Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame

The Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame began in 2013. It is a group of very good writers who have strong connections to the state of Kentucky. To become a member a writer needs to have published works. Those works must be of lasting importance. The selected writers do not need to be born in Kentucky, but they should have a special relation to the state.
A person can be suggested for the Hall of Fame by anyone. Final decisions are made by a committee of the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning and the Kentucky Arts Council.
For the first two years of the group, new members were already deceased. But in 2015, Wendell Berry became the first lving member to be included. Other liviing members have been added since then.
Some famous members of the Hall of Fame are Robert Penn Warren, Thomas Merton, Jean Ritchie, Hunter S. Thompson, Harlan Hubbard, bell hooks, Sam Shepard, and Barbara Kingsolver.