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): Nonfiction
Cari Dubiel
Cari Dubiel is an author of nonfiction and speculative fiction. Ordinary people encounter extraordinary monsters in her latest book, I Loved the Mothman and Other Stories (2024). Cari is a librarian and an active member of Sisters in Crime.
Martha Dunsky
Martha Dunsky (pen name for Martha Caprarotta) grew up writing and drawing stories with her nine siblings. Her debut book, “Fire and Forgiveness: A Nun’s Truce with General Sherman,” is illustrated by her sister Monica Wyrick. A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and graduate of the University of Dayton, Martha is a former award-winning TV reporter/videographer and producer, and retired technical editor for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center. Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, she resides near Dayton with her husband and five cats. Martha loves delving into history and finding inspirational true stories.
Joyce Dyer
Joyce Dyer is a nonfiction writer who was raised in Akron. Her books include In a Tangled Wood: An Alzheimer’s Journey, Gum Dipped: A Daughter Remembers Rubber Town, and Goosetown: Reconstructing an Akron Neighborhood. Her essays have appeared in publications such as the North American Review and the New York Times, as well as anthologies. She has taught English and writing at Western Reserve Academy and Hiram College—where she directed the Lindsay-Crane Center for Writing and Literature. She’s received prizes such as the Appalachian Book of the Year Award, the David B. Saunders Award in Creative Nonfiction, and Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Awards. Pursuing John Brown: On the Trail of a Radical Abolitionist (2022), her new book, is a mix of memoir, biography, history, and travel writing and begins in Hudson, where John Brown grew up—and where the author now lives. To understand her ambivalence toward this controversial American figure, she sets out on a ten-year journey to John Brown sites across the country. The process forces her to confront hard questions about America—and herself.
Marianne Dyson
Marianne Dyson was one of NASA’s first female flight controllers, the subject of her 2015 memoir, A Passion for Space. She coauthored the NSTA 2016 Outstanding Trade Book, Welcome to Mars, with Apollo 11’s Buzz Aldrin for National Geographic. She previously won the SCBWI’s Golden Kite Award for Space Station Science, and the American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award for Home on the Moon. She has worked as a technical editor, published numerous articles and short stories for adults, and has spoken to tens of thousands of people about space. She is a member of SCBWI, SFWA, the NASA Alumni League, and the National Space Society. Visit her online at http://www.mdyson.com.
D. Rose Eder
D. Rose Elder teaches ethnomusicology and humanities at Ohio State-ATI, Wooster OH. Growing up in Shaker Heights, the experience of meeting real Shakers as well as members of other surrounding religious communities resulted in her lifelong interest in how a religion influences the daily lives of its practitioners. Her current research is based in Ghana, West Africa, where she annually leads an Ohio State-ATI study abroad tour. Her spouse Peter teaches at Kenyon College and her three wonderful children live and work in Columbus and Wooster.
Scott Edwards
Scott Edwards is an advertising creative director and copywriter. He studied communications and film history at The University of Pennsylvania, and has attended many industry events, including The Cannes Film Festival, The Toronto International Film Festival and The Cleveland International Film Festival. He has an extensive collection of cinema collectibles and memorabilia, which began when he entered the movie business at age eleven changing marquees, selling popcorn and sweeping aisles at a small neighborhood theatre managed by his father in upstate New York.
Ray Eichenberger
Ray Eichenberger is a retired attorney. He is a graduate of Eastmoor High School, Columbus. Ray also attended and graduated from Miami University, with a Bachelor of Science in Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in History. Ray is a graduate of Capital University Law School, Columbus, and practiced law as a private practitioner for nearly forty years. He has authored twenty-seven books, both Christian non-fiction and fiction. Ray’s hobbies include traveling, breeding and racing standardbred horses, and singing in the choir at his church.
Tameka N. Ellington
Tameka N. Ellington is a fashion scholar, educator, and expert on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The author of several articles and two books, she is the co-curator of the award-winning exhibition TEXTURES: the history and art of Black hair.
Cantly Elliott
Cantly Elliott is an author and creator of Blaze Review, a media group based in Columbus, OH. Cantly published his first book, Benched: Underrated Players and Teams in History in 2023. His Blaze Review platform hosts several podcasts centered around sports, music and movies. He was inspired to write his book after watching ESPN’s docuseries, The last Dance. There have been a lot of great players throughout the history of the NBA that never won a championship because of greats like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and others. Elliott felt it was important to tell their story and highlight them.
In his spare time, Cantly enjoys working on his business, spending time with family and friends, watching sports, and shopping for records and books.
Sue Erhart
Sue Erhart, author of Lose Your Critic for Good, is a lawyer, writer, and fellow traveler on the journey of life. She is a respected leader at a major corporation, while on the side she maintains her popular website, Practical Spirituality. Her weekly newsletter provides practical advice for spiritual journeys, reflecting her professional experience and positivity. Sue’s writings are a testament to her life’s lessons, offering readers a smoother path to self-discovery. Residing in Cincinnati, Ohio, she balances her roles as a wife, mother, cook, and quilter with her passion for writing. Sue invites readers to embark on their own spiritual journey through her website, sueerhart.com.