Author Profiles

Ohio has a rich literary heritage as well as some wonderful contemporary authors. Learn more about them here! You can sort by various categories and see who has participated in our annual book festival by using the category search on the left, or search by keyword (including partial author names) by using the search field on the right.

  • You are searching within category(ies): 2023
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Photo of Erik Jon Slangerup

Erik Jon Slangerup

Erik Jon Slangerup grew up in a magical time, before cell phones or the internet. It was called the 80s. He spent most of it roaming outdoors unsupervised, which inspired him to write tales of adventure. Molly and the Machine is Book #1 of Far Flung Falls, a new middle-grade 80s adventure series. The sequel is Molly and the Mutants.…Read More

Erik Jon Slangerup grew up in a magical time, before cell phones or the internet. It was called the 80s. He spent most of it roaming outdoors unsupervised, which inspired him to write tales of adventure. Molly and the Machine is Book #1 of Far Flung Falls, a new middle-grade 80s adventure series. The sequel is Molly and the Mutants. Erik has also written several picture books, including the award-winning Dirt Boy. He is the father of six, which has been his biggest adventure yet. He lives in Columbus, Ohio. Discover more at http://www.erikjonslangerup.com/.

Photo of Lucy A. Snyder

Lucy A. Snyder

Lucy A. Snyder is the author of 15 books and over 100 published short stories. Her most recent titles are the apocalyptic horror novel Sister, Maiden, Monster and the collection Halloween Season. She lives near Columbus, Ohio with a jungle of houseplants, a clowder of cats, and an insomnia of housemates.…Read More

Lucy A. Snyder is the author of 15 books and over 100 published short stories. Her most recent titles are the apocalyptic horror novel Sister, Maiden, Monster and the collection Halloween Season. She lives near Columbus, Ohio with a jungle of houseplants, a clowder of cats, and an insomnia of housemates. You can learn more about her at http://www.lucysnyder.com and you can follow her on Twitter at @LucyASnyder.

Photo of Jennifer Sommer

Jennifer Sommer

I am a writer of Children's and Young Adult books. I received my MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, and am an active member of SCBWI. I am currently represented by Stephen Fraser of Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency. Learn more at: https://jennifersommer.weebly.com/Read More

I am a writer of Children’s and Young Adult books. I received my MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, and am an active member of SCBWI. I am currently represented by Stephen Fraser of Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency. Learn more at: https://jennifersommer.weebly.com/

Photo of Amy Spears

Amy Spears

Amy Spears (she/her) graduated from Denison University with a degree in cinema and creative writing. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, where she is in her second decade as a skater with Ohio Roller Derby. She spent several years active in the leadership of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association and has given presentations, workshops and talks about the sport at Pecha Kecha Columbus, the Roller Derby World Summit, and Rollercon.…Read More

Amy Spears (she/her) graduated from Denison University with a degree in cinema and creative writing. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, where she is in her second decade as a skater with Ohio Roller Derby. She spent several years active in the leadership of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association and has given presentations, workshops and talks about the sport at Pecha Kecha Columbus, the Roller Derby World Summit, and Rollercon. Her digital essay (with Julie Driscoll) “Worlds Collide! facebook, family & George Costanza” was published in Harlot: A Revealing Look at the Arts of Persuasion, and her prose and poetry have appeared in Columbus Alive, Lynx Eye, and Wine X. A self-described “collector of hobbies,” she’ll try just about anything once.

Photo of Tricia Springstubb

Tricia Springstubb

Tricia is the author of award-winning books for readers of all ages. Kirkus Review called her novel The Most Perfect Thing in the Universe "a perfect thing in the universe of juvenile literature". Reader's Digest listed Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures as one of The 100 Best Children's Books Ever Written.…Read More

Tricia is the author of award-winning books for readers of all ages. Kirkus Review called her novel The Most Perfect Thing in the Universe “a perfect thing in the universe of juvenile literature”. Reader’s Digest listed Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures as one of The 100 Best Children’s Books Ever Written. She’s delighted to be at Ohioana to share her newest middle grade book, Looking for True, about the power of opening our hearts to others, whether they have two legs or four! Tricia lives and works in Cleveland Heights. Visit her online at triciaspringstubb.com

Photo of Jessica Strawser

Jessica Strawser

Jessica Strawser is the author of six book club favorite novels: Almost Missed You, Not That I Could Tell (a Book of the Month selection), Forget You Know Me, A Million Reasons Why, The Next Thing You Know (a People Magazine Pick, now new in paperback), and her latest, The Last Caretaker.…Read More

Jessica Strawser is the author of six book club favorite novels: Almost Missed You, Not That I Could Tell (a Book of the Month selection), Forget You Know Me, A Million Reasons Why, The Next Thing You Know (a People Magazine Pick, now new in paperback), and her latest, The Last Caretaker. She is editor-at-large at Writer’s Digest, where she curates the Learn by Example column; a popular speaker at writing conferences; and a freelance editor and writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times Modern Love, Publishers Weekly, and others. A graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, she lives with her husband and two children in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she served as 2019 writer-in-residence for the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library. For more information, visit http://www.jessicastrawser.com.

Photo of Frances Smith Strickland

Frances Smith Strickland

Frances Smith Strickland brings to The Little Girl Who Grew Up To Be Governor the perspective of an educational psychologist who believes that the clues to meaningful life work are found in a person’s early childhood traits. Frances was born and reared on a farm in Simpsonville, Kentucky.  She received a B.S. degree in education from Murray State University, a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Colorado, and a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Kentucky. …Read More

Frances Smith Strickland brings to The Little Girl Who Grew Up To Be Governor the perspective of an educational psychologist who believes that the clues to meaningful life work are found in a person’s early childhood traits.

Frances was born and reared on a farm in Simpsonville, Kentucky.  She received a B.S. degree in education from Murray State University, a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Colorado, and a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Kentucky.  Prior to writing this book, she authored a screening test for children entering kindergarten.  Most of her professional life has been spent in public education where she tried to help children with learning problems succeed in the learning environment.

Frances married a fellow psychologist, Ted Strickland, and moved to Ohio.  When he entered politics, she left her field of education for a time, and became first Chief-of-Staff.  After 12 years in the Congress, Ted was elected as Governor of Ohio and Frances became First Lady.  In this role, her attention and energy was focused on children and families.  She also worked with non-profits to broaden the scope of education by initiating the Governor’s Institute on Creativity and Innovation in Public Education.

The first edition of The Little Girl Who Grew Up To Be Governor was published in 1991.  Frances wanted to document for the children of Kentucky—especially the girls—that women make wonderful leaders, and that they start out in life just like most little girls do.  She wanted them to know that women can accomplish big dreams and how one woman—against all odds— made that happen.  Thirty years later, as a resident of Ohio, she revised the book to explain in developmentally appropriate language more detail about how the political process works and the important role of government in improving the lives of everyone than was true in the original publication.

Now retired, Frances is focused on joining with others who are concerned that the mood of our country has shifted dangerously away from the collective good and community well-being.  Using simple stories, she wants this read-aloud book to remind children that while times and circumstances always change, the need to treat each other fairly and to share never changes.

Photo of Nita Sweeney

Nita Sweeney

Nita Sweeney is the bestselling wellness author of the award-winning running and mental health memoir, Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running with My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink and co-creator of the writing journal, You Should Be Writing: A Journal of Inspiration & Instruction to Keep Your Pen Moving.…Read More

Nita Sweeney is the bestselling wellness author of the award-winning running and mental health memoir, Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running with My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink and co-creator of the writing journal, You Should Be Writing: A Journal of Inspiration & Instruction to Keep Your Pen Moving. Her third book, Make Every Move a Meditation was featured in The Wall Street Journal. Her most recent book, A Daily Dose of Now: 365 Mindfulness Meditation Practices for Living in the Moment, was released in fall of 2023. A mindfulness coach, certified meditation leader and mindfulness teacher, mental health advocate, ultramarathoner, retired attorney, and former assistant to writing practice originator Natalie Goldberg, Nita founded the groups Mind, Mood, and Movement to support well-being through meditation, exercise, and writing practice; and The Writer’s Mind, to share using writing practice to produce publishable work. For twenty years, Nita published the central Ohio writing resource, Write Now Columbus. She lives in central Ohio with her husband, Ed, and their yellow Labrador retriever, Scarlet.

Download your free copy of Nita’s eBook, Three Tools for a Happier, Healthier Mind, or the infographic, Meditation Myths, on Nita’s website.

Photo of Don Tassone

Don Tassone

After a long career in the corporate world, Don Tassone has returned to his creative writing roots. He is the author of a two novels and seven short story collections.  Don and his wife Liz live in Loveland, Ohio. Visit him at https://www.dontassone.com.Read More

After a long career in the corporate world, Don Tassone has returned to his creative writing roots. He is the author of a two novels and seven short story collections.  Don and his wife Liz live in Loveland, Ohio. Visit him at https://www.dontassone.com.

Photo of Samantha Tucker

Samantha Tucker

Samantha Tucker (she/her) is an antiracist teacher, writer, and editor in Columbus, Ohio. Sam writes personal essays, memoir, and cultural critique, having earned her MFA and MA in creative nonfiction. Her essay “Fountain Girls,” originally published in Ecotone, is a listed notable in Best American Essays 2017 and is anthologized in Contemporary Creative Nonfiction: An Anthology.…Read More

Samantha Tucker (she/her) is an antiracist teacher, writer, and editor in Columbus, Ohio. Sam writes personal essays, memoir, and cultural critique, having earned her MFA and MA in creative nonfiction. Her essay “Fountain Girls,” originally published in Ecotone, is a listed notable in Best American Essays 2017 and is anthologized in Contemporary Creative Nonfiction: An Anthology. Other essays have been published with Literary Hub, Columbus Alive, BUST, Brevity, and Guernica. Her latest book, Collective Chaos: A Roller Derby Team Memoir, was written with co-author Amy Spears. Learn more at: https://www.theamericandreamstartshere.com/