The AuthorThe New York Times, Los Angeles Times and USA Today bestselling author, Kim Michele Richardson has written five works of historical fiction, and a bestselling memoir.
Her critically acclaimed novel, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a recommended read by Dolly Parton and has earned a 2020 PBS Readers Choice, 2019 LibraryReads Best Book, Indie Next, SIBA, Forbes Best Historical Novel, Book-A-Million Best Fiction, and is an Oprah’s Buzziest Books pick and a Women’s National Book Association Great Group Reads selection. It was inspired by the remarkable “blue people” of Kentucky, and the fierce, brave Packhorse Librarians who used the power of literacy to overcome bigotry and fear during the Great Depression. The novel is taught widely in high schools and college classrooms and has been adopted as a Common Read selection by states, cities, and colleges across the country and abroad.
Her novel, The Book Woman’s Daughter, an instant New York Times and USA Today’s bestseller is both a stand-alone and sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Her children’s book, Junia, The Book Mule of Troublesome Creek released in 2024. Kim Michele lives with her family in Kentucky and is the founder of Shy Rabbit. Her newest novel, The Mountains We Call Home: The Book Woman’s Legacy (April 2026), is a standalone and companion novel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek series.