Kentucky Author Forum Celebrates 30th Anniversary Season Featuring John Grisham and Gov. Andy Beshear

Event Instances

• Thursday, October 1, 2026 All day
• Tuesday, October 6, 2026 All day
• Monday, November 2, 2026 All day
• Tuesday, December 8, 2026 All day
• Wednesday, January 27, 2027 All day

Event Details

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For three decades Kentucky Author Forum has created opportunities for audiences to engage with distinguished writers and thinkers through thoughtful, in-depth conversations about their work, ideas and the issues shaping contemporary life. Now celebrating its 30th season, the nationally recognized, local program will once again bring some of the nation’s most influential public voices to Louisville.

The season is headlined by bestselling novelist John Grisham on Oct. 1 and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Oct. 6.

Beshear will discuss his first book, Go and Do Likewise: How We Heal a Broken Country, which debuts on September 22. The book explores the role of faith in Beshear’s family, public service and approach to leadership, and his belief in compassion, kindness and service as forces for bringing people together. The illuminating conversation will be facilitated by New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd.

Just days earlier, on Oct. 1, Kentucky Author Forum will welcome John Grisham, one of the world’s most successful and widely read novelists. He’ll discuss his latest work, The French Illusion, an international suspense thriller being released on September 29, with Stacey Abrams, a New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, and political leader.

Kentucky Author Forum is held in the Bomhard Theater at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. In anticipation of sold out events, a live stream to the season’s first two conversations can be viewed in the Center’s North Lobby. Tickets range from $17.50 to

$200. All tickets are available starting Thursday, August 27 at 10 a.m. at www.kentuckyauthorforum.com.

The milestone season holds special significance for Mary Moss Greenebaum, who founded Kentucky Author Forum in 1996.

“When we began Kentucky Author Forum 30 years ago, our hope was to create a place where audiences could experience thoughtful, candid conversations with remarkable writers and thinkers,” said Greenebaum, founder and producer of Kentucky Author Forum. “To celebrate this milestone with a season that features such immense talent is enormously gratifying. This season reflects both the spirit in which the Forum began and the curiosity and engagement of the community that has sustained it for three decades.”

The anniversary season continues Nov. 2 with Timothy Snyder, the acclaimed historian and bestselling author whose work examines authoritarianism, democracy, freedom and the history of Europe. Snyder will discuss his latest book On Freedom, which explores the modern misunderstanding of liberty. He’ll be in conversation with author, journalist and historian Anne Applebaum.

On Dec. 8, Kentucky Author Forum will welcome Kara Swisher, one of the nation’s leading technology journalists and commentators, to discuss Burn Book: A Tech Love Story. Swisher will be in conversation with writer and lawyer Scott Turow.

The season concludes Jan. 27 with a unique conversation between two authors who share a special interest in Civil War politics. Erik Larson, author of The Demon of Unrest, will share the stage with Nathaniel Philbrick, author of The Rush, which will be released in October.

The season kicks off on September 16th with writer Kevin Wilson, author of Run for the Hills, in conversation with Erin Keane, chief content officer at slate.com at the South Central Regional library branch. This free event has reached capacity, and registration is closed.

KENTUCKY AUTHOR FORUM 30TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

October 1 — John Grisham

Author of The French Illusion in conversation with Stacey Abrams

October 6 — Gov. Andy Beshear

Author of Go and Do Likewise: How We Heal a Broken Country in conversation with Maureen Dowd

November 2 — Timothy Snyder

Author of On Freedom, in conversation with Anne Applebaum

December 8 — Kara Swisher

Author of Burn Book: A Tech Love Story in conversation with Scott Turow

January 27 — Erik Larson and Nathaniel Philbrick

The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson

The Rush: California Gold, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World by Nathaniel Philbrick

For more information about Kentucky Author Forum and the 30th anniversary season, visit kentuckyauthorforum.com.