Gurney Norman has been a member of the University of Kentucky Department of English since 1979 and currently serves as the department's Director of Creative Writing. His first novel Divine Right's Trip (1971) was published by The Dial Press, Bantam Books, and Pantheon Books of England. In 1978, Norman's book of short stories Kinfolks, was published by Gnomon Press and subsequently by Avon Books as part of its Southern Authors Series.
Norman is co-editor, with Katherine Ledford and Dwight Billings, of a collection of essays, Back Talk: Confronting Appalachian Stereotypes, published by, The University Press of Kentucky in March 1999. He is also co-editor, with Sharon Hatfield and Danny Miller, of a collection of essays, An American Vein: Critical Readings in Appalachian Literature, published in 2005 by Ohio University Press. Norman's novella-length folktale Ancient Creek, originally published as a spoken word album by June Appal Records at Appalshop, will be released as a book by Old Cove Press in 2012. A selection of critical writings on Ancient Creek will be included as well as a recorded reading of the tale produced by Appalshop.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s Norman wrote and narrated three one-hour documentary programs for Kentucky Educational Television. Directed by John Morgan, the programs explore Kentucky history, landscape and culture. "Time on the River" takes a look at the historical importance of the Kentucky River. "From This Valley" examines the literary and cultural heritage of the Big Sandy River Valley. "Wilderness Road" retraces Daniel Boone's route through Cumberland Gap into Kentucky in 1775.
In 1990, Appalshop produced a film based on "Fat Monroe," a short story from the Kinfolks collection. Directed by Andrew Garrison, "Fat Monroe" starred actors Ned Beatty and William Johnson. The film was featured at the 1990 New York Film Festival and other festivals in the United States and Europe. In 1993, Andrew Garrison completed work on a second film, "Night Ride," also based on a short story from Kinfolks. "Night Ride" was featured at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, in 1994. A third film, based on Norman's short story "Maxine" and also directed by Andrew Garrison, was completed in 2000. Norman served as scriptwriter and creative consultant on all three productions.
In 1999, Norman and editor/publisher Nyoka Hawkins founded Old Cove Press, a regional literary press. In 2000, Old Cove Press released Affrilachia, a book of poems by poet Frank X Walker. Old Cove has published two more collections by Walker, Black Box (2005) and Isaac Murphy: I Dedicate this Ride (2010).
Norman is widely recognized for his writing and cultural work in the Appalachian region. He serves as Senior Writer-in-Residence at Hindman Settlement School's annual Appalachian Writers Workshop, where he has been a member of the teaching staff since its founding in 1978. In October 1996, Norman was honored as an author, filmmaker and cultural advocate at Emory and Henry College's annual two-day Literary Festival in Emory, Virginia, which celebrates significant writers in the Appalachian region. The festival included a series of scholarly presentations on Norman's fiction and television work. In 2002, he was recognized by the Eastern Kentucky Leadership Conference for outstanding contributions to the advancement of regional arts and cultural. He was awarded the Helen M. Lewis Community Service Award in 2007 by the Appalachian Studies Association for exemplary contributions to Appalachia through involvement with and service to its people and communities. In April 2009, author Gurney Norman was appointed Kentucky Poet Laureate for 2009-2010 by Governor Steve Beshear. In 2011, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Berea College.
The Summer 2005 issue of the journal Appalachian Heritage, published by the Appalachian Center of Berea College, features a 40-page section devoted to Norman's writing and cultural work in the Appalachian region. Included are commentaries by writers, a critical essay, and a biographical article, plus new fiction from Norman's forthcoming novel Crazy Quilt. The Journal of Kentucky Studies, published by Northern Kentucky University, devoted a section of its Fall 1995 issue to scholarly articles concerning Norman's novel Divine Right's Trip and his short story collection Kinfolks. The 1996 Summer issue of The Southern Quarterly, published by the University of Southern Mississippi, included a lengthy interview with Norman.
Norman graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1959 where he majored in Journalism and English. In 1960, he received a Wallace Stegner Fellowship in Creative Writing at Stanford University where he studied with literary critic Malcolm Cowley and the Irish short story writer Frank O'Connor. After a two-year stint in the U.S. Army he returned to his hometown in Kentucky to work for two years as a reporter for the Hazard Herald. In 1967, he returned to California where he wrote and published Divine Right's Trip. After the publication of Kinfolks, he joined the English Department as a professor at the University of Kentucky in 1979.
In addition to his writing, editing and teaching at the University of Kentucky, Norman carries on an active service role in Kentucky and surrounding states as an advisor to community-based arts groups. He is a frequent presenter at colleges and universities and education conferences. Norman enjoys visiting small rural schools where Kentucky literature and culture are under discussion.
Gurney Norman - Associate Professor, Director of Creative Writing
Gurney Norman - Associate Professor, Director of Creative Writing