-K-

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Karnes, Mitchell Scott

Keckley, Paul

Kelley, Janda

Kemp, Cecil O., Jr.

Kenyon, Sherrilyn

Kerfoot, Cecilia

Keyes, Michael J.

Kezar, Dennis

Kile, Joan

Killen, Buddy

King, Daisy

King, Raylene

King, Thom

Kingsland, Rosemary

Kinnard, Richmond E.

Kirwan, Paula

Kline, John

Knight, James R.

Knight, Kathryn

Kosser, Michael

Kramp, John

Kubica, Cindy

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Karnes, Mitchell Scott
 

  Born in Kansas and reared in Illinois, Mitchell Karnes arrived in Tennessee as a student at Belmont University. There he completed a B.A. in English and later finished the Masters of Education in Composition where he was the first student to use a novel as a Master’s thesis. He went through the creative process himself as part of learning how to teach it.

  In Williamson County he has been both a minister and a teacher at Page High School where he sponsored their writing club. Karnes has published a one-act play, an essay, and two short stories, one of which appeared in the Williamson County anthology, Our Voices 1997. His novel was published on-line.

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Keckley, Paul
 

  After growing up in Chattanooga, Paul Keckley received his education at David Lipscomb University, Oxford University, and Ohio State. He started as a pre-med student and moved into economics in the healthcare curriculum. He has been president of PhyCor Management Corporation. Keckley has lived in Williamson County since 1987.

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Kelley, Janda (1950-2007)

Janda Kelley of Franklin is the author of Forget-Me-Not, a richly illustrated, sentimental ladies’ gift book with a Victorian theme. She hosted ladies' retreats and spoke to ladies' groups about tea and etiquette. She enjoyed decorating, entertaining, and antique collecting.

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Kemp, Cecil O., Jr.
 

Cecil Kemp began his career as an accountant, and by age 30 he had become the chief financial officer of a large publicly held company. In the financial crisis of 1982, his world crumbled. After near tragedy, he returned to the faith of his youth. Starting again, he and his wife, Patti, formed The Wisdom Company, a financial consulting group that has helped thousands apply the laws of wisdom the Kemps learned through painful experience.  Kemp lives and works in Brentwood.

The Hope Collection, 2000:

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Kenyon, Sherrilyn

  Growing up in a family of historians, Sherrilyn Kenyon knew she wanted to be a writer as long as she can remember. All through her schooling from kindergarten to university, she acted on that knowledge, thus racking up considerable experience. Finishing a Ph.D. in history, she continued with some journalism experience and articles for major magazines, then soon hit her stride with romance and paranormal novels in series which have found major publishers. She approached her work with energy for research as well as prolific creation of narratives. She has written under two names: Sherrilyn Kenyon (SK) and Kinley MacGregor (KM). Each has several series.

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Kerfoot, Cecilia
 

  After graduating from the University of Alabama, Cecilia Kerfoot became a public accountant until “motherhood called.” In 1997 she moved with her family from Virginia to Williamson County and completed her book about first-time motherhood.

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Keyes, Michael J.
 

  Born and reared in Williamson County, Michael J. Keyes became a psychiatrist in Fon du Lac, Wisconsin. As a fishery biologist for the state of Tennessee, he taught angling and wildlife preservation. He was also a director of the U.S. Olympic shooting team. Keyes has written extensively for Shotgun Sports magazine, Fisherman, and he has been editor of North American Carp Angler magazine.

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Kezar, Dennis (1968- )
 

  Dennis Kezar grew up in both Florida and Tennessee and earned a B.A. at The University of the South and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. He moved to Franklin in 1997, accepting a professorship at Vanderbilt where he taught courses in Shakespeare and Milton.

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Kile, Joan (1940- )

            Joan Kile was born in Ohio. She graduated from MTSU with a Master’s degree in early childhood education while teaching at Scales Elementary School. She taught more than twenty years in public and private schools. Kile is the author of Musty, the Mustard Seed books. She did the voice of Musty, the Mustard Seed on a children’s gospel radio program in Nashville. The idea for this series of books was conceived after she wrote, directed, and produced the program. Kile lives in Franklin.

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Killen, Buddy (1932- )
 

  Originally from Florence, Alabama, Buddy Killen came to Tennessee immediately after high school graduation to play at the Grand Ole Opry. His music career grew through the years until he was able to found Buddy Killen Enterprises, an entertainment complex including restaurants, recording studios, and numerous music companies. Known as an astute businessman, he became a country music publisher, a songwriter, a musician, and a record producer. He has been instrumental in the discovery of some of the industry’s greatest stars.  Killen has also been known for his many charitable activities, his support for the arts, and his work with the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, as well as city and state governments. He lives in rural Williamson County and raises Arabian horses.

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King, Daisy
 

   Daisy King grew up in the Atlanta suburb of Buford, Georgia. She came to Nashville in the 1960s to attend Belmont College where she acquired a B.S. in home economics. She has taught and worked as a home economist in addition to her many years as proprietor of Miss Daisy’s Restaurant, a popular eating place which began in Franklin’s Carter’s Court and later expanded to Nashville. King and her family have made their home in Williamson County for many years.

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King, Raylene (1958 - )
 

   Raylene was born and reared in Smith County in the small community of Rome, Tennessee, near Carthage. She credits her high school English teachers with helping her develop her knack for writing. She said, “Writing sort of slipped up on me! I’ve always been a huge note-taker and I just began over the years to jot down thoughts, feelings, and observations from my life.” Now residing in Nolensville, Tennessee, Raylene is the wife of pastor Dennis King. She has published her first book, a 31-day devotional based on parallels she has observed between herself and her beloved dog Cosmo and her personal relationship with God.

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 King, Thom
 

  A native of Franklin, Thom King attended the University of Tennessee’s School of Journalism on a Sigma Delta Phi scholarship based in part on his writing and photography done for the Review Appeal while in high school. King has written for radio news, cable TV, newspapers, and magazines. He is an award-winning photographer and was the official U.S. government staff photographer for the 1982 World’s Fair. He and his co-author interviewed 5,000 women for his first book.

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Kingsland, Rosemary (1941- )
 

  Rosemary Kingsland was born and educated in India . She worked in London as a journalist and screenwriter and lived in Tuscany, Italy , for three years. Kingsland has also lived in Fairview.

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Kinnard, Richmond E. (1935 - )

A native of Williamson County, Richmond Kinnard was educated in its public schools of the 1940s, then took Bachelor and Master of Science degrees at Tennessee State University to become first a soil scientist and soon a college professor at Langston University, Oklahoma. In retirement he returned to Williamson County, the scene of most of his book. The book brings together the memories of several siblings living through the many changes of the past seventy years.

 

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Kirwan, Paula
 

  Paula Kirwan was born in the South and moved to Brentwood in 1991. Most of her career has been spent as an office administrator, both as an industry employee and as a business owner. Her book is a guide to shopping in the Nashville area.

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Kline, John

  From touring the world as one of the Harlem Globetrotters to establishing his own company on Health Promotion and Wellness, Dr. John Kline has exhibited many skills, followed many interests, and written about his many ideas. He played basketball at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, dropped out to be a Globetrotter, suffered through and overcame a period of ex-celebrity drug abuse, then returned to Wayne State to continue his education. He received a Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D. in history and philosophy of education. His experiences combined with his interests led him not only to form his own wellness company, but to hold government appointments in Detroit city governnment, then in both state and federal governments. He used his degrees and positions to help inner-city youth make better lives by controlling drug abuse. John’s background in sports allowed him to be an inspiration to middle school youth. His work on behalf of the African-American contribution to the game of basketball, influenced and led to several resolutions in the United States Congress. He lives in Brentwood today.

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Knight, James R.

  James Knight grew up in the small town of Alma, Arkansas, where history buffs were "pretty much stuck with whoever happened to come by." Knight attended Harding University, majoring in general science, and then entered the Air Force to become a pilot. After military duty, he worked for Federal Express. However, he always remembered that "who came by" when his mother as a child stood in her front yard was the brother of Clyde Barrow (of Bonnie and Clyde fame) who had just shot a man. His mother saw the rifle in Barrow’s brother’s hand. Local research revealed that books about the outlaws differed from local newspaper accounts and people’s memories. This gave Knight the platform for his book. Knight was also fortunate in owning some Civil War letters written from Maury County, Tennessee. Now a resident of Franklin, he has been developing these into a book.

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Knight, Kathryn
 

  As an Air Force child, growing up in both Europe and the United States , Kathy Knight had plenty of opportunity to learn about people and places. While still a child, she began writing stories and has never stopped. She went to William and Mary and then held a variety of teaching and private tutoring positions. At one time she was a copywriter and manager for an advertising firm. With her husband, a freelance photographer, Knight moved to Franklin in 1998. When she can find time between editing, ghost writing, and freelance article assignments, she works on her first love of writing children’s books.

As Kathryn Knight:

As Anne Alexander:

As Katie Kobble:

The Booville Books Series: 

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Kosser, Michael
 

  Reared in Westchester County, New York, Michael Kosser received a degree in history and political science from Alfred University in upstate New York. He was an army lieutenant in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Kosser came to Nashville as a songwriter in 1971 and was a Williamson County resident for several years. He has written historical novels under the pen name Mike Roarke.

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Kramp, John  (1954- )
 

  A native of Garland, Texas, John Kramp graduated from Baylor University and Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth. After serving as a pastor for several years, he became involved with Christian publishing, working with the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board.  He has written many articles for denominational magazines. The best known of his songs is “The Touch of the Master's Hand,” which was recorded by Wayne Watson. Kramp has lived in Franklin since 1992. 

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Kubica, Cindy
 

  Born and educated in Michigan, Cindy Kubica moved to Tennessee for its music industry in 1979 but discovered that her true calling was in helping people learn how to present themselves successfully to the world. She found that she had more success in modeling and acting than in the music industry and within a year she was giving seminars. Her natural inclination to be a teacher led her to teach, as well as pursue her work in modeling and professional photography. Finally, her speaking and seminar programs became a full time profession.

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