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
Peg Bobel
Peg Bobel is a freelance writer and former cultural resource specialist for Summit Metro Parks. Peg holds a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University and for nearly twenty years was a social worker in public agencies. Later, while serving as executive director of the Cuyahoga Valley Association, she and her husband Rob edited the book Trail Guide: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and the popular Towpath Companion. In 2009, Peg and her colleague Lynn Metzger edited and contributed to Canal Fever: The Ohio & Erie Canal from Waterway to Canalway.
Dr. Helen Bond
Dr. Helen Bond is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at Howard University. She received a Bachelor’s of Science in Education from The Ohio State University, a Master’s in Communication from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. in Human Development from Virginia Tech. Dr. Bond has published widely including articles in the Sociology of Education: An A-to-Z Guide, International Journal of Knowledge and Learning, Journal of Transformative Education, Handbook of Research on Culturally Aware Technology, and the Weekly Journal of Higher Education published by the Association of Indian Universities. She also published chapters in the following books: Pathways to the Holocaust and the award winning Evoking Genocide chosen as the “Outstanding Academic Title” for 2010 by Choice Magazine, the leading journal of librarians around the English-speaking world. She grew up on a farm in Ohio, but now lives outside the Washington DC metro area.
Jane Bond
Jane Bond always wanted to write. But after earning a degree in Journalism from Ohio University, her life took another direction. As a single mom with two small daughters, she started law school in 1973 earning a law degree from the University of Akron in 1976. She started practicing law at a desk in the reception area of an Akron law firm at a time when women were uncommon and unwelcome as lawyers.…
Read MoreJane Bond always wanted to write. But after earning a degree in Journalism from Ohio University, her life took another direction. As a single mom with two small daughters, she started law school in 1973 earning a law degree from the University of Akron in 1976. She started practicing law at a desk in the reception area of an Akron law firm at a time when women were uncommon and unwelcome as lawyers.
Then came the opportunity to become a Summit County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. That led to an offer to become the first General Counsel to the Summit County Executive. This involved her in settling a federal lawsuit on jail overcrowding and helping to plan a new county jail. With that experience in jail planning, she was offered a job in Cleveland as corporate legal counsel and criminal justice planner for The Voinovich Companies. The work took her into jails and prisons all over the United States.
She decided serving in the courts could have a greater impact than planning. She sought and received an appointment as Municipal Judge in the City of Akron. After two years as a municipal judge, she was appointed to the Common Pleas Court in Summit County. Now in an elected office with a six-year term, she was required to run for election after her appointment. She won and then was re-elected to two more terms, retiring in 2007 after eighteen years on the bench.
During her service as judge, she presided over thousands of criminal and civil cases. One of her most challenging experiences had been presiding over a complex series of criminal cases that collectively became known as “The Escort Case.” She drew on the facts of that case to write this compelling true story of the criminal justice system gone awry and the struggle to finally do justice.
Louise Borden
Diana Bosse
Diana Bosse has jotted notes in her diary, written hundreds of grocery lists, and published a few articles in company newsletters as well as The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Island Packet, Ladies Home Journal and Women’s Day. Publishing and SELLING a “real” book is a big deal for her.
Diana grew up on a cul-de-sac in a small mid-western town in what she refers to as “the last great era to be a child” – the 1960’s. She attended grade school and high school where she “didn’t learn a thing, but had a great time”, then went on to drop out of graphic design school in the early 1980’s.
For twenty-five years she worked in the corporate world for the same company where she made a decent living without a college degree and was able to travel to amazing cities like Atlanta, Dallas, New York, Seattle and Hong Kong on the company dime. Not too shabby for a kid that thought Gatlinburg, Tennessee was the edge of the earth.
Diana currently does meaningful work for an incredible organization – the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Cincinnati.
She lives in Loveland, Ohio with her tolerant husband, Steve, and equally tolerant cat, Madison Grace. All three enjoy spending as many weeks as possible in Maddy’s big litter box by the sea, Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Bobby Bostic
Bobby Bostic, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, embarked on a journey marked by adversity, transformation, and
an unwavering commitment to redemption. Born into a challenging environment, Bobby’s teenage years were
filled with turmoil, leading him down a troubled path. At the age of 16, in December 1995, he became involved
in a series of criminal activities, culminating in a life-altering moment. Alongside an associate, he committed
robberies and assaults, resulting in a staggering 17 charges, including kidnapping and armed criminal action.
His fate took an irreversible turn when he was offered a plea bargain of a life sentence, an offer he chose to
reject.
Opting for a trial instead, Bobby faced a jury that found him guilty of all counts. His sentencing was nothing
short of controversial and unjust, as he received a staggering 240-year prison sentence. The judge’s decision,
based on biased grounds and overlooking Bobby’s age and potential for rehabilitation, left him facing an
equivalent of life without parole. Despite the circumstances, Bobby maintained his resilience and expressed his
commitment to personal growth and redemption during his sentencing hearing, highlighting his desire to take
college courses and rehabilitate himself.
While incarcerated for over 25 years, Bobby Bostic embarked on a transformative journey. He endured the loss
of his mother to cancer and his brother due to gunshot complications, experiences that only strengthened his
resolve. During his time behind bars, he pursued education vigorously, obtaining his G.E.D., a Paralegal
Diploma, and an Associate of Science. His commitment extended beyond academics, as he completed
rehabilitation classes and even authored several books, including an autobiography, poetry volumes, and
insightful works on various topics. Bobby has authored the following books:
• Humbled to the Rise: Still, I Rise
• Dear Mama: The Life and Struggles of a Single Mother
• Mind Diamonds: Shining on Your Mind
• Time: Endless Moments in Prison
• When Life Gives You, Lemons Make Lemonade
• A Generation Misunderstood: Generation Next
Bobby’s story serves as a testament to the potential for growth and change within individuals, especially those
who were juveniles at the time of their offenses. He aspires to challenge the system that sentenced him to die in
prison and advocates for a second chance, aligning with the belief that America is a country that offers
redemption and opportunities for those who have made mistakes. His vision goes beyond prison walls, and he
aims to make a positive impact on society, focusing on helping troubled youth and advocating for justice
reform. Bobby Bostic’s journey is a compelling narrative of resilience, self-improvement, and the pursuit of a
second chance in a world that sometimes seems unforgiving.
Learn more at http://www.minddiamonds.net and http://www.FreeBobbyBostic.com.
Regina Brett
Regina Brett is the New York Times bestselling author of God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life’s Little Detours, which has been published in more than 24 languages. She also wrote, Be the Miracle: 50 Lessons for Making the Impossible Possible and God Is Always Hiring: 50 Lessons for Finding Fulfilling Work. Her inspirational columns appear regularly in Ohio’s largest newspaper, The Plain Dealer, where she was a finalist in 2008 and 2009 for the Pulitzer Prize in Commentary. She also writes for the Cleveland Jewish News and is syndicated by Jewish News Service. She has a master’s degree in religious studies from John Carroll University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Kent State University.
Zoë Brigley
Brian Broome
Brian Broome’s debut memoir, Punch Me Up to the Gods, is an NYT Editor’s Pick and the winner of the 2021 Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction. He is a contributing columnist at The Washington Post. His work has also appeared in Hippocampus, Poets and Writers, Medium, and more. Brian was a K. Leroy Irvis Fellow and an instructor in the Writing Program at the University of Pittsburgh.
He has been a finalist in The Moth storytelling competition and won the grand prize in Carnegie Mellon University’s Martin Luther King Writing
Awards. Brian also won a VANN Award from the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation for journalism in 2019. His film, Garbage, won the Audience Choice Award at the Cortada Short Film Festival and was a semi-finalist in the Portland Short Fest.
Brian is a 2022 Writer in Residence at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California. Visit his website at: https://www.brianbroome.com/
Dale Patrick Brown
Dale Patrick Brown is the author of Brilliance and Balderdash: Early Lectures at Cincinnati’s Mercantile Library. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.