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.
Oris Regina Bond
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.
Lindsay Bonilla
Lindsay Bonilla is a professional storyteller and children’s book author from North Canton, Ohio. Her book, POLAR BEAR ISLAND, celebrating inclusivity and diversity, was the winner of a 2018 Parents’ Choice Award, while I LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEARTS, was featured in The Wall Street Journal. Lindsay’s forthcoming titles include THE NOTE WHO FACED THE MUSIC (Page Street Kids, March 2023), THE STORYTELLER and THE HOLE (both from Nancy Paulsen, Penguin, 2024). When she’s not writing or sharing her love of different countries and cultures through storytelling, she can be found brainstorming book ideas with her extremely creative kids. Learn more at http://www.lindsaybonilla.com
Louise Borden
Dianne Borsenik
Dianne Borsenik is active in the northern and central Ohio poetry scenes and regional reading circuit. She is a member of the Ohio Poetry Association and Literary Cleveland. Her performances in 2019 include “We’re No Angels” at Speak of the Devil in Lorain, Ohio, 2 Chefs & a Beat – “Poetic Justice Edition” at Porco Lounge and Tiki Room in Cleveland, Ohio, the Sun & Moon Poetry Festival in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and the Edith Chase Symposium Resurrection River Poetry Reading in Kent, Ohio. Her poems have appeared in hundreds of journals, anthologies, and magazines, and in numerous projects and art gallery events. Two recent books are Raga for What Comes Next, and Heaven We Haven’t Yet Dreamed, both from Stubborn Mule Press. In 2011, Borsenik founded NightBallet Press, and has since published over one hundred titles for poets throughout Ohio and across the United States. Lit Youngstown printed her poem “Disco” on their tee shirts, which makes her feel like a rock star. Learn more at http://www.dianneborsenik.com.
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.
Tim Bowers
Tim Bowers is an American illustrator of children’s books, known for his humorous and whimsical characters. Three of his children’s book titles have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list. Bowers has created hundreds of greeting card illustrations, including many top selling cards. Tim is also an award winning Fine Artist, creating finely detailed Miniature Paintings. He and his wife, live in Ohio and have four grown children and three grandchildren. Check out his website here: https://timbowers.com/
Kristy Boyce
Kristy Boyce lives in Pickerington, OH and teaches psychology as a senior lecturer at The Ohio State University. When she’s not spending time with her husband and son, she’s usually writing, reading, putting together fairy gardens, or watching happy reality TV (The Great British Bake-Off is a perennial favorite). Check out her website: https://www.kristyboyceauthor.com/
Shawn Boyd
Shawn Boyd was born and raised in Whitehall, Ohio, where he still resides. Shawn served as a combat communications specialist in the U.S. Army Reserves. He has been a Deputy Sheriff for over twenty-five years, spending time working in the jail, court services, community relations, and as the Deputy assigned to the Children’s Services Intake building. He helped create and taught a program about gangs and gang awareness for almost ten years.
Shawn and his wife Kathy have been married for twenty six years and have three children, Ashley, Andrew and Shawn Ryan. They are also blessed with two granddaughters and four grandsons. The publishing of this book culminates a life-long dream. “Special thanks to everyone who supported and encouraged me along the way, even when I was ready to give up on myself.”
Conor Bracken
His chapbook, Henry Kissinger, Mon Amour, was selected by Diane Seuss as winner of the fifth annual Frost Place Chapbook Competition (Bull City Press, 2017), and his translation of Mohammed Khaïr-Eddine’s Scorpionic Sun (CSU Poetry Center, 2019) was the first English translation of the avant-garde Moroccan writer’s work. Another translation—of Jean D’Amérique’s No Way in the Skin without this Bloody Embrace—is forthcoming from Ugly Duckling Presse in 2022.
His debut collection of poems, The Enemy of My Enemy is Me, won the 2020 Diode Editions Book Prize, and was published in 2021. His poems and translations have earned him fellowships from Bread Loaf, the Community of Writers, The Frost Place, Inprint, and the Sewanee Writers’ Conference.
A former poetry editor at Gulf Coast, he is currently an assistant poetry editor at Four Way Review. He lives in Ohio, and teaches classes regularly with LitCleveland. Visit his website at: https://www.conorbracken.com/