Books by Sam Venable
Someday I May Find Honest Work: A Newspaper Humorist's Life. Illustrated with cartoons by Dan Proctor. (2007, University of Tennessee Press), paperback, $21.75, tax included. In his latest warm and witty collection, Venable pokes good-natured fun at everything in the nutty world around him. Of course, he's never claimed to have a real job.
You Gotta Laugh to Keep From Cryin': A Baby Boomer Contemplates Life Beyond Fifty. Illustrated with cartoons by Dan Proctor. (2003, University of Tennessee Press), paperback $19.75, tax included. Collection of Venable's newspaper humor columns about the perils of growing older.
I'd Rather Be Ugly Than Stuppid…and Other Deep Thoughts. (1996, Knoxville News Sentinel), paperback $13.00, tax included. Illustrated with cartoons by Dan Proctor. More Venable humor columns about the crazy times in which we live.
Mountain Hands: A Portrait of Southern Appalachia . (2000, University of Tennessee Press), paperback $27.25, tax included. Illustrated throughout with black and white photographs. A contemplative book containing profiles and photos of four dozen people living in five states in Southern Appalachia who work with their hands.
From Ridgetops to Riverbottoms : A Celebration of the Outdoor Life in Tennessee. (1995, University of Tennessee Press), paperback $20.75, tax included; hard cover (autographed by cover artist Jim Gray) $33.95, tax included. More Venable outdoor stories, taken both from the newspaper and magazines he has written for throughout his career.
Rock-Elephant : A Story of Friendship and Fishing. (2002, University of Tennessee Press), paperback $16.50, tax included. Illustrated with sketches by Tommy Smith. Tells the story of the 27-year friendship between Venable and Rev. Ray Hubbard, a backwoods preacher and expert bass fisherman who died in 1998.
One Size Fits All and Other Holiday Myths : A Walk Through the Four Seasons With Sam Venable. (1991, Knoxville News Sentinel), paperback, $9.75, tax included. Illustrated with cartoons by Martin Gehring. Collection of Venable's humor columns about holidays, festive events and traditional celebrations throughout the year.
Also available from other authors with contributions from Sam Venable:
A Wonderment of Mountains: The Great Smokies, (2003, University of Tennessee Press), paperback, $21.75, tax included. A reprint of a 1981 classic by the late Carson Brewer, longtime News Sentinel columnist. Venable wrote the foreword for this new edition.
The Great Duck Misunderstanding: The Very Best of American Fishing and Hunting Humor. (2005, Willow Creek Press), paperback, $26.75, tax included. Compiled by Brian Peterson, this book contains some of the nation's funniest outdoor stories, including two of Venable's all-time classics.
Two or Three Degrees Off Plumb : Sam Venable's Unique Look at Life. (1988, Knoxville News Sentinel) paperback. Illustrated with cartoons by Martin Gehring. Collection of Venable's humor columns.
A Handful of Thumbs and Two Left Feet : Sam Venable's Best Outdoor Stories. (1985, Knoxville News Sentinel), paperback. Collection of stories taken from Venable's 15 years as the newspaper's outdoors editor.
An Island Unto Itself : The Story of Little Pecan. (1981, Taylor Publishing Co.) The colorful history of Little Pecan Island, a remote, wildlife-rich area in southwest Louisiana. Written on commission for Little Pecan Properties, Inc. Available only through the author via contribution to Ducks Unlimited, the international wetlands conservation association.
Send orders to Sam Venable Book Orders,
11915 Yarnell Road, Knoxville, TN 37932.
Include $3.00 per book for shipping.