Although the Kentucky Writers Day Celebration took on a new name last year, it has continued on annually since 1996. Renamed the Jeanne Penn Lane Celebration of Kentucky Writers after Lane’s death in 2018, the event is now organized by Dawn Osborn, her daughter, who continues on with the tradition of running Penn’s Store in Gravel Switch.

“Jeanne was the driving force behind this celebration of the written word,” so it was renamed after that force, says local writer Paul Stansbury, who has helped with the event’s organization for years.

The 2019 Jeanne Penn Lane Celebration of Kentucky Writers will be Saturday through Monday,  May 18-20 in various Danville and surrounding venues. The event is free and open to the public, and offers the community a glimpse into writers’ work who have a Kentucky connection.

Osborn says the celebration of Kentucky writers is incredibly important to her and others who plan to keep the tradition alive.

“Through my mother’s experiences in education, as an art and English teacher in the Kentucky school system, and later as a professional songwriter for 4Star Music in Nashville, my mother came to realize the wealth of creative talent in Kentucky,” Osborn says. But often, these talented folks had no platform to display their gifts, or to network with other writers and artists, she says.

“So this event has served two major purposes for creatives, as well as exposing the public to the significant talent that exist right in their own back door.”

Saturday events

The author showcase will begin at noon Saturday at the Boyle County Public Library. Authors, poets, writers and journalists will perform 15-minute readings from original works, as well as offer book signings in the community room.

The event is planned to run through 5 p.m. It will be emceed by local author Chad Horn and feature various writers from different genres.

A few spots are still open for interested authors, Stansbury said. Those who plan to offer books to the public will have tables provided for their set up.

The tentative schedule of authors includes: Larry Hafley, Wendy Sivers, Roger Guffey, Sandy Keaton Wilson, Mike Norris, Gemma Ziegler, Stansbury, Horn, Jenean McBrearty, Tony Sexton, Darlene Campbell, Liz Orndorff, Maurice Manning, Stephen Vest, Ron O’Brien and Eric Sharp.

The songwriters tribute showcase starts at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Kentucky Fudge Company, 225 S. Main St. in Harrodsburg. The admission is free.

Songwriters will be performing original works as well as paying tribute to other songwriters.

The lineup for the showcase is: Joe Crafa, Dino Musso, Gordon Webb, Tony Cooper, Keith Williams, Ryan Sanders, Katie Dressler, Barry Morrison, Donnie Winters and Dawn Osborn.

The showcase will cap off with an open mic at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, before closing out the show with a final jam with all of the performers. 

Tunes will include country, rock, Americana and oldies.

Sunday event

More authors will be showcased Sunday at Historic Penn’s Store in Gravel Switch, beginning at 2 p.m. Readings will be held by Osborn, Bonnie DeHart, Manning, Sue Massek, Darlene Campbell and Paul Stansburg. To conclude the day, an open mic and songwriters jam will kick off around 4:30 p.m.

Sunday’s event is all outdoors. Participants may bring chairs and tables to set up books they will have for sale. Audience members may bring chairs and coolers, as well. The store will offer snacks and drinks for sale.

Monday event

A new event, A Taste of Kentucky Flash, will be held in conjunction with writers day this year. The readings will begin at 6 p.m. Monday at Jane Barleycorn’s Market & Bar.

Authors will have several “flash pieces” with them. “We will endeavor to read as many as time permits,” Stansbury said.

Authors include Carolun Ellis, Elizabeth Haigh, Jeneanne McBrearty, Leigh Claire Schmidli and Stansbury.

For more information about the writers day celebration, or how to participate, email Paul Stansbury at ky.writers.celebration@gmail.com. To find out more about Penn’s Store, visit pennsstore.com.