Kelly Kazek (born February 9, 1965) is an American journalist and author. She is known for her humorous and historical writing focused on the

American South The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, Dixieland, or simply the South) is census regions United States Census Bureau. It is between the Atlantic Ocean and the ...

, particularly

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

. She has worked as a columnist and managing editor, and has published numerous books for both adults and children.

Education

Kazek earned a bachelor's degree in English from

Auburn University Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 26,800 undergraduate students, over 6,100 post-graduate students, and a tota ...

in 1987.

Career

Kazek's writing often explores unusual people, events, stories, legends, and lore that, in her words, "make Alabama one of a kind." She writes witty and entertaining columns, with a conversational tone. She served as managing editor of ''

The News Courier ''The News Courier'' is a daily newspaper published in Athens, Alabama, covering Limestone County, Alabama. It is owned by Carpenter Media Group. History Today's ''News Courier'' was created in 1969, when ''The Alabama Courier'' (founded 1892) ...

'' in Athens, Alabama, and has been a columnist for Alabama Media Group, contributing to publications including ''

The Huntsville Times ''The Huntsville Times'' was a thrice-weekly newspaper published in Huntsville, Alabama. It also served the surrounding areas of north Alabama's Tennessee Valley region. The ''Times'' formerly operated as an afternoon paper, but moved to mornin ...

'', ''

The Birmingham News ''The Birmingham News'' was the principal newspaper for Birmingham, Alabama, United States in the latter half of the 20th century and the first quarter of the 21st. The paper was owned by Advance Publications and was a daily newspaper from its ...

'', and ''

Mobile Press-Register The ''Press-Register'' (known from 1997 to 2006 as the ''Mobile Register'') was a newspaper serving the southwest Alabama counties of Mobile and Baldwin. The newspaper is a descendant of one founded in 1813, making the ''Press-Register'' Alab ...

''. She is a regular contributor to '' It’s a Southern Thing'', where she writes about Southern culture and traditions. Kazek began publishing books at age 44. Her first was a collection of humorous newspaper columns titled ''Fairly Odd Mother: Musings of a Slightly Off Southern Mom''.

Honors and awards

Kazek is a two-time recipient of the Alabama Associated Press Media Editors Sweepstakes Award, which recognizes the best story in the state. She was named Columnist of the Year in the CNHI Better Newspaper Contest, and won Best Humorous Commentary from the Green Eyeshade Awards in both 2007 and 2008. In 2022, Kazek received first place in humorous commentary from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. She has twice served as president of the Alabama Associated Press Media Editors and sits on the advisory council of the

Encyclopedia of Alabama The ''Encyclopedia of Alabama'' is an online encyclopedia of the state of Alabama's history, culture, Geography of Alabama, geography, and natural environment. It is a statewide collaboration that involves more than forty institutions from across ...

Selected works

* ''Some Nightmares Are Real: The Haunting Truth Behind Alabama’s Supernatural Tales'' (2024) * ''Hidden History of Auburn'' (2011) * ''Athens and Limestone County'' (2010) * ''Southern Thesaurus: For When You’re Plumb Out of Things to Say'' (2022) * ''Not Quite Right: Mostly True Tales of a Weird News Reporter'' (2018) * ''Alabama Scoundrels: Outlaws, Pirates, Bandits & Bushwhackers'' (with Wil Elrick, 2014)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kazek, Kelly Living people 1965 births American columnists American women journalists Writers from Alabama Auburn University alumni