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Join us for the 2026 Kentucky Book Festival on Saturday, November 7!

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Ann H. Gabbart

Ann H. Gabhart has been called a storyteller. With 40 published books, the title fits. Ann wraps her stories around Kentucky historical times. She’s written about Shakers, explored unique Kentucky settings for stories like The Pursuit of Elena Bradford and The Song of Sourwood Mountain, and mined her family history for Angel Sister, Scent of Lilacs, and more. For her new release, A Chance for Kallie Mae, Ann heads back to the Appalachian area in 1911 to share about the first Moonlight Schools that gave adults a chance to learn to read. Ann keeps her keyboard warm on her Kentucky farm where her dog, Frankie, makes sure she gets plenty of exercise. 

 

Featured Book

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A Chance for Kallie Mae

A Chance for Kallie Mae, set in the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains in 1911, is the story of a young woman who has dreamed of learning to read since she was a child but with no school close enough to attend. Later a school finally opens nearby, but when her little sister dies of a fever and her mother passes in childbirth, Kallie must put aside her own desires to care for the new baby and her younger brother. Years later, the Moonlight Schools to teach adults open and Kallie has the chance to learn to read and to see Quinn Spencer after years apart. The love they shared as children burns stronger than ever, but with their families locked in a bitter feud, following her heart could cost Kallie everything she’s worked to protect.

Meet Ann H. Gabbart and get a copy of their book at the 2026 Kentucky Book Festival, Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Joseph-Beth Booksellers.