Books written by authors with ties to Derby City

What’s better than a good book? A good book written by your neighbor (or former neighbor). Brew up a batch of your favorite cup of tea or coffee and get ready to meet your next read, because we’re talking about locally-written books in Louisville.

Fiction

• “The Rum Diary” by Hunter S. Thompson | Release date: 1998 | This tangled love story follows journalist Paul Kemp through the Caribbean in the 1950s through a tunnel of corruption, jealousy + murder.
• “The Last Cowboys of San Geronimo” by Ian Stansel | Release date: July 2017 | This contemporary Western drama follows the story of two brothers locked in a deadly feud.
• “Sister” by Sarah Anne Strickley | Release date: January 2021 | A woman named Sister attempts to make a family out of the wreckage of her youthful indiscretions in rural Southeastern Ohio.
• “Three Ways to Disappear” by Katy Yocom | Release date: 2019 | This tale of two sisters spans from Kentucky to India as the two learn what to save from the past and what needs to be let go.

For the family

• “L is for Louisville” by Gill Holland Jr. | Release date: January 2010 | Louisville artists created kid-friendly artworks to accompany 26 pieces of Louisville trivia in this abecedary.
• “Little Grump Truck” by Amanda Driscoll | Release date: August 2021 | Ride along with a cute, but moody dump truck learning mindful tools to handle emotions.
• “Heart” by Deedee Cummings | Release date: August 2016 | Inspired by her work with foster children, Deedee uses lyrical prose to share promises of love, life + faith.
• “Fly” by Brittany J. Thurman | Release date: January 2022 | A young girl named Africa follows in her grandmother’s skipping footsteps to become a double Dutch legend in this book perfect for kids ages 4-8.

Learn something new

• “This Used to Be Louisville” by Kevin Gibson | Release date: September 2021 | Learn about Derby City’s past via buildings + landmarks that once were — like the old Sears Building on West Broadway.
• “Waverly Hills Sanatorium: A History” by Lynn Pohl | Release date: June 2022 | Travel back in time to learn about Louisville’s famous sanatorium and its mixed legacy.
• “Bluegrass Brawlers: The Story of Professional Wrestling in Louisville” by John Cosper | Release date: June 2014 | Basketball and horse racing isn’t the only sport obsession in the 502 — immerse yourself in the world of professional wrestling + the stars that got their start here in Derby City.
• “Kentucky, Y’all: A Celebration of the People and the Culture of the Bluegrass State” by Blair Thomas Hess + Cameron M. Ludwick | Release date: August 2024 | Kentucky cuisine, bourbon and moonshine, Derby fashion, and sports are all featured in this playful compilation on the Bluegrass State.
• “Hostile Takeover: Systematic and Psychological Manifestation of a Cultural Reality” by Duane Campbell | Release date: March 2023 | This book challenges its readers to confront the foundations of systemic racism through both a poetic and philological approach.
• “The Nearly Forgotten History of Portland Kentucky” by James Higdon | Release date: 2018 | Learn the history of Louisville’s Portland neighborhood, starting as far back as 350 million years ago.

Part of a series

• “Horsepower” by Joy Priest | Release date: 2020 | This breakout collection of poems about the backside of Churchill Downs is part of the Pitt Poetry Series.
• “Books & Boys” by Shajuanda Caprices | Release date: 2020 | Character Stacy Robby comes from a shaky foundation, but her fiesty personality + friendships help her traverse a successful career and love life.
• “A is for Alibi” by Sue Grafton | Release date: April 1982 | This is the first book in a 25 part series that follows the investigations of fictional character Kinsey Millhone.
• “Haunted Houses of Louisville” by Steve Wiser | Release date: 2014 | Learn about the unexplained, the unknowable, and the undead from the president of Louisville’s Historical League, just one in a series about the history and architecture of Derby City. Bonus: Wiser also gives tours of Cave Hill Cemetery.

Personal stories

• “Little Brother: A Memoir” by Sallie Bingham | Release date: May 2022 | This memoir tells the story of Sallie’s brother Jonathan and his all-too brief life and trouble relating to his large, prominent Louisville family.
• “The Greatest: My Own Story” by Muhammad Ali, Richard Durham | Release date: October 1975 | The heavyweight champion himself chronicles the battles in and outside the ring he faced to become a legend.
• “A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City” by David Dominé | Release date: October 2021 | This true crime saga of the 2010 Old Louisville murder of James Carroll is told through David’s perspective as he sits in on trials + more.

Need more recommendations? Stop by Carmichael’s Bookstore, Butcher Cabin Books, or A Novel Romance to get expert advice from Derby City’s local booksellers. 📚