"We are so honored that Silas has agreed to join Lincoln Memorial University," said Moody. "This is not only a red-letter day for LMU, but it is such a tremendous benefit to our students. They will have the extraordinary opportunity to be taught by a master craftsman in his genre, and to see firsthand how successful writers work."
House's association with LMU is not new. LMU English Professor Elizabeth Lamont first met Silas in 1997 at the Hindman Settlement School's Appalachian Writers' Workshop. "Everyone at the workshop began to whisper about his extraordinary talent," said Lamont. "As soon as the novel came out, I read it, was blown away by it, and now fully believe that Silas' voice is one of the best - certainly it's the most promising - to come out of today's Appalachia."
With Dr. Lamont's assistance, Silas visited the LMU campus in the fall of 2001 for a reading and book signing. During the following year, Silas was invited to teach a creative writing course to undergraduate students at LMU. He considered it a golden opportunity to be part of the same University where his mentor James Still attended school.
"I can't think of any other single school that's as important for producing Appalachian writers," said House. "It's an honor for me to be a part of the place that was a part of their lives. The main reason I want to be at LMU is that I like the school's mission, serving Appalachian youth and social service. Making a difference is important to me. The people here are not like people at other universities. It's a warm, welcoming atmosphere."
House is immensely proud of his home in Eastern Kentucky, and it regularly occurs as the setting of his writing. His first full-length work of fiction, Clay's Quilt, received national attention. In this novel, the title character, Clay Sizemore, is a young coal miner who is searching to find his place in a small Appalachian coal community called Free Creek. This story has been described as being full of real anguish, conviction and joy. USA TODAY called Clay's Quilt "a letter perfect novel."
House has completed two additional novels, A Parchment of Leaves and The Coal Tattoo. The two books, both prequels of sorts, complete the story of Clay Sizemore's family, while also telling the story of many Eastern Kentucky families. Both books have received numerous awards, and House was nominated for two Pushcart Prizes in 2004.
In 2005, The Coal Tattoo was named the Appalachian Book of the Year and the Kentucky Book of the Year. It is currently a nominee for Southern Book of the Year. In addition to working on his fourth novel, Silas House regularly writes short fiction and contributes to various magazines and journals. The University of Kentucky has commissioned House to write a play entitled The Hurting Part due to premiere in December 2005. He is one of Nashville's most in-demand press kit writers, and he frequently contributes to National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."
Post a Comment
