Friends of Literacy established the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame in 2004 to honor local and regional writers who have created an outstanding body of work. This year, freelance writer Paul F. Brown is the 2024 Hall of Fame inductee for nonfiction.
While teaching music at a public school in Morgan County, Paul became interested in Knoxville history, largely through Jack Neely’s work. Paul now does freelance writing for Jack at the Knoxville History Project and has also written for the Journal of East Tennessee History.
Born in Knoxville, Paul F. Brown specializes in higher education content and copywriting, history and agriculture. He is the author of Rufus: James Agee in Tennessee (UT Press, 2016) and Windrock Land Company: 150 Years of Coal Fortune, Tragedy, Renewal and Recreation in the Cumberland Mountains (Knoxville History Project, 2022).
Paul lives in Knoxville with his wife, Jessica, and their two sons.
Brown’s reaction to this award: “Thank you for this kind, though undeserved, honor.”
Each week, we will be recognizing an inductee prior to the Hall of Fame Awards Gala on April 19. To purchase tickets to the gala: Writers Hall of Fame Tickets.
Nominations are accepted from the public each year for the categories to include lifetime achievement, fiction, nonfiction, journalism, poetry, social media, playwriting, songwriting, children’s literature and young adult literature.
An independent panel of judges evaluates nominees based on recognition within the writer’s field, longevity, quality and volume of work. All nominees must have been born in, currently reside in or have a body of work related to East Tennessee.
All of us have a story and I want to tell yours! Send them to susan@knoxtntoday.com