Picture a Kentucky-born storyteller who traded a life of odd jobs for a literary spotlight—meet Lee Cole! His debut novel, Groundskeeping, published in 2022, weaves a heartfelt tale of love, class, and political divides, earning praise as a TODAY Show #ReadWithJenna Book Club pick. With a knack for capturing the complexities of rural America, Cole’s journey from freight handler to celebrated author is as inspiring as his prose.
The Making of Lee Cole
Born and raised in rural western Kentucky, near Melber, Lee Cole grew up in a landscape that would later shape his writing. The son of Amanda Orr and Hal Cole, he was the first in his family to attend college, navigating a path through the University of Kentucky, the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and eventually graduating from the University of Louisville. Before finding his literary voice, Cole worked as a UPS freight handler and held various blue-collar jobs, experiences that fueled his nuanced portrayals of working-class life. His persistence led him to the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where he graduated in 2019 as a Maytag Fellow in Fiction.
Lee Cole’s Unforgettable Stories
Cole’s debut novel, Groundskeeping, is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The novel follows Owen Callahan, a 28-year-old aspiring writer who returns to Kentucky to work as a groundskeeper at a small college, where he meets Alma Hazdic, a Bosnian-American writer-in-residence. Their relationship explores themes of class, identity, and the longing for home, encapsulated in the novel’s opening line: “When I’m home, in Kentucky, all I want is to leave. When I’m away, I’m homesick for a place that never was.” Critics, including Ann Patchett, have lauded its precision and emotional depth, calling it an “extraordinary debut.”
While Groundskeeping remains Cole’s only published novel to date, his short stories have also garnered attention, reflecting his ability to craft intimate, character-driven narratives. His style blends Southern Gothic influences with contemporary realism, addressing issues like consumerism’s impact on rural traditions and the political polarization of modern America. Cole’s Kentucky roots shine through in vivid settings, from Louisville’s Old Louisville to the Paducah countryside, making his work a love letter to his home state.
Why Lee Cole Matters
Lee Cole’s work resonates because it bridges divides—between rural and urban, red and blue, working-class and elite. By portraying characters like Owen’s Trump-supporting family with empathy rather than caricature, Cole challenges readers to find common ground in a fractured world. His exploration of class and identity speaks to a generation grappling with cultural shifts, earning him comparisons to Kentucky literary giants like Bobbie Ann Mason and Wendell Berry. As a 2020 Aspen Words Emerging Writer Fellow, Cole is poised to shape contemporary fiction with his authentic, grounded voice.
- Born: Rural western Kentucky, near Melber
- Key Work: Groundskeeping (2022)
- Education: University of Louisville; Iowa Writers’ Workshop (2019)
- Award: 2020 Aspen Words Emerging Writer Fellowship
Ready to dive into a story that captures the heart of rural America? Snag Groundskeeping and discover Lee Cole’s soulful, thought-provoking world!