Local author explores Kentucky’s surroundings in new book

The Sentinel-News: Local author explores Kentucky’s surroundings in new book

While countless books have been written about the historic Fort Knox, Shelbyville native Ronald R. Van Stockum Jr. chose to focus his narrative on the surrounding areas.

His new book, “Surrounding ™ Fort Knox, Including Southern Indiana,” showcases Van Stockum’s journey through the counties around Southern Indiana and Fort Knox and details the area’s rich natural and cultural history.

“Surrounding ™ Fort Knox, Including Southern Indiana” is part of a series of Surrounding ™ books in which Van Stockum relies on his own curiosity to guide his journey through the unexplored part of Kentucky, analyzing the history deep within the earth.

“If there are any places where a map doesn’t show the road very well, that’s where I’m going,” Van Stockum said.

While on his journey, Van Stockum wandered the outskirts of different locations without researching first.

“I write emotionally, and it moves me when I see it,” Van Stockum said.

Those whom he met along the way, who Van Stockum calls his informants, acted as guides along his journey, leading him to his next stop along the way. Van Stockum relied on his curiosity to guide his journey, whether it was following a river or talking to his informants who informed him of new locations. He explained that these locals know so much about the history of the areas, and to them, it is no big deal, but to Van Stockum, it is a wondrous discovery.

“Off we go, and we find all kinds of new places.”

The “Including Southern Indiana” section of the title came about from an informant taking Van Stockum through the Fort Knox area. They asked him if he had ever explored Indiana, and he told them no they told him the way, and off he was. While writing, Van Stockum’s pen took him down the path of a young adult novel, and he chose to run with it. The result was the short story “Dahn and Suzan and the Ice Age Mammals,” which details the two main characters, Dan and Susanne, named after Van Stockum’s parents, as they learn the stories of adventure and history their grandfather told them, which all turn out to be true. The story can be found in the back of “Surrounding ™ Fort Knox” and is also sold as a standalone book.

All of the artwork throughout Van Stockum’s books is done by Steven P. Ellers. While working with his artist, he learned an important lesson,

“You have to get out of the way of the artist,” Van Stockum said.

To give his artist creative control, Van Stockum gives Ellers a copy of the book to read through and visualize. Ellers put sticky notes throughout the book showing examples of the illustrations he sees for certain scenes.

“He became the first person to interpret my books, which is really inspiring,” Van Stockum said.

Van Stockum’s first book in the “Surrounding ™” series is “Surrounding ™ Mammoth Cave.” On the back of the book, Van Stockum wrote, “ This book is not about Mammoth Cave; it’s about all the wonders that you missed getting there.”

The second book in the series, “Surrounding ™ the Kentucky River, From its Beginning to its End,” took three years to explore, write, research, and perfect.

The third installment in the series is “Surrounding ™ Kentucky Selected Essays,” which comprises a selection of Van Stockums essays previously published in The Sentinel News.

In each book, Van Stockum studies the surrounding area’s anthropological history and the people’s culture to better understand Kentucky’s history.

As for his writing process, Van Stockum starts soon after his journey ends, within what he calls the window of emotional response, and begins constructing his story. He writes strictly with pencil and paper and doesn’t stop to correct grammar and spelling.

“What comes out is what I’m feeling,” Van Stokum said.

Van Stockum often sells his books at festivals in the counties he explores, such as the Mushroom Festival in Estill County and the Wooly Worm Festival in Beattyville.

In addition to the “Surrounding ™” series, Van Stockum has also written several scientific articles, post-apocalyptic novels, psychological thrillers, and even romance.

Van Stockum also has a children’s series called the Little Girl Series, inspired by Van Stockum’s own grandchildren. Since they live far away, Van Stockum writes about what he dreams it is like to spend time with them. The series follows a little girl on adventures in the sea, caves, streams, and more. The book is both educational and endearing and mixes a little girl’s sentiments with the factual science she explores.

“It is very meaningful to me,” Van Stockum said.

In addition to writing and exploring Kentucky, Van Stockum also enjoys participating in the Shelby County Community Theater. During the pandemic years, Van Stockum teamed up with longtime playwright Jack Wann, who took three of Van Stockums’s short stories and created three one-act plays that Van Stockum staged titled “The Dawn of Dusk” based on the short stories “Hedge Apple,” “Dawn of Dusk,” and “Side Step” by Van Stockum. The two also created two full-length musicals, “Jubilee Barn Dance,” performed by the Shelby County Community Theatre in 2022, and “Tower of the Thames,” which the Little Colonel Playhouse in Pewee Valley will put on in April.

Additionally, Van Stockum’s website contains numerous blog posts and podcast episodes on topics ranging from Abraham Lincoln to disease epidemics to natural history.

With 34 books and counting, Van Stockum is full of knowledge not only in the biological world but also in culture and the world around us. Hitting almost every genre there is, Van Stockum has a book for everyone. His books beautifully showcase his creativity and expertise as he merges science, history, and culture to tell the story of Kentucky’s rich history.