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.

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 Mabel C. Jones

Mabel C. Jones

Mabel C Jones is a Christian author who has been writing poetry and plays for her church and to encourage her friends and individuals for many years. I have appeared at various local churches reading my poetry as a narrator for both praise dance and choir concerts for many years. A couple years ago I decided to take many friends' advice and put my poetry into a collection.…Read More

Mabel C Jones is a Christian author who has been writing poetry and plays for her church and to encourage her friends and individuals for many years. I have appeared at various local churches reading my poetry as a narrator for both praise dance and choir concerts for many years. A couple years ago I decided to take many friends’ advice and put my poetry into a collection. I am presently working on putting together a volume two, also. I enjoy writing and encouraging others with my gift of poetry. And the delight in their eyes when they read it lets me know I have been a blessing to them…well, that is my thankful moment!

Photo of Saeed Jones

Saeed Jones

Saeed Jones was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and grew up in Lewisville, Texas. His work has appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, and GQ, and he has been featured on public radio programs including NPR’s Fresh Air, Pop Culture Happy Hour, It’s Been A Minute with Sam Sanders, and All Things Considered. He lives in Columbus, Ohio, and tweets @TheFerocity.…Read More

Saeed Jones was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and grew up in Lewisville, Texas. His work has appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, and GQ, and he has been featured on public radio programs including NPR’s Fresh Air, Pop Culture Happy Hour, It’s Been A Minute with Sam Sanders, and All Things Considered. He lives in Columbus, Ohio, and tweets @TheFerocity. Learn more at: https://www.readsaeedjones.com/

Photo of Mark Sebastian Jordan

Mark Sebastian Jordan

Mark Sebastian Jordan writes the weekly History Knox column for KnoxPages.com, music reviews for Seen and Heard International, and program notes and music appreciation talks for the Mansfield Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and Mid Ohio Civic Opera. Jordan was included in the award-winning I Thought I Heard a Cardinal Sing: Ohio's Appalachian Poets (Sheila-Na-Gig Editions 2022).…Read More

Mark Sebastian Jordan writes the weekly History Knox column for KnoxPages.com, music reviews for Seen and Heard International, and program notes and music appreciation talks for the Mansfield Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and Mid Ohio Civic Opera. Jordan was included in the award-winning I Thought I Heard a Cardinal Sing: Ohio’s Appalachian Poets (Sheila-Na-Gig Editions 2022). He has appeared on numerous television shows, including Mysteries at the Museum, and was a background actor in the classic film The Shawshank Redemption.

Photo of Bradwin Jordan

Bradwin Jordan

Brad Jordan is a dedicated family man, coach, and avid sports enthusiast hailing from Toledo, Ohio. Brad is married to his lovely wife, Lisa, and they have been together for 23 years. Together, they are blessed with three wonderful children, Delaney, Julian, and Landon. As a sports coach, Brad has a passion for helping others achieve their goals and reach their full potential.…Read More

Brad Jordan is a dedicated family man, coach, and avid sports enthusiast hailing from Toledo, Ohio. Brad is married to his lovely wife, Lisa, and they have been together for 23 years. Together, they are blessed with three wonderful children, Delaney, Julian, and Landon.

As a sports coach, Brad has a passion for helping others achieve their goals and reach their full potential. He has coached a variety of sports at different levels and has garnered a reputation for being an excellent motivator and mentor. When he is not on the field or court, Brad enjoys spending time with his family, watching sports, reading, and traveling. He believes that these activities provide him with a well-rounded perspective on life and help him to stay grounded.

Brad currently resides in Wapakoneta, Ohio, where he continues to be an active member of his community. He believes that it is important to give back to those around him, and he frequently volunteers his time to help those in need. Overall, Brad Jordan is a dedicated family man with a passion for sports and helping others. His love for life and his commitment to his family and community make him a truly inspiring individual.

Brad Jordan is an experienced customer service and recruiting professional with a Master of Business Administration degree. He has a successful track record in developing and executing strategies for both B2B and B2C companies, ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. He is a collaborative leader who thrives in fast-paced environments and has a passion for driving growth and achieving business objectives. Brad’s expertise has helped numerous companies achieve significant success in their respective industries. Brad has been conducting presentations and workshops throughout the United States over the last 20 years. Brad has a passion to educate himself and others on the topics of leadership, soft skills, and emotional intelligence. He has mentored countless people over the years, and he has the passion and drive to motivate others to succeed.

Photo of Timothy R. W. Jordan

Timothy R. W. Jordan

Timothy R. W. Jordan worked as an interpreter and site manager for the Newark Earthworks and Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries and Nature Preserve from 2013 to 2022. During that time, he was also on the English faculties of Ohio University Zanesville and Zane State College. He is now a seminarian at Trinity Lutheran Seminary.Read More
Timothy R. W. Jordan worked as an interpreter and site manager for the Newark Earthworks and Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries and Nature Preserve from 2013 to 2022. During that time, he was also on the English faculties of Ohio University Zanesville and Zane State College. He is now a seminarian at Trinity Lutheran Seminary.
Photo of Robin Judd

Robin Judd

The child and grandchild of Holocaust survivors, Robin Judd is associate professor of history at The Ohio State University, where she directs the Hoffman Leaders and Leadership in History Fellowship program. At OSU, Robin teaches courses in the History of the Holocaust, Jewish History, and history of leadership. She serves as the President of the Association for Jewish Studies, the largest international learned society and professional organization representing Jewish studies, and is also the Vice Chair of the Leo Baeck Institute’s Advisory Board.…Read More

The child and grandchild of Holocaust survivors, Robin Judd is associate professor of history at The Ohio State University, where she directs the Hoffman Leaders and Leadership in History Fellowship program. At OSU, Robin teaches courses in the History of the Holocaust, Jewish History, and history of leadership. She serves as the President of the Association for Jewish Studies, the largest international learned society and professional organization representing Jewish studies, and is also the Vice Chair of the Leo Baeck Institute’s Advisory Board. In recognition of her work in Holocaust studies, Governor Mike DeWine appointed Robin to Ohio’s Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission in 2021.

Photo of Mariel Jungkunz

Mariel Jungkunz

Mariel Jungkunz is a former journalist and a graduate of the Las Hermanas mentorship program for unpublished kidlit writers at Las Musas Books. Originally from Puerto Rico, she currently resides in Ohio, where she works as an editor for dictionary.com.Read More

Mariel Jungkunz is a former journalist and a graduate of the Las Hermanas mentorship program for unpublished kidlit writers at Las Musas Books. Originally from Puerto Rico, she currently resides in Ohio, where she works as an editor for dictionary.com.

Photo of Cindy Juyoung Ok

Cindy Juyoung Ok

Cindy Juyoung Ok is the author of Ward Toward, which won the Yale Younger Poets Prize. She is a former high school science teacher and current Kenyon Review fellow teaching poetry at Kenyon College. A MacDowell fellow, Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Award finalist, and Phyllis Smart-Young Poetry Prize winner, she also edits and translates poetry.Read More

Cindy Juyoung Ok is the author of Ward Toward, which won the Yale Younger Poets Prize. She is a former high school science teacher and current Kenyon Review fellow teaching poetry at Kenyon College. A MacDowell fellow, Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Award finalist, and Phyllis Smart-Young Poetry Prize winner, she also edits and translates poetry.

Photo of John Kachuba

John Kachuba

John Kachuba is the award-winning author of thirteen books. His most recent book is The Bottle Conjuror, an historical fantasy novel set in 18th-century England. Haycorn Smith and the Castle Ghost is a paranormal novel for middle-grade readers set in the haunted Chateau Laroche in Loveland, Ohio. Other novels include Dark Entry, a paranormal novel, and The Savage Apostle and Women of the Way, both historical fiction.…

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John Kachuba is the award-winning author of thirteen books. His most recent book is The Bottle Conjuror, an historical fantasy novel set in 18th-century England. Haycorn Smith and the Castle Ghost is a paranormal novel for middle-grade readers set in the haunted Chateau Laroche in Loveland, Ohio. Other novels include Dark Entry, a paranormal novel, and The Savage Apostle and Women of the Way, both historical fiction.

John’s nonfiction, Shapeshifters: A History, was published in June 2019 and was a finalist in the 2020 Horror Writers Association’s Bram Stoker Award. Several other works of nonfiction are about ghosts and the paranormal, humor writing, and occupational safety and health.

John holds MA degrees in Creative Writing from Antioch University Midwest and Ohio University and presently teaches Creative Writing at Ohio University and the Gotham Writers Workshop. He is a member of the Historical Novel Society, the Horror Writers Association, and the American Library Association’s Authors for Libraries.

John is a frequent speaker at conferences, universities and libraries, and on podcasts, radio and TV. John’s website is http://www.johnkachuba.com.

Photo of Jay B. Kalagayan

Jay B. Kalagayan

Jay B. Kalagayan (MeSseD creator, writer and publisher) has been an annoyingly consistent entrepreneur and arts advocate in Cincinnati for more than twenty years. A Xavier University graduate from Erie, PA, Jay is founder of Know Theatre of Cincinnati and a co-founder of the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. He is a writer of plays, cartoon strips, reviews, articles, marketing collateral, fundraising appeals, and geeky event calendars.…Read More

Jay B. Kalagayan (MeSseD creator, writer and publisher) has been an annoyingly consistent entrepreneur and arts advocate in Cincinnati for more than twenty years. A Xavier University graduate from Erie, PA, Jay is founder of Know Theatre of Cincinnati and a co-founder of the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. He is a writer of plays, cartoon strips, reviews, articles, marketing collateral, fundraising appeals, and geeky event calendars. His major influences are his wife Jan and daughters Meggie and Fi.
MeSseD is the nickname of the Metropolitan Sewer District and features sewer worker Lilliput. She is our tour guide to the weird, wild and wet world beneath our feet.

Creating a comic book like MeSseD has been a lifelong dream. With two seasons published, featuring artwork from friend and collaborator Dylan Speeg, Jay tours the country promoting MeSseD. He just finished his People’s Liberty project, the MeSseD Tunnel Tour, an immersive comic book experience taking place three stories underground.