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): Illustrator
Jane Dippold
A lifelong Ohioan, Jane Dippold is the illustrator of the 2015-16 Choose to Read Ohio picture book choice Farmers Market Day, a story about an enthusiastic (and slightly clumsy) little girl searching for the perfect treat at the market. The watercolor and pencil illustrations for Farmerʼs Market Day set in a colorful, crowded farmers market, were inspired by many visits to historic Findlay Market in Cincinnati where she lived for over 15 years.
From a young age, Jane loved art. Illustrations she saw in Cricket Magazine and the Childcraft series of books in her childhood home, as well as cartoons and newspaper comic strips sparked her interest. Graduating from Miami University with a Fine Arts degree, she worked as an artist for a greeting card company. For the past 20 years, Jane has been illustrating for children’s books, children’s magazines and children’s educational publishing. Living with her husband and three children in Coldwater, Ohio, Jane is currently working on a few children’s stories of her own. In addition, she creates fine art collage paintings of the beautiful farm landscapes that surround her in rural Mercer County. More art and information can be found at her website: janedippold.com
Jeffrey Ebbeler
Jeffrey Ebbeler has worked as an art director, book designer, and illustrator. He is a graduate of the Art Academy of Cincinnati. After college he worked for a puppet theater sculpting marionettes and performing. He has since become a full-time freelance illustrator and has illustrated over 40 children’s books, including One Is a Feast for Mouse, Cinco de Mouse O!, Haunted House, Haunted Mouse, and Snow Day for Mouse, all by Judy Cox. He has also written and illustrated A Giant Mess and Kraken Me Up, which was named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.
Kelcey Ervick
Kelcey Ervick is the author and illustrator of the graphic memoir, The Keeper: Soccer, Me, and the Law That Changed Women’s Lives, winner of a 2023 Ohioana Book Award. She is the author of three other award-winning books and co-editor of The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Graphic Literature. Kelcey has a PhD from the University of Cincinnati and is a professor of English at Indiana University South Bend. Learn more about her writing and art at kelceyervick.com
Michael Fehskens
Michael Fehskens studied illustration at Columbus College of Art & Design. Dedicated to authoring & illustrating books for all ages, and of many kinds. Library assistant and bookmobile driver for Clark County Public Library.
Becky Gehrisch
Becky Gehrisch grew up drawing dogs and farm scenes after visiting her grandparents’ homes in the country. It’s no wonder that she went on to create Escape To Play after earning an art degree from The Ohio State University. Becky moved to a rural town in Ohio where she is constantly inspired by the beautiful countryside and wildlife just outside her window. You can find her getting into her own kind of shenanigans with her husband and kids as they explore the USA in their RV.
Janyce Denise Glasper
Janyce Denise Glasper is a Dayton, Ohio based multidisciplinary artist, writer, and independent scholar. Her essays and short stories have appeared in ÆQAI Journal, Belt Magazine, RaceBaitr, Black Youth Project, and other publications. Currently, she is an Andy Warhol/Creative Capital Art Writer Grant recipient, Roots, Wounds, & Words: Words of Resistance + Restoration Fiction Fellow, and remote contributing arts writer for the Philadelphia based publication artblog. “Route” is her debut illustrated novel.
Barry Gott
Barry Gott grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where he drew his first books on paint can labels from his dad’s paint factory. After upgrading to real paper he developed a love of humor and cartoons, which led first to a B.F.A. in Painting from Bowling Green State University, followed by a career writing and designing humorous greeting cards for American Greetings. Since 1999 he has illustrated dozens of children’s books and in 2018 his first book as author/illustrator, Honk! Splat! Vroom! was published by Lerner Books. Barry lives in South Euclid with his wife, kids, and an ever-increasing number of small animals.
Jacob Grant
Jacob Grant is an author, illustrator, and dad who makes picture books. He is a winner of the prestigious 2024 Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustration Exhibition, and he’s also an okay kids soccer coach. Jacob is originally from Cincinnati, and now lives with his wife and two little ones near Chicago. Here he can be found in his home studio, drawing and writing until something feels story-ish. Learn more at his website: http://jacobgrantbooks.com/
Steve Harpster
Steve Harpster lives in Cincinnati Ohio and travels the country teaching kids how to draw, create, and Imagine.