PENN’S HISTORIC STORE

News release

GRAVEL SWITCH — Historic Penn’s Store celebrates writers of all genres and mediums, once again. The 2017 Kentucky Writers Day Celebration will get underway Sunday, April 23 at Historic Penn’s Store, located three miles southeast of Gravel Switch in the Forkland community of Boyle County.  

This year marks the 21st annual event hosted by Penn’s to celebrate the state of Kentucky’s official Writers Day (April 24) and honor the written word and Kentucky writers. 

The week-long event (April 23 and April 27-30) will feature authors, poets, writers, journalists, songwriters sharing original works and paying tribute to other writers.

• April 23 will be the kick-off, billed as “Writers Homecoming,” and will begin with a praise service 11 a.m. at Penn’s Store, conducted by Russ and Mary Jo Milby of Green County, followed by a noon lunch social. Folks can bring their own lunch or purchase snacks from the store. 

Many noted authors, writers, songwriters who have participated over the years will be returning to share their literary talents.  

Scheduled are:  Dr. H.R. Stoneback, other professors and students from SUNY, New Paltz, New York; Gregg Neikirk, professor of English, Westfield College, Westfield, Massachusetts; and the Elizabeth Madox Roberts Society’s international members will be joining us again. Also joining the event will be the 2012 Pulitzer Prize nominee, Maurice Manning; and Susan H. Simpson of Springfield, the longest participant of the writers day event — she’s attended 20 of the 21 years. 

• The evenings of April 27-29  will showcase “Songwriters in Concert” at Brothers’ BBQ & Brewing, 464 S. Fourth St., Danville. Each evening begins at 5 p.m. and will include solos, duos and bands performing country, rock, rock and roll, R&B, blues, jazz, soul, Americana, bluegrass and folk. 

• From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 29, authors, poets, writers and the 2016 Kentucky Poet Laureate, George Ella Lyon, will share their works at Boyle County Public Library, 307 W. Broadway St, Danville.

 • From 1-5 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at Historic Penn’s Store, the closing of the 2017 event will be celebrated during the “Writers Wrap & Party.” Many writers, authors, poets, songwriters are scheduled to perform.

IF YOU GO 

Historic Penn’s Store 2017 Kentucky Writer’s Day Celebration is free to the public at all venues. For those attending activities at Penn’s Store, bring a chair. For a list of participants, visit Penn’s Store on Facebook, or www.PennsStore.com, or call (859) 332-7706 or 332-7715.