Authors and Poets

Washington County, Alabama

As I think about plans for the Washington County Museum, the thought occurs: Our “history” is not just 100 or even 50 years ago; our “history” is also what is happening today. We need to preserve and celebrate important happenings of today. With social media rampant, it doesn’t seem so hard to do – BUT I am personally afraid that the art and gift of writing may be put to the side for the immediate, easy communications and reactions of texting and social media. Even ponderings and storytelling may suffer due to the attraction and addiction to the quick and easy information.

So, as I ponder about this issue, I think about how many published authors we have in rural Washington County and about the great English teachers we must have in our rural county. (Yes, while being able to put feelings and events into words is a gift…a great foundation in English and Writing Skills is learned.) I have thought many times about writing a book… but that is as far as it has gotten. It also takes courage, persistence, and confidence to make it happen. For this reason, I am in awe of these writers.

As of today, I have found about 20 published authors from Washington County (list below) and 7 books about Washington County. If you know of other Washington County published authors or books where the setting is Washington County, please send an email to wash.co.al.history@gmail.com and I will add to the list. I will be preserving and displaying in the Washington County Museum. You can check some of these out at the Washington County Public Library and can buy a few there, as well. And, you can buy most on Amazon.

—Sheri Bush, Curator Washington County Museum 2021-2025