging author who hasn’t yet published a full-length collection in poetry. The winner is George Wesley Houp with his manuscript Strung Out Along the Endless Branch. Mr. Houp will receive a $3,000 award from The James Baker Hall Foundation and a publication from Accents Publishing.

The other three finalists are:

Zachary Johnson with An Offering

Elisabeth Jensen with Airbourne

Melissa Helton with Luckstone

For more biographical information on the winner and the finalists please visit:
https://accents-publishing.com

The James Baker Hall Foundation will be celebrating the winner of its inaugural book award on Tuesday, October 1st from 7:00-9:00 P.M. at the Egan Leadership Center on the campus of Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. There will be readings by the winner as well as readings from poet Greg Pape, who served as the judge for the award.

James Baker Hall was known for his work as a writer, was a Poet Laureate of Kentucky and the author of many essential works of southern literature. He was a member of the Fab Five of Kentucky writers which included noted Kentucky writers Wendell Berry, Ed McClanahan, Bobbi Ann Mason and Gurney Norman. But perhaps one of things he was best known and loved for was his mentorship of young Kentucky writers through his position as director of creative writing at the University of Kentucky for over 30 years.

His family established the James Baker Hall Foundation in 2023 with the idea to continue Jim’s interest in mentoring writers and to keep the voice that is uniquely Kentucky alive. Each year, the foundation plans to sponsor a book award competition for aspiring writers in a different genre. The initial project accepted nonpublished authors in poetry and the manuscript had to be a minimum of 50 pages. The first year saw over 70 entries.

“We could not be more pleased with the first year of the book award,” stated foundation Managing Director and Jim’s oldest son, Larry Pemble. “The number is impressive, but the quality of the entries are outstanding. We are just very excited to make our first award.”

For further information about the October event, contact foundation Executive Vice-President Jeanine Triplett at 502-693-3206 or jeanine@jamesbakerhall.org.