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.

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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

Kambri Crews

Kambri Crews once lived with her deaf parents in a tin shed in Montgomery, Texas. She now owns and operates Ballyhoo Promotions, a PR and production company in New York City specializing in stand up comedy. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed memoir Burn Down the Ground (Random House) and a renowned storyteller.…Read More

Kambri Crews once lived with her deaf parents in a tin shed in Montgomery, Texas. She now owns and operates Ballyhoo Promotions, a PR and production company in New York City specializing in stand up comedy. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed memoir Burn Down the Ground (Random House) and a renowned storyteller. She has performed on The Moth, Literary Death Match, Risk! and Mortified and has appeared at SXSW Comedy, UCB Theatre, Gotham Comedy Club. Also a public speaker, she has given speeches at the University of Texas, Texas Book Festival, University of Oregon, SXSW (South by Southwest), DeafHope, and many other schools, colleges, book festivals, and events.

Photo of Pam Croft

Pam Croft

Pam Croft is a retired manager of a military surplus store. After her 25 year career of being store manager she sorely missed it. She decided to open up her own little store at a local flea market plaza and carry on her love for the military surplus. When she is not working she loves to travel and enjoys spending time with her husband and cat, Thomas.…Read More

Pam Croft is a retired manager of a military surplus store. After her 25 year career of being store manager she sorely missed it.
She decided to open up her own little store at a local flea market plaza and carry on her love for the military surplus.
When she is not working she loves to travel and enjoys spending time with her husband and cat, Thomas.
She resides in Sugar Grove and can be contacted at bookiesdogtags@gmail.com

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Nathan Crook

Nathan C. Crook, Ph.D., is a cultural anthropologist and Assistant Professor of English and Agricultural Communication at The Ohio State University’s agricultural campus located on the northern end of Ohio’s Amish Country in Wooster. A native to the western United States, Crook is an intrepid traveler and researcher who has been engaged in researching and writing about culinary history and traditions in the Midwest and Ohio for the past decade.…Read More

Nathan C. Crook, Ph.D., is a cultural anthropologist and Assistant Professor of English and Agricultural Communication at The Ohio State University’s agricultural campus located on the northern end of Ohio’s Amish Country in Wooster. A native to the western United States, Crook is an intrepid traveler and researcher who has been engaged in researching and writing about culinary history and traditions in the Midwest and Ohio for the past decade. He and his family reside in Bowling Green and are active members of their community. He can frequently be found collaborating with the Wood County Historical Museum, attending local art events, and supporting his daughters as they participate in the Bowling Green Bobcat Band and swim team.

Shane W. Croston

Shane Croston is a native of Bellefontaine, Ohio. He is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and served as an anti-tank missileman with First Battalion, Eighth Marines. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in social studies from Dublin Business School (Dublin, Ireland). Shane's interests include military history; traveling abroad; and the study of social and cultural dynamics in Europe, the Greater Middle East and the Appalachian region of America.…Read More

Shane Croston is a native of Bellefontaine, Ohio. He is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and served as an anti-tank missileman with First Battalion, Eighth Marines. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in social studies from Dublin Business School (Dublin, Ireland). Shane’s interests include military history; traveling abroad; and the study of social and cultural dynamics in Europe, the Greater Middle East and the Appalachian region of America. As a descendant of Tony Vicario, Salvatore Cira and Agostino Iannarino, he is interested in Sicilian genealogy and history pertaining to the Black Hand.

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Thomas Crowl

Thomas Crowl is an avocational historian who has published two previous books, Murder of a Journalist (published by Kent State University Press) and Opdycke’s Tigers in the Civil War. His articles have appeared in Timeline, Echoes, History Magazine, and the Central States Archaeological Journal.Read More

Thomas Crowl is an avocational historian who has published two previous books, Murder of a Journalist (published by Kent State University Press) and Opdycke’s Tigers in the Civil War. His articles have appeared in Timeline, Echoes, History Magazine, and the Central States Archaeological Journal.

Paisley Cruz

Paisley Cruz grew up in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. Ever since she could remember, her imagination has taken her on amazing adventures. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she’d end up an author. As a teen, Paisley began writing love stories and hasn’t really stopped over the years. Writing has been the only consistent activity in her life.…Read More

Paisley Cruz grew up in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. Ever since she could remember, her imagination has taken her on amazing adventures. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she’d end up an author.

As a teen, Paisley began writing love stories and hasn’t really stopped over the years. Writing has been the only consistent activity in her life. As a young adult, Paisley’s dreams wavered from becoming a nurse to pursuing a music career. Instead, she settled on being a stay at home mom and an awesome wife.

Paisley is married to the love of her life and best friend, Mr. Cruz. Together they have two amazing little boys, three rescue cats, and a rescue beagle named BoBo.

When Paisley isn’t running her boys to and from sports, she is either writing or taking in a Cincinnati Reds game.

Photo of Dan Cryer

Dan Cryer

Dan Cryer, a former book critic at Newsday and Pulitzer Prize finalist, is the author of “Being Alive and Having to Die: The Spiritual Odyssey of Forrest Church.” He has contributed to “The Salon.Com Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Authors” and “Good Roots: Writers Reflect on Growing Up in Ohio,” and to many publications, including The New Republic, Salon, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Plain Dealer, and The Boston Globe.…Read More

Dan Cryer, a former book critic at Newsday and Pulitzer Prize finalist, is the author of “Being Alive and Having to Die: The Spiritual Odyssey of Forrest Church.” He has contributed to “The Salon.Com Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Authors” and “Good Roots: Writers Reflect on Growing Up in Ohio,” and to many publications, including The New Republic, Salon, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Plain Dealer, and The Boston Globe. A graduate of The College of Wooster, he earned a PhD in U.S. history at the University of Minnesota.

Photo of Alan Cupp

Alan Cupp

Alan Cupp loves to create and entertain, whether it’s with a captivating mystery novel or a funny promotional video for his church, he’s always anticipating his next creative endeavor. In addition to writing fiction, Alan enjoys acting, music, travel, and playing sports. His life’s motto is, “It’s better to wear out than rust out.” Alan places a high value on time spent with his beautiful wife and their two sons.…Read More

Alan Cupp loves to create and entertain, whether it’s with a captivating mystery novel or a funny promotional video for his church, he’s always anticipating his next creative endeavor. In addition to writing fiction, Alan enjoys acting, music, travel, and playing sports. His life’s motto is, “It’s better to wear out than rust out.” Alan places a high value on time spent with his beautiful wife and their two sons. He lives his life according to his 4F philosophy: Faith, Family, Friends, and Fun.