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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Adam Rex
Adam Rex is the author and illustrator of more than forty books for kids. These include New York Times bestselling picture books like Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, School’s First Day of School, (with illustrator Christian Robinson), and Chu’s Day (with author Neil Gaiman). His work has been adapted for film and television. He’s won some awards, including the Margaret Wise Brown Prize in Children’s Literature and the National Cartoonists Society Book Illustration Award. His debut novel was shortlisted for the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy. He used to make art for games like Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Sometimes he still does. He lives in Tucson, Arizona, with his dog, son, and wife. Learn more at https://www.adamrex.com/
Valerie Reynolds
Valerie Reynolds is a prolific author with a passion for storytelling that spans both fiction and children’s literature. Her debut novel, In the Middle of Wanting, published by Windy City Press in 2015, captivated readers with its evocative narrative and rich character development. Additionally, Valerie has authored two beloved children’s books, The Joys of Being a Little Black Boy and The Twirl of Being a Little Black Girl. These vividly-illustrated works celebrate the lives of remarkable Black individuals, weaving together history and inspiration to create unforgettable stories that resonate with young readers. Beyond her literary accomplishments, Valerie is a seasoned integrated marketing and communications and PR professional. She collaborates with mission-driven organizations to craft compelling narratives, generate media coverage, and develop strategic communications plans that elevate brands and foster positive public perception. As the co-founder of Hurston Media Group, she spearheads initiatives aimed at amplifying the voices and stories of marginalized communities, both through marketing services and publishing endeavors. With over two decades of experience in public relations, Valerie understands the profound impact of media on shaping societal narratives. Her strategic approach has garnered coverage in esteemed outlets worldwide, including NBC Nightly News, CNN, Chicago Tribune, Slate, Huffington Post, Five Thirty-Eight, and Hindustan Times. Additionally, Valerie’s own writings have graced the pages of publications such as Indigo, the Chicago Defender, the Chicago Observer, and Oyez Review, the literary magazine of Roosevelt University. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Valerie holds an MBA in Marketing from American InterContinental University, a Master of Journalism from Roosevelt University in Chicago, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from The Ohio State University. Her diverse educational background underscores her multifaceted expertise and unwavering commitment to storytelling and advocacy.
Brad Ricca
Brad Ricca is the Edgar-nominated author of six books, including the new graphic novel (with artist Courtney Sieh) Ten Days in a Mad-house and the Ohioana Award winning Super Boys. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Learn more at: https://www.trueraiders.com/
Daniel L. Rice
Daniel L. Rice was the Chief Zoologist for the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves within the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. He spent 25 years with the Division documenting populations of Ohio’s rare and endangered species and retired in 2002.
Marci Rich
Marci Rich has published poetry, essays, and journalism, and earned honors from organizations and publications as varied as the Academy of American Poets, the Abiko Quarterly for James Joyce Studies (Japan), BlogHer, Huffington Post, and the Press Club of
Cleveland, from which she has twice won Best Freelance Writer in Ohio awards in its All Ohio Excellence in Journalism competitions in 2018 and 2019. The latter awards recognize her local history feature series, “Look
Back, Elyria,” which she writes for the Chronicle-Telegram and which forms the basis of Looking Back at Elyria: A Midwest City at Midcentury, her first nonfiction book. A graduate of Oberlin College, where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in English with a creative writing specialization, Marci has also studied memoir writing at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown,
Massachusetts. She also earned an associate of arts degree from Lorain County Community College. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Theta Kappa, the Authors Guild, the National Society of Newspaper
Columnists, the Press Club of Cleveland, Literary Cleveland, James River Writers, and the Lorain County Historical Society. A chapbook of her poems, Lights and Shadows, was published by Bottom Dog Press in
1985 under her former name, Marci Janas.
Emilie Richards
Emilie Richards has written more than seventy novels, including series romances, romantic suspense, futuristic fantasy, paranormal, mysteries, and single title women’s fiction. Her novel series include the Ministry is Murder, the Shenandoah Album, and the Goddesses Anonymous novels. Richards is also a quilter and has published five Quilting Along With Emilie Richards books to complement the books in her Shenandoah Album series.…
Read MoreEmilie Richards has written more than seventy novels, including series romances, romantic suspense, futuristic fantasy, paranormal, mysteries, and single title women’s fiction. Her novel series include the Ministry is Murder, the Shenandoah Album, and the Goddesses Anonymous novels. Richards is also a quilter and has published five Quilting Along With Emilie Richards books to complement the books in her Shenandoah Album series. Her books have been published in more than sixteen languages in more than twenty countries, and eight have been made into movies for German TV. Richards is a past winner of the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award, the highest prize given to romance authors. She grew up in Florida but lived in Cleveland for twelve years where she raised her children and continued her prolific writing career. Richards has worked as a therapist in a mental health center, a parent services coordinator for families enrolled in Head Start, and in several pastoral counseling centers. Married to her college sweetheart, Richards recently returned to live in Florida. Visit Emilie’s website, http://emilierichards.com/.
Natalie D. Richards
New York Times Bestselling Author Natalie D. Richards is the author of nine “page-turning thrillers” (School Library Journal), including Five Total Strangers (2020) and Seven Dirty Secrets (2021). Four Found Dead (2023) is her ninth bone-chilling novel. Her first middle-grade novel is called 15 Secrets to Survival and has been hailed as, “a teamwork oriented update to Hatchet.” A champion of literacy and aspiring authors, Richards is a frequent speaker at schools, libraries, and writing groups. She lives in Ohio with her three children and (very) large dog, Wookiee. Visit her at http://www.nataliedrichards.com.
Lisa Karon Richardson
Influenced by books like The Secret Garden and The Little Princess, Lisa Karon Richardson’s early stories were heavy on boarding schools and creepy houses. Now, even though she’s (mostly) grown-up she still loves a healthy dash of adventure in any story she creates, even her real-life story. She’s been a missionary to the Seychelles and Gabon and now that she and her husband are back in America, they are tackling a new adventure–starting a church planting Central Ohio. Lisa is the author of several published novellas and novels. You can find her online at http://www.lisakaronrichardson.com and http://www.inkwellinspirations.com.
David Rickert
David Rickert grew up in Columbus, Ohio surrounded by stacks of MAD Magazines, Calvin and Hobbes collections, and Walt Disney comics. He spent most of his free time learning about sable hair brushes, non-repro blue pencils, and Bristol boards so he could pursue a career drawing a comic strip. He went to Ohio State University instead to pursue a degree in education, but never gave up on the dream! He drew a daily strip in The Lantern (OSU’s school newspaper) for most of his college years. After earning a teaching degree and working a few years in the classroom, the itch to create comics resurfaced. He headed back to the drawing board (literally) to create educational comics, selling them on the Teachers Pay Teachers marketplace. Educators from around the world have enthusiastically embraced his comics as an effective way to teach difficult language arts concepts, especially with reluctant readers and English language learners. When he’s not drawing comics, David likes to do yoga, play guitar, and read.
Conlee Ricketts
Conlee Ricketts has been an educator for over 30 years with her BSEd in Secondary Mathematics Education from The Ohio State University, and her MEd in Administration/Teacher Leader from Wright State University. Conlee’s honesty and humor helps you examine fears and vulnerabilities in a safe lighthearted way. Her life has been about surviving awkward social situations and problem solving. She is an expert at finding options, organizing a plan, and quieting over-active mind chatter long enough to calm the chaos of an incredibly human and messy life. She lives in Bexley, Ohio with her daughter, father, and a myriad of pets and their associated dirt.