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''''Gurney Norman''' is an American [[writer]], [[Documentary film|documentarian]], and [[professor]]. [[File:GurneyNorman.jpg|thumb|Gurney Norman speaking at University of Kentucky event]] ==Biography== Gurney Norman was born in [[Grundy, Virginia]] in 1937. He grew up in the southern [[Appalachian Mountains]] and was raised alternately by his maternal grandparents in [[Southwest Virginia]] and his paternal grandparents in [[Eastern Kentucky]] in several towns, but primarily in the small community of Allais, near [[Hazard, Kentucky|Hazard]], in [[Perry County, Kentucky|Perry County]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.uky.edu/news/display_article.php?category=0&artid=4481&type=1 |title=University of Kentucky News |publisher=news.uky.edu |date= |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> He attended [[Stuart Robinson School]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berea.edu/hutchinslibrary/specialcollections/saa78.asp#history |title=Stuart Robinson School Collection &#124; Special Collections : Hutchins Library - Berea College |publisher=Berea.edu |date= |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> in [[Letcher County, Kentucky]], from 1946 to 1955. Norman attended the [[University of Kentucky]] from 1955 to 1959 graduating with a degree<!--was it a B.A.?--> in journalism and English.<!--Did he receive a degree? If so, what was this degree?--><ref>[http://www.as.uky.edu/news_events/news/Pages/GurneyNormanNamedKentuckyPoetLaureate.aspx ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126191731/http://www.as.uky.edu/news_events/news/Pages/GurneyNormanNamedKentuckyPoetLaureate.aspx |date=November 26, 2010 }}</ref> 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]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://community.berea.edu/appalachianheritage/issues/summer2005/gurneynorman.html |title=Gurney Norman &#124; Appalachian Heritage - Berea College |publisher=Community.berea.edu |date=1937-07-22 |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> After Stanford, Norman spent two years in the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]]. He returned to eastern [[Kentucky]] in 1963 to work as a reporter for his hometown newspaper, ''[[The Hazard Herald]]''. Leaving newspaper work to concentrate on his fiction writing, Norman took a job with the [[U.S. Forest Service]] as a fire lookout in the [[Cascade Mountains]] of [[Oregon]] in the summers of 1966 and 1967.<ref>{{cite web|author=webeditor |url=http://www.ket.org/livingbywords/authors/norman_interview2.htm |title=Living by Words &#124; Gurney Norman Interview |publisher=KET |date= |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> In 1971, his novel ''[[Divine Right's Trip]]'' was published in ''[[Whole Earth Catalog|The Last Whole Earth Catalog]]'' and subsequently by the Dial Press and Bantam Books.<ref>{{cite web|author=Malcolm Jones |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/36308 |title=Baby Boomers and Books: A Love Affair With Literature - The Daily Beast |publisher=Newsweek.com |date=2007-03-18 |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> Norman was one of the founders of the Briarpatch Network in 1974, with Richard Raymond and [[Michael Phillips (consultant)|Michael Phillips]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Claude Whitmyer |url=http://www.briarpatch.net/ |title=History of The Briarpatch Network aka The Briarpatch Society aka The Briarpatch |publisher=Briarpatch.net |date=2007-01-01 |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> In 1977, his book of short stories ''Kinfolks'', which received [[Berea College]]'s Weatherford Award, was published by Gnomon Press.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berea.edu/AppalachianCenter/weatherford/pastwinners.asp |title=Past Winners &#124; Appalachian Center : Weatherford Award - Berea College |publisher=Berea.edu |date= |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> In 1979, Norman joined the faculty of the [[University of Kentucky]] as an associate professor of English. He served as Director of the English Department's Creative Writing Program from 2000 to 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Courier |first=The |url=http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009903160364 |title=Local News &#124; The Courier-Journal |publisher=courier-journal.com |date=2009-03-16 |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> In 1996 his work as a fiction writer, filmmaker, and cultural advocate was honored at the Fifteenth Annual [[Emory and Henry College]] Literary Festival, which celebrates significant writers in the [[Appalachia]]n region.<ref>[http://www.itvs.org/wilgus/author.html ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307074632/http://www.itvs.org/wilgus/author.html |date=March 7, 2009 }}</ref> In 2002 he was honored by the Eastern Kentucky Leadership Conference for outstanding contribution to the advancement of regional arts and culture.<ref>[http://www.eastkentuckyleadership.org/index.asp?page=awardWin ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726011712/http://www.eastkentuckyleadership.org/index.asp?page=awardWin |date=July 26, 2011 }}</ref> In 2007 the [[Appalachian Studies Association]] awarded Norman the Helen M. Lewis Community Service Award, which recognizes exemplary contributions to Appalachia through involvement with and service to its people and communities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.appalachianstudies.org/association/awards/past.php |title=Past Award Winners :: ASA :: |publisher=Appalachianstudies.org |date= |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> He serves as Senior Writer-in-Residence at [[Hindman Settlement School]]'s annual Appalachian Writers Workshop.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindmansettlement.org/news/gurney-norman-new-kentucky-poet-laureate |title=Gurney Norman New Kentucky Poet Laureate &#124; Hindman Settlement School |publisher=Hindmansettlement.org |date=2009-04-24 |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> Norman was selected to serve as the 2009–2010 [[Poet Laureate]] for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and was officially installed as Laureate on April 24, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://artscouncil.ky.gov/ |title=Kentucky.gov: Kentucky Arts Council Home Page |publisher=Artscouncil.ky.gov |date=2012-01-31 |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> On May 8, 2011, Norman was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Berea College.<ref>{{cite web|last=Buckner |first=Jay |url=http://bcnow.berea.edu/2011/05/appalachian-author-gurney-norman-tells-berea-college-graduates-to-find-wisdom-in-unexpected-places |title=Appalachian author Gurney Norman tells Berea College graduates to find wisdom in unexpected places |publisher=Bcnow.berea.edu |date=2011-05-08 |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> He lives in [[Lexington, Kentucky]]. and he got but fucked everyday ==Writing== ''[[Divine Right's Trip]]'' follows DR Davenport and Estelle, a pair of [[hippie]] stoners who leave [[California]] for eastern Kentucky, where they settle on a farm raising [[rabbits]]. The novel was originally serialized in ''[[Whole Earth Catalog|The Last Whole Earth Catalog]]''. ''Kinfolks'' is a book of short stories concerning young Wilgus Collier and his relationships with his family members.<ref>{{cite web|author=webeditor |url=http://www.ket.org/bookclub/books/2000_apr/ |title=April 2000 bookclub@ket |publisher=Ket.org |date= |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> ==Filmography== ===As writer and presenter=== * 1987 - ''Time on the River'' - A historical look at the important role the [[Kentucky River]] played in the settlement of the state. [[KET]] production.<ref>{{cite web|author=webmaster |url=http://www.ket.org/tvschedules/episode.php?nola=KTRIV+000000 |title=Time on the River |publisher=KET |date= |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> * 1989 - ''From This Valley'' - Explores the Big Sandy region of Eastern Kentucky, including its trails, people, history, and literary heritage. KET production.<ref>{{cite web|author=webmaster |url=http://www.ket.org/tvschedules/episode.php?nola=KFTVL+000000 |title=From This Valley |publisher=KET |date= |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> * 1991 - ''Wilderness Road'' - Retraces the route of the famous pioneer trail from [[Kingsport, Tennessee]] to [[Boonesborough, Kentucky]]. KET production.<ref>{{cite web|author=webmaster |url=http://www.ket.org/tvschedules/episode.php?nola=KWLRD+000000 |title=Wilderness Road |publisher=KET |date= |accessdate=2012-02-10}}</ref> ===Based on Norman's work=== * 2000 - ''The Wilgus Stories'' - Dramatization of three Norman short stories--"Fat Monroe," "Night Ride" and "Maxine"—by filmmaker Andrew Garrison.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itvs.org/wilgus/stories.html |accessdate=April 30, 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307074657/http://www.itvs.org/wilgus/stories.html |archivedate=March 7, 2009 }}</ref> ==Publications== ===Fiction=== * ''Book One From Crazy Quilt: A Novel in Progress'' (Monterey, KY: [[Larkspur Press]]), 1990. * ''Divine Right's Trip: A Folk-Tale'' (New York: [[Dial Press]]), 1972. {{ISBN|0-917788-42-7}} * ''Kinfolks: The Wilgus Stories'' (Frankfort, KY: Gnomon Press), 1977. {{ISBN|0-917788-07-9}} * ''Ancient Creek: A Folktale'' (Lexington, KY: Old Cove Press), 2012. {{ISBN|0-967542-42-1}} ===Nonfiction=== * ''An American Vein: Critical Readings in Appalachian Literature'' with Danny Miller and Sharon Hatfield (Athens, OH: Ohio University Press), 2005. {{ISBN|0-8214-1589-1}} * ''Confronting Appalachian Stereotypes: Back Talk from an American Region'' with Dwight B. Billings and Katherine Ledford (Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky), 1999. {{ISBN|0-8131-2099-3}} ==References== {{Reflist|2}} ==Further reading== * Chaney, Candace [http://www.kentucky.com/712/story/774449.html "A Man of His Words."] ''Lexington Herald-Leader'', Page E1, April 26, 2009. * Howell, Rebecca Gayle [http://www.kentucky.com/589/story/772325.html "Gurney Norman: Poet Laureate."] ''Lexington Herald-Leader'', Page A15, April 24, 2009. * Arnold, Timothy W. [http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/htallant/border/bs9/arnold.htm "Hero Trip: Divine Right's Journey of Self."] Border States: Journal of the Kentucky-Tennessee American Studies Association, No. 9 (1993). * Holbrook, Chris. "Gurney Norman Remembers His 'Kinfolks'" ''Lexington Herald-Leader'', April 26, 1992. * Ward, William S. ''A Literary History of Kentucky'' (Knoxville: The University of Tennessee Press), 1988. ISBN 0-87049-578-X ==External links== *[https://english.as.uky.edu/users/gnorman Faculty page from the University of Kentucky] *[http://www.appalachianbooks.com/Authors/Gurney%20Norman.htm Gurney Norman biography], from Appalachian Books *[http://www.ket.org/livingbywords/authors/norman_interview1.htm Gurney Norman interview] *{{IMDb name|0635506}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Norman, Gurney}} [[Category:1937 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Grundy, Virginia]] [[Category:20th-century American novelists]] [[Category:21st-century American novelists]] [[Category:American male novelists]] [[Category:Appalachian writers]] [[Category:Writers from Virginia]] [[Category:University of Kentucky alumni]] [[Category:Writers from Lexington, Kentucky]] [[Category:People from Perry County, Kentucky]] [[Category:Poets Laureate of Kentucky]] [[Category:American male short story writers]] [[Category:20th-century American poets]] [[Category:21st-century American poets]] [[Category:American male poets]] [[Category:20th-century American short story writers]] [[Category:21st-century American short story writers]]'