The Friends of the Corbin Public Library hosted a book discussion with acclaimed author and poet Silas House on Dec. 15, marking the final stop of his book tour. Attendees enjoyed readings from his two latest books, followed by an engaging audience Q&A and a book signing.
House began the event by reflecting on the meaning of home. Although he currently resides in Lexington, he still considers the Corbin area his true home.
“I grew up in Lily, so I grew up right in between Corbin and London, and so I was lucky to have access to two libraries,” said House. “The librarians there guided me to a lot of books that were foundational for me, and record albums.”
House began by reading poems from his collection, “All These Ghosts,” which is deeply rooted in Appalachian reflection. He described these poems as his most revealing work to date, exploring themes of family, faith, and memory. Several of the poems he shared were set in Corbin.
He then read a short chapter from his murder mystery novel, “Dead Man Blues,” the first in a series set in the 1950s. The story draws inspiration from Laurel Lake and Dale Hollow Lake, which House blended to create the fictional setting of “Cedar Lake.”
“[The character Dave] has lost everything. He’s recently divorced, he’s lost his best friend, and he’s starting over. He’s really mad at the world,” said House. “He’s also realizing there’s some beauty and freedom to starting over from scratch. He’s just trying to figure out how to get his life back on track.”
House explained that the book is intentionally fast-paced and light, with a strong emphasis on plot.
“I want the sentences to sing and all of that, but it’s more about the plot than anything else,” said House.
House is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of eight novels and four plays.
He is currently writing the sequel to “Dead Man Blues” and working on his ninth novel, “The Tulip Poplars,” which is scheduled for release in 2026. House is also developing his first picture book, “That Dog Won’t Hunt,” slated to be published in 2027.
