FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) named Silas House as Kentucky’s incoming Poet Laureate just ahead of Kentucky Writers’ Day on April 24.

The New York Times bestselling author announced the news on Twitter, saying that he was honored to be named to the post. “As a writer who was raised working class and in trailers, as a questioning person of faith, and as the first openly gay poet laureate I will do my best to represent my place and my people,” House said.

The induction ceremony is set for Monday, April 24 at the Kentucky State Capitol. The Kentucky Writers' Day Ceremony will start at 10:30 a.m. in the Capitol Rotunda, followed by a public reception at the Mezzanine and concluding with Kentucky Poets Laureate readings at 2:30 p.m. Former poets laureate Richard Taylor, Joe Survant, Sena Jeter Jaslun, Maureen Morehead, Frank X Walker, George Ella Lyon, Jeff Worley and Crystal Wilkinson will be in attendance. 

House is the author of seven novels, including his most recent work, “Lark Ascending” which won the 2023 Southern Book Prize. In 2022 he was the recipient of the Duggins Prize, the largest award for an LGBTQ writer in the nation.

His writing has also appeared in The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Time and the New York Times. House is also a former commentator for NPR’s “All Things Considered,” as well as a music journalist and playwright.

The Kentucky native was born in Laurel County. His work, which focuses heavily on Appalachia, stems from his own experience growing up in southeastern Kentucky.

House teaches at Berea College, where he is the National Endowment for the Humanities Chair, and the Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Creative Writing at Spalding University.

In recent years, Kentucky’s trailblazing poets have received national attention for their work. Just last year, Lexington-based poet Ada Limón was named the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate and will serve in that role until Sept. 2023. Kentucky’s current Poet Laureate, Crystal Wilkinson, won the NAACP Image award in 2022 for her work, “Perfect Black,” a book of poetry mainly focused on growing up Black in Appalachia.

The Kentucky Poet Laureate is a two-year post, and the duties include promoting the literary arts and leading the state in literary activities, including Kentucky Writers’ Day, which is celebrated annually on April 24 to commemorate the birthday of Kentuckian Robert Penn Warren. The new laureate is selected following a public call for nominations coordinated by the Kentucky Arts Council and is appointed on April 24 in conjunction with Kentucky Writers’ Day celebrations. Nominees for this position must reside in Kentucky, have a long association with the Commonwealth, and have a critically acclaimed published body of work that is informed by living in Kentucky.

The word "poet" in the position's title is interpreted in its broadest sense to include writers whose accomplishments are in any literary form. An independent panel reviews the nominations and submits its recommendation to the governor for appointment. 

According to the Kentucky Arts Council, the position of Kentucky Poet Laureate was originally established by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1926. Prior to 1990, poets laureate were appointed to lifetime terms by the General Assembly. In 1990, new legislation made the position a gubernatorial appointment for a two-year term.

House will be the 31st Kentucky Poet Laureate, and the 15th to be appointed by the governor.