Kentucky isn’t known for its feminists, but several Western faculty are trying to change peoples’ minds through writing.

“I to I: Life Writing by Kentucky Feminists,” a collection of memoirs and essays published in November 2004, is the third book in the Kentucky Feminist Writers series. All three books were edited by associate English professor Jane Olmsted, director of the Women’s Studies Program, and English professor Elizabeth Oakes.

The first book, “Writing Who We Are: Poems by Kentucky Feminists,” was published in 1999. It sold enough copies to warrant a second printing and inspired Olmsted and Oakes to create a sequel.

The second book, “Telling Stories: Fiction by Kentucky Feminists,” was a collection of short stories published in November 2001.

With poetry and fiction behind them, Olmsted and Oakes decided to put together a book of memoirs and essays.

Although the book was published last year, a favorable review by Wade Hall appeared in The Courier-Journal on Nov. 13. In it, he said the book “deserves to be touted on ‘Oprah’ and a dozen morning shows.”

“That’s our next goal,” Olmsted said. “To get on ‘Oprah.’”

Olmsted said she was proud of the high quality of writing in the book and the diversity of the writers. She said the women featured in the book are different in terms of age, race and level of education, but had a few things in common: notably, a commitment to social justice.

Mary Ellen Miller, an English professor, is one of the contributors. Her essay, “SACS and the Senior Citizen, or Have You Retired Yet?” is about why she still loves to teach. She said her students keep her going year after year.

“I like young people,” she said. “I like their youthful attitude. Even nontraditional students tend to have a more youthful attitude than most.”

Trish Jaggers, office associate for the Women’s Studies Program, did the layout for the book and helped with some of the final editing.

Jaggers said anyone who reads the book is likely to find a piece to which they can relate, although readers not from Kentucky or Tennessee might miss some of the nuance.

One strength of the book is how it puts some stereotypes to rest, Jaggers said.

She said people outside Kentucky tend to think of Kentucky women as uneducated and complacent, and “I to I” dispels those myths. Some of the writers have doctorates.

Jaggers also said “life writing” is a perfect term to include in the title because of the personal nature of the book.

“Sometimes you feel that you’re reading their private thoughts,” she said. “Some of these things I’m not sure I’d want to tell people about.”

Reach Hawkins Teague at features@wkuherald.com.