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): 2025
Patti Flinn
Patti Flinn is an author of contemporary fiction, romance, and historical fiction from Columbus, Ohio. Flinn’s varied titles reflect her love of all fiction and include: The List (suspense), The Diva of Peddler’s Creek (romantic comedy), Glorious Sunset (edgy inspirational romance), Alaya and Her Sparkling River (children’s), the Ivyhurst series (romantic comedy), and the Véronique Clair series (historical fiction). Flinn delved into biographical fiction with The Last Favorite’s Page series. This immersion into the French Revolution is a trilogy of critically acclaimed novels—The Greatest Thing (2023), The Devil’s Berries (2024), and The Truest Son of France (Spring 2025)—inspired by historical figure Louis-Benoit Zamor (1762-1820). Flinn has been nominated for the Romance Slam Jam’s Emma Debut Author Award, and was a finalist for the More than Magic Contest for Romantic Comedy, and the Harlem Book Fair’s Phillis Wheatley Award for Fiction. Flinn won the Romance Writers Ink Award for romantic comedy. Most recently, she was honored with the 2023 Independent Book Publishing Association’s IPPY Award for fiction, and as a Notable Indie for the 2023 Shelf Unbound Award. A believer in the importance of literature, communication, the arts, and community service, Patti Flinn strives to encourage everyone to fulfill their dreams and find the extraordinary individual within. https://gildedorangebooks.com
Amanda Flower
Amanda Flower is a USA Today bestselling and two-time Agatha Award-winning author of over fifty mystery novels. Her novels have received starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times, and she had been featured in USA Today, First for Women, and Woman’s World. Her first Emily Dickinson Mystery, Because I Could Not Stop for Death, was an Agatha Award winner and Mary Higgins Clark Nominee. She currently writes for Penguin-Random House (Berkley), Kensington, and Sourcebooks. A former librarian, Flower and her husband own a farm and recording studio, and they live in Northeast Ohio with their adorable cats. http://www.amandaflower.com/.
Jessica Fries-Gaither
Jessica Fries-Gaither is an award-winning author of books for children and teachers. Her writing introduces readers to the wonder of the natural world and the work of scientists, past and present. Her first children’s book, Notable Notebooks: Scientists and Their Writings, was named an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12 by NSTA and the Children’s Book Council and was read aboard the International Space Station by astronaut Joseph Acaba as part of the Story Time From Space program. Exemplary Evidence: Scientists and Their Data, her second title, was also named an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12. Her third picture book, Nature’s Rule Breakers: Creatures That Don’t Fit In, was published by Millbrook Press in October 2023. Jessica holds bachelor’s degrees in Biological Sciences (B.S.) and Anthropology (B.A.) and a Master’s in Education (M.Ed.) from the University of Notre Dame (Go Irish!). In addition to writing, she is the Science Department Chair and Lower School Science Specialist at Columbus School for Girls. She lives in Columbus, OH with her husband and four lovable but rambunctious dogs. She also enjoys reading, cooking and baking, and spending time outside. She is represented by Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Learn more at her website, http://www.jessicafriesgaither.com and follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jfriesgaither, on Twitter and Instagram at @JessicaFGWrites, and on Blue Sky at @jessicafgwrites.bsky.social
Kellie DuBay Gillis
Kellie DuBay Gillis writes picture books about things you find in nature, things you might not find in nature unless you know the magical places to look, things that happen to most kids, and things most kids wish would happen. Kellie graduated from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment and is an environmental scientist/communications specialist with over 25 years of experience blending her passion for protecting the planet with storytelling. She grew up on a street in Bay City, Michigan with kids who loved to make things and share neighborhood adventures on an old purple tandem bike. She now lives outside of Cleveland in Fairview Park, Ohio with her family, where they ride an old purple tandem bike that they fixed up like new.
Maxwell I. Gold
Maxwell I. Gold is a Jewish-American prose poet, author, and editor, with an extensive body of work comprising over 300 poems since 2017. His writings have earned a place alongside many literary luminaries in the speculative fiction genres and his work has garnered nominations for multiple awards including the Pushcart Prize, the Eric Hoffer Awards, Rhysling Awards, and the Bram Stoker Awards.…
Read MoreMaxwell I. Gold is a Jewish-American prose poet, author, and editor, with an extensive body of work comprising over 300 poems since 2017. His writings have earned a place alongside many literary luminaries in the speculative fiction genres and his work has garnered nominations for multiple awards including the Pushcart Prize, the Eric Hoffer Awards, Rhysling Awards, and the Bram Stoker Awards. His work has appeared in numerous literary journals, magazines, and anthologies such as Weird Tales Magazine, Startling Stories, the recent Horror Writers Association anthology Other Terrors: An Inclusive Anthology, Chiral Mad 5, and many more. Maxwell has taught several poetry workshops and co-edited several anthologies. He’s the author of the Bram Stoker nominated poetry collection Bleeding Rainbows and Other Broken Spectrums. Check out http://www.thewellsoftheweird.com
Sarah Gormley
Sarah Gormley’s debut memoir, The Order of Things is the story of how her return to the family farm to care for her dying mother changed her life in ways she never imagined possible. She owns the Sarah Gormley Gallery in Columbus, Ohio, which operates from the belief that original art can be a source of joy for everyone.
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/
Pauletta Hansel
Quartez Harris
Quartez Harris is a poet, teacher, and author. He was a Baldwin House Fellow and named Ohio Poet of the Year for his book We Made It to School Alive, and his poetry has garnered numerous accolades. He spent many years as a second grade teacher in the Cleveland public school system, and currently spends his time writing and teaching poetry workshops. He lives in Ohio with his wife and son.
S.R.D. Harris
Author S.R.D. Harris has always been a reading fanatic! Ever since she was a young child and was featured in two children’s books, she has dreamed of becoming a published author. Through hard work and determination, she achieved that dream when she wrote and published her first book, Future Miss President. Harris co-writes with her youngest daughter, Camryn, and they currently have ten children’s books published and two more in production. Her mission is to write and publish high-quality, uplifting, empowering and diverse children’s books that will inspire a love of reading in all children! She has been featured on PBS/WOSU’s Broad & High TV Show (where you can listen here) and in many publications to date. Harris was honored as a Literacy Champion by Read for a Cause in April of 2021 and is a 2022/2023 and 2024 Ohioana Library Festival Featured Author. Harris and her husband have three daughters, and a rescued puppy named Gracie. Her fourth book Gracie’s Grace is in partnership with CHA Animal Shelter to benefit their mission to help homeless dogs and cats find loving homes. When they are not reading, writing, cooking, or traveling, they enjoy volunteering and giving back. They have donated hundreds of books to students all over Ohio and Harris enthusiastically visits schools to inspire and students! She believes all children can love reading if they connect with the right books for them. Her books are published internationally and can be found in local libraries and bookstores. You can follow her on her website srdharrisbooks.com and major social media channels @srdharrisbooks