By VOICE-TRIBUNE • Photos Provided
Louisville, Kentucky has long been a thriving center for arts and culture in the Southeastern U.S. and is home to many artists, writers, and creatives across disciplines. While locals know this well, the city’s vibrant literary and arts scene often feels like a hidden secret to those outside the region. One local event that continues to elevate Louisville’s profile on the national stage is the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum—a world-class literary series that brings renowned authors and thinkers from around the globe to engage in meaningful conversations.
The Kentucky Author Forum is a nationally recognized, non-profit literary event that pairs an esteemed author with a thoughtfully curated interviewer for a dynamic, hour-long conversation in front of a live audience. Hosted in the Bomhard Theater at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts-the Forum’s set, designed by Bittners, pulls the audience into the discussion with the intimacy of a private library setting. Each conversation is recorded and distributed by KET, airing nationwide on PBS member stations as part of the Great Conversations series, and also made available as a podcast, Great Podversations, through Louisville Public Media.
This season, the Kentucky Author Forum has added an exciting fifth event featuring two of the most celebrated writers of our time: Colm Tóibín and Silas House. Seven-time New York Times Bestselling Author Silas House, Kentucky’s Poet Laureate, is a native of the Bluegrass State and widely respected for his journalism, activism, and most recently his work on the docuseries Distilled in Kentucky. House will join his interviewee, Colm Tóibín, for a grand finale to top off this season of Kentucky Author Forum.
Tóibín is the author of eleven novels, including Long Island, an Oprah’s Book Club pick and the much-anticipated continuation of Brooklyn, the novel that introduced readers to the unforgettable Eilis Lacey. His previous works have earned him numerous accolades, including the Rathbones Folio Prize for The Magician, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for The Master, and three Booker Prize shortlistings. His novel Brooklyn was adapted into a major motion picture starring Saoirse Ronan, earning three Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Ronan’s portrayal of Eilis.
Born in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland, the same town as his literary heroine Eilis Lacey, Tóibín’s work explores themes of identity, displacement, and personal transformation. His latest novel, Long Island, revisits Eilis 25 years after Brooklyn, now living a settled life on Long Island, New York. But when a sudden disruption forces her to return to Ireland, she must confront long-buried secrets and choices that shaped her life. Tóibín himself has noted that he doesn’t see Long Island as a direct sequel but rather as a new story that follows the same characters decades later. In this novel, Eilis emerges more confident and self-assured, while still possessing the quiet charisma that made her such a compelling figure in Brooklyn.
Silas House will interview Colm Tóibín, exploring Tóibín’s literary career, creative process, and perspectives on storytelling. His breadth of work—spanning novels, essays, journalism, criticism, and poetry—offers a wealth of discussion points that will surely captivate.
To honor Tóibín’s Irish heritage and the setting of Long Island, the Muhammad Ali Center will be the site of a dinner catered by Wiltshire Pantry, and Susan Hershberg following the Forum featuring Irish elements, with vegetarian options available at ticket purchase.
Book sales, facilitated by Louisville’s oldest independent bookstore, Carmichael’s, will also be part of the event, giving attendees the opportunity to take home a pre-signed copy of Long Island and other works by Tóibín and House.
Since its inception, the Kentucky Author Forum has provided audiences with access to some of the most influential voices in literature and journalism. Founded by Mary Moss Greenebaum, the Forum was initially created as part of the University of Louisville’s bicentennial celebration but quickly evolved into one of the premier author events in the country. Owsley Brown II, President of Brown-Forman at that time, joined Mary’s creative effort. The Brown family has been its major sponsor throughout, joined recently by Chris Dischinger, of LDG Development. The Forum’s reach extends nationwide through its partnership with KET. On March 16 at 2 p.m., KET will premiere the Great Conversations episode featuring Sebastian Junger, author of In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife, interviewed by Rachel Martin, host of NPR’s Wild Card! podcast. The Great Podversations episode featuring Junger and Martin is also available on all major podcast platforms.
EVENT DETAILS:
Monday, April 14, 2025 Kentucky Center
5 PM Wine and Cheese, Carmichael’s pre-signed book sale in the lobby
6 PM Interview in the Bomhard Theater
7 PM Q&A with audience in the Bomhard Theater $35 tickets include all events before 7:30 pm
7:30 PM Ticketed Dinner with Colm Tóibín and Silas House at Muhammad Ali Center $170* includes all events, plus dinner
(*$40 tax deductible to benefit non-profit Kentucky Author Forum)
SCAN (OR CLICK) THE QR CODE TO PURCHASE TICKETS Or call the Box Office at 502-584-7777
Discounted tickets for University of Louisville students, faculty, and staff must be purchased over the phone. UofL ID must be presented when picking up tickets on the Forum evening at KPA Will Call. Limit of two tickets per order.
Join Kentucky Author Forum’s email list to receive early notice of ticket on-sale dates for upcoming Forums.