About the Books
Bardstown
What was it that gained Bardstown the national recognition as the “Most Beautiful Small Town in America”? Picture a place so unique that church steeples dot the skyline and bourbon warehouses pepper the landscape.
No other book has taken you on such a visual journey of Bardstown as it extends far past historical treasures. BARDSTOWN brings the town to life and takes you from the downtown to the farmland with images of events and celebrations and many stunning never-seen-before aerial views.
Author Kim Huston chronicles her love affair with Bardstown with 161 poignant images from the most talented photographers who call Bardstown and Nelson County home. They capture the essence of the personality and soul of this enchanting small town and illustrate what makes Bardstown such an inviting place to spend a day or maybe even a lifetime.
Small Town Sexy, the Allure of Living in Small Town America
Small town America has a seductive allure according to economic developer and author Kim Huston of Bardstown, Kentucky who tells all in her popular book SMALL TOWN SEXY, the allure of living in small town America.
Are small towns sexy? Absolutely! Author and speaker Kim Huston refers to the word “sexy” as being an interesting, engaging, pleasing and fascinating place to live work and play.
SMALL TOWN SEXY is a book you will not be able to put down once you start it and if you don’t already live in a small town, it will have you packing your bags.
This book features some of Kim’s stories and experiences as a life-long small town aficionado. Small Town Sexy is not a travel guide or a book of rankings or statistics, but a book that highlights the attributes of small towns and discusses day-to-day challenges. She wants all to know that small America is not your ‘Mayberry’ anymore and that you CAN do big business in a small town.
Rebirth of Bourbon: Building a Tourism Economy in Small Town U.S.A.
Bourbon’s popularity is now a global phenomenon, but you need only look at Bardstown, Kentucky, to see its remarkable and evolving impacts. This historic city of 13,500 people is booming as a result, but it’s also enduring growing pains.
The economic impacts from a massive influx of tourists to what is now America’s bourbon epicenter are positive on many levels, but with those crowds comes pressure on infrastructure, services and accommodations. The demand for hotels, bars and restaurants is at an all-time high, and investors from across the globe are addressing those needs.
Still, as a two-century-old Kentucky cultural and entertainment center – long before it was discovered by bourbon drinkers – many locals want to ensure the traditional Bardstown experience doesn’t disappear amid novel entertainment options.
The Rebirth of Bourbon tells the story of the rising popularity of bourbon and the opportunities, challenges, traditions, and most importantly, people who have pushed the industry forward in Bardstown. Many of the most popular names in bourbon today contributed quotes, stories, and their memories of the rise of the bourbon industry.
Kim Huston has spent over 25 years in community development in Bardstown, the last 20 years spent as the President of the Nelson County Economic Development Agency. She spends her days persuading people to fall in love with Bardstown, whether its to locate a corporation, relocate their family or just visit for a few days and woos you with her best southern hospitality and good Nelson County bourbon. A vital part of the unprecedented economic growth of Bardstown and Nelson County, Kim works side by side with City and County officials, making Bardstown one of the most celebrated communities in the U.S. Bardstown’s accolades come from national media including the New York Times, Forbes, Southern Living, Garden and Gun, and Site Selection magazines just to name a few. Kim has consulted in 10 states in the U.S. and spent two weeks in Australia speaking to communities and regions sharing and learning new ideas.
Kim’s first book Small Town Sexy, the allure of Living in Small Town America, speaks about her passion for small town life that sent her on a national book tour and overseas adventure as part of a small-town dream team consulting with small communities in Western Australia. In 2019, she co-authored the Rebirth of Bourbon: Building a Tourism Economy in Small Town U.S.A. telling the story on how Bardstown became known as the Napa Valley of the bourbon industry. In the summer of 2020, she released her passion project, BARDSTOWN, a coffee table book that features 161 photos depicting the beauty and character of her beloved hometown. This book has been popular with not only those who do or have called Bardstown home, but to visitors who want to take away something that will remind them of their time in Bardstown.
She’s been a radio D.J, news reporter, voice over actor, talk show host, football cameraman, TV news anchor, speaker and author. So, it is evident, Kim likes to tell stories, thus the passion behind these books.
In the News
The Definitive Coffee Table Book
…like a good coffee table book, it’s a book you literally want to get your hands on. It’s a hefty, full color book with the word BARDSTOWN embossed on its cover. In other words it not only looks good but it feels good in your hands. You’ll want to pour your favorite bourbon neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail and daydream about visiting this beautiful small town. [READ MORE]
Captures the Beauty and Elegance of our Town!
This book “Bardstown” captures the pictorial beauty and elegance of our town. I am certain residents and visitors alike have enjoyed the people, places and things presented in this wonderful publication. Now we can all have this at our fingertips.
A Whirlwind Tour of Kim’s Romance with Small Towns
Small Town Sexy by Kim Huston. It’s a whirlwind tour of Kim’s romance with small towns. From her window on the world in small town Kentucky, she offers up a sample of small town living, festivals, economic development, and the ever present town characters. It’s fun.
Kim Huston Speaks at WKU Idea Festival
Author Kim Huston presents “Small Town Sexy” at IdeaFestival Bowling Green, Kentucky.[WATCH NOW]
One of America’s Most Beautiful Small Towns!
Bardstown deserves the title as one of America’s most beautiful small towns and its only right that there should be a book to document the fact. BEAUTIFUL!
Kentucky by Heart
The colorful images provide astute narratives in the seeing… and will provoke a stirring interest in wading into greater depths of understanding for this west-central Kentucky hotbed off Martha Layne Collins Parkway. [READ MORE]
The Napa-fication of Bardstown
New book contrasts bourbon industry with growth of California’s wine country… Bardstown’s story is just as fascinating and is one that people need to know. This book will keep the reader entertained throughout with interviews with every major name in the bourbon history and then some.
Photo Book Captures Beauty of Bardstown
Even for those that have lived their entire lives in Bardstown, the book offers some unique angles – some from a bird’s eye view – of sights they likely pass by every day and go unnoticed. [READ MORE]
