A growing community of Kentucky authors, photographers and artists have lent their talents and voices to the campaign for an end to mountaintop removal and valley fills, and a better future for coalfield communities.

        Though a number of the authors have been members and supporters of KFTC for years, their efforts began to focus on the mountaintop removal campaign after a Kentucky Authors Mountaintop Removal Tour in April 2005.  Inspired by noted Kentucky essayist, poet and farmer Wendell Berry, the tours allow a close-up look at mountaintop removal and attempts at reclamation, and an opportunity to hear the stories of coalfield residents whose lives and communities have been disrupted by this practice.  A second authors tours took place in October 2005, and our most recent on in May 2006.

        Outraged by what they heard and saw on their tours — and the callous response of the coal industry to the concerns of citizens — the writers issued strong public statements at the conclusions of their tours.  They also have used their talents to create a better understanding of mountaintop removal and its consequences through numerous essays, op-eds, feature stories, photography exhibits and letters to the editor.

        Joined by other writers, these authors have participated in public presentations about mountaintop removal that have drawn large crowds in Frankfort (with Poor Richard's Books), Louisville (with Carmichael's Bookstores), Lexington (with Joseph-Beth and again at UK), and Berea (with Union Church).  Many speak eloquently and forcefully about what we are allowing to happen to the people and land of Kentucky during their own readings and presentations.  The authors are now in the process of setting up a Speakers Bureau.

        In October 2005, the authors released Missing Mountains, a 200-page anthology of their writings about their love for Kentucky and distress at what coal mining is doing to destroy those things about Kentucky that we value.  A second book project is in the works.

      The Authors Tours also spurred the involvement of musicians who have created their own projects to help stop mountiantop removal, including the production of a new CD, Songs for the Mountaintop.

Authors’ Quotes

At first, even though we’re people who work with words, we seemed to not be able to find any to describe what we were seeing.

— Anne Shelby

What I saw from the
airplane made me realize that if I don’t do something now there will be no nature left to see. There will be no mountains.

— Kristin Johannsen

The whole notion that this is a good thing because you can put a golf course or a Super WalMart there is absolute poppycock.

— George Brosi

The regulators are holding the companies to the lowest possible standard.

— Erik Reece

It’s all of our concerns. We’re all effected.

— Dexter Collett

What I’ve seen the past few days was shocking and stunning.

— Gwyn Hyman Rubio

This is a much bigger problem than one region of the state. It is really a national problem.

— Bracelen Flood

The thing that most affected me was people who told about their experiences. To hear the pain in their voice, there is no way you cannot sympathize with them and begin to understand.

— Silas House

We really have to do something folks, we really have to do something.

— Ed McClanahan

I don’t see how you can be a human being and do this to the earth.

— Mary Ann Taylor-Hall

This has been a life-changing experience for me. I keep going back and forth between rage and wanting to cry.

— Bob Sloan