Dive into your next great Kentucky-themed read with the 2026 KMHA Book Club! This year, KMHA will be partnering with University Press of Kentucky to explore three exciting, recent titles from their list. In addition to KMHA members receiving a 30% discount on the year's Book Club titles, our members will also be able to enjoy virtual book talks from selected authors throughout the year. To receive these perks, and more, join KMHA today!
Announcing 2026's Book Club Titles
Kentucky Quilts and Quiltmakers: Three Centuries of Creativity, Community, and Commerce
Linda Elizabeth LaPinta
Although they are commonplace in American homes, quilts are much more than simple patchwork bed coverings and wall adornments. While many of these beautiful and intricate works of art are rich in history and tradition, others reflect the cutting-edge talent and avant-garde mastery of contemporary quiltmakers. Kentucky Quilts and Quiltmakers: Three Centuries of Creativity, Community, and Commerce is the first comprehensive study to approach quilts as objects of material culture that have adorned homes throughout the history of the commonwealth and the country.
Linda Elisabeth LaPinta highlights such topics as quiltmaking in women's history, the influence of early Black quiltmakers, popular Kentucky quilt patterns, types, and colors, and the continuing importance of preserving the commonwealth's quilt history and traditions. The author provides a panoramic view of Kentucky quiltmaking from colonial America through the American Revolution, the Civil War to the 1900s, to the new millennium and the dynamic quilting industry of today. LaPinta reveals Kentucky's pivotal role in shaping significant aspects of American quilt culture—Kentuckians founded the first statewide quilt documentation project, created important exhibits and major quilt organizations, and established the National Quilt Museum. Rounding out this all-encompassing volume is a collection of fascinating and intimate artistic commentaries by notable quiltmakers, as well as discussion of the key players who have conserved, celebrated, and showcased the commonwealth's extraordinary quilt culture.
Linda Elizabeth LaPinta is the author of four previous books and hundreds of articles and book reviews published in magazines, newspapers, and journals nationwide. LaPinta lives in Louisville with her husband, Dominic, and their collie, Skye.
Blair Thomas Hess and Cameron M. Ludwick
When people think of Kentucky, three things usually come to mind: bourbon, Colonel Sanders's secret chicken recipe, and the glamorous Kentucky Derby. Add college basketball to that list, and you have yourself a superfecta. Looking beyond these time-honored traditions, however, visitors will find in Kentucky a diverse patchwork of faces and places, each as unique as the state's geography.
Kentucky, Y'all: A Celebration of the People and Culture of the Bluegrass State is an entertaining and informative compilation of the state's favorite oddities, cultural quirks, traditions, and rites of passage. Authors and proud Kentuckians Blair Thomas Hess and Cameron M. Ludwick share the best stories from their experiences as writers, travelers, and residents in this ode to the Commonwealth. From the iconic to the obscure, the book reveals vital knowledge that every Kentuckian—whether by birth, residence, or simply in mind and heart—should know. What is beer cheese? Who was Bill Monroe? Where can you get a hemp hot dog? Readers are introduced to the brilliant minds behind the Louisville Slugger, the Bowie knife, and pioneering work in genetics. The book also includes a handy list of dos and don'ts of tailgating, a Kentucky sayings glossary, and bucket lists of things to do, drink, read, and eat.
Featuring hand-drawn illustrations that represent life, fashion, and entertainment in the Commonwealth, Kentucky, Y'all is an insightful and exuberant guide to the Bluegrass State—for Kentucky natives and visitors alike.
Blair Thomas Hess is coauthor of several books, including The State of Bourbon: Exploring the Spirit of Kentucky, Presidents, Battles, and Must-See Civil War Destinations: Exploring a Kentucky Divided, Famous Kentucky Flavors: Exploring the Commonwealth's Greatest Cuisines, and My Old Kentucky Road Trip: Historic Destinations & Natural Wonders. Cameron M. Ludwick is coauthor of several books, including The State of Bourbon: Exploring the Spirit of Kentucky, Presidents, Battles, and Must-See Civil War Destinations: Exploring a Kentucky Divided, Famous Kentucky Flavors: Exploring the Commonwealth's Greatest Cuisines, and My Old Kentucky Road Trip: Historic Destinations & Natural Wonders. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram @myoldkyroadtrip.
Jan Brandenburg
Between soup beans seasoned with bacon grease, pot roast, and gravy-drowned meatloaf, Appalachian cuisine is known for featuring plenty of meat. Even seemingly innocent sides like potato salad and mac and cheese often contain animal products. Though adopting a plant-based diet comes with life-changing benefits, it has also stopped many people from enjoying the food they were raised on. Embracing her grandmother's fearless approach to cooking while staying true to her own beliefs, Appalachian vegan Jan A. Brandenburg has diligently worked to create a cookbook that captures the flavor and comfort that came with every bite of her favorites from back home.
In The Modern Mountain Cookbook: A Plant-Based Celebration of Appalachia, Brandenburg updates the meals of her eastern Kentucky childhood to make them accessible to everyone—including cooks of any skill level—looking to incorporate more veg-friendly fare into their rotation. From eggless scramble for breakfast to fried chick'n for supper, this innovative cookbook provides readers with an extensive menu of delicious, cruelty-free dishes fit for all occasions. Brandenburg feeds both body and soul as she folds in lessons learned from generations of women and memories of family gatherings around the table with sure-to-please recipes, including creamy potato soup, country-fried steak, roasted jalapeno pimento cheese, hash brown and broccoli casseroles, and bourbon pecan pie.
Appalachian and plant-based cooking are no longer at odds—people who love country classics can preserve their culinary traditions while eating a healthier, more ethical diet. With The Modern Mountain Cookbook in one hand and a cast-iron skillet in the other, you can have your pineapple upside-down cake and eat it, too.
Jan A. Brandenburg is a cook, digital content creator, and pharmacist from eastern Kentucky. Wanting to enjoy the flavors of her childhood without supporting the meat industry, she has spent years developing plant-based alternatives to traditional Appalachian dishes. Find her on Instagram @appalachianvegan.
