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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Eric Hanna
Eric Hanna, born in Youngstown, Ohio, was a walk on basketball player at the Ohio State University (1994-95, 1996-98) who earned a scholarship for his senior season, making the first start of his entire life in the last game at historic St. John Arena on February 28, 1998. Eric was a two time Academic All-Big Ten selection (1997-98), Fred Taylor Award Winner (1998) and John Havlicek Award Winner (1998). He currently teaches American History at Shanahan Middle School in the Olentangy Local School District where he has earned the Battelle for Kids Celebrate Teaching Distinguished Educator Award in 2013. Eric has been an assistant coach at Capital University (1998-2001, 2002-2009) and at Vassar College (2001-2002). Currently the youth basketball director for the Plain City Area Ball Association, Eric has continuously coached basketball at every level from kindergarten to college since his collegiate playing experience. Eric earned the 2019 Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal for Non-Fiction Sports Books for his publication of Fight to the End.
Pauletta Hansel
Karen Harper
A lifelong Ohioan, Harper taught English before writing full time. She is a NYTimes bestselling author who has won the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She writes both historical novels and contemporary suspense. Karen and her husband make their home in Columbus but love to travel. Her author collection is housed in Rare Books and Manuscripts at The Ohio State University.
Larisa Harper
Larisa Harper has been a higher education professional for more than 25 years with experience and leadership in academic affairs, student services, assessment, accreditation, strategic planning, workforce development, research, policy, and grant writing. Dr. Harper is the Chief Academic Officer for Zane State College in Zanesville.
Dr. Harper enjoys researching historical aspects of her community and participates in executive boards focused on education and history, mental health and recovery services, and cancer awareness. She lives in Zanesville, Ohio with her husband, Aaron. She has one son, A.J. Harper of Fort Wayne, Indiana; two daughters, Cassie Harper, Columbus, Ohio; and Jordee Harper, Zanesville. Learn more at her website: https://larisaharper.wordpress.com/
Steve Harpster
Steve Harpster lives in Cincinnati Ohio and travels the country teaching kids how to draw, create, and Imagine.
John Harris
John M. Harris grew up in Coshocton, Ohio, and graduated from Wittenberg University in 1976. He worked for more than twenty years as a reporter, photographer, and editor. He is an associate professor of journalism at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington.
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
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.
Kelly Harris-DeBerry
Kelly Harris-DeBerry received her MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass. She has received fellowships from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown and Cave Canem. Some of her publishing credits include: 400yrs: The story of Black people in poems written from love 1619–2019, Words Beats & Life The Global Journal of Hip Hop, Angles in the Wilderness: Young and Black in New Orleans and Beyond, Torch Literary Magazine, The National Parks Service Centennial Commemoration publication with Sonia Sanchez, Yale University's Caduceus Journal, Southern Review, Say it Loud: Poems for James Brown and many more.…
Read MoreKelly Harris-DeBerry received her MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass. She has received fellowships from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown and Cave Canem. Some of her publishing credits include: 400yrs: The story of Black people in poems written from love 1619–2019, Words Beats & Life The Global Journal of Hip Hop, Angles in the Wilderness: Young and Black in New Orleans and Beyond, Torch Literary Magazine, The National Parks Service Centennial Commemoration publication with Sonia Sanchez, Yale University’s Caduceus Journal, Southern Review, Say it Loud: Poems for James Brown and many more.
Her podcast episode for About Place Journal called Congo Square: Sustaining the Sacred Post-Katrina highlights her talents as a producer and researcher. Kelly is a former guest poetry editor for Bayou Magazine at the University of New Orleans. She serves her literary community as the New Orleans Poets & Writers’ Literary Coordinator and on various community boards. Kelly is a cultural leader with business savvy.
Megan Hart
Megan Hart writes books. Some of them use bad words, but most of the other words are okay. Some of them hit bestseller lists and win awards and some don’t, but that’s the way it goes. She can’t live without music, the internet, or the ocean, but she and soda have achieved an amicable uncoupling. She loathes the feeling of corduroy or velvet, and modern art leaves her cold. She writes a little bit of everything from horror to romance, though she’s best known for writing steamy fiction that sometimes makes you cry. Find out more about her at meganhart.com, or if you really want to get crazy, follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/megan_hart and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/readinbed.