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.
Inez Heller Jones
From a very young age, Inez Heller Jones loved to read and write. As the youngest of eight children, many days found her reading under the large kitchen table, completely covered by the tablecloth, where she engrossed herself in faraway places while hiding from her siblings! Her avid love of reading later led her to write short stories, poems, and articles. In 2013, she self-published They Call Me Blessed! her true, inspirational journey of prayer, faith, and endurance during one of the most difficult periods of her life. In 2017, a dramatized version of this story was produced by Unshackled for radio audiences worldwide. The episodes are available for listening at Unshackled.org as a series entitled “Inez Jones, Part 1” and “Part 2.” In 2024, the book was republished with the assistance of a professional publishing company.
A central Ohio transplant from west Michigan, some of Inez’s many accomplishments included Michigan Women’s Commission Honoree for leadership in state, business, education, government, and community service; Chairwoman of the Muskegon Heights Michigan Education Assessment Program Task Force; Muskegon County Museum Trustee; Legislative Committee Chair of the Muskegon County Black Women’s Political Caucus; and three time candidate for the Ninety-Second District state house seat. In They Call Me Blessed! Inez is introduced to readers as wife, empty nester, single mom, and in-home caregiver.
https://www.christianfaithpublishing.com/books/?book=they-call-me-blessed
Mark Sebastian Jordan
Mark Sebastian Jordan writes the weekly History Knox column for KnoxPages.com, music reviews for Seen and Heard International, and program notes and music appreciation talks for the Mansfield Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and Mid Ohio Civic Opera. Jordan was included in the award-winning I Thought I Heard a Cardinal Sing: Ohio’s Appalachian Poets (Sheila-Na-Gig Editions 2022). He has appeared on numerous television shows, including Mysteries at the Museum, and was a background actor in the classic film The Shawshank Redemption.
Bradwin Jordan
Brad Jordan is a dedicated family man, coach, and avid sports enthusiast hailing from Toledo, Ohio. Brad is married to his lovely wife, Lisa, and they have been together for 23 years. Together, they are blessed with three wonderful children, Delaney, Julian, and Landon.
As a sports coach, Brad has a passion for helping others achieve their goals and reach their full potential. He has coached a variety of sports at different levels and has garnered a reputation for being an excellent motivator and mentor. When he is not on the field or court, Brad enjoys spending time with his family, watching sports, reading, and traveling. He believes that these activities provide him with a well-rounded perspective on life and help him to stay grounded.
Brad currently resides in Wapakoneta, Ohio, where he continues to be an active member of his community. He believes that it is important to give back to those around him, and he frequently volunteers his time to help those in need. Overall, Brad Jordan is a dedicated family man with a passion for sports and helping others. His love for life and his commitment to his family and community make him a truly inspiring individual.
Brad Jordan is an experienced customer service and recruiting professional with a Master of Business Administration degree. He has a successful track record in developing and executing strategies for both B2B and B2C companies, ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. He is a collaborative leader who thrives in fast-paced environments and has a passion for driving growth and achieving business objectives. Brad’s expertise has helped numerous companies achieve significant success in their respective industries. Brad has been conducting presentations and workshops throughout the United States over the last 20 years. Brad has a passion to educate himself and others on the topics of leadership, soft skills, and emotional intelligence. He has mentored countless people over the years, and he has the passion and drive to motivate others to succeed.
Timothy R. W. Jordan
Robin Judd
The child and grandchild of Holocaust survivors, Robin Judd is associate professor of history at The Ohio State University, where she directs the Hoffman Leaders and Leadership in History Fellowship program. At OSU, Robin teaches courses in the History of the Holocaust, Jewish History, and history of leadership. She serves as the President of the Association for Jewish Studies, the largest international learned society and professional organization representing Jewish studies, and is also the Vice Chair of the Leo Baeck Institute’s Advisory Board. In recognition of her work in Holocaust studies, Governor Mike DeWine appointed Robin to Ohio’s Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission in 2021. https://history.osu.edu/people/judd.18
Mariel Jungkunz
Mariel Jungkunz is a former journalist and a graduate of the Las Hermanas mentorship program for unpublished kidlit writers at Las Musas Books. Originally from Puerto Rico, she currently resides in Ohio, where she works as an editor for dictionary.com.
Cindy Juyoung Ok
Cindy Juyoung Ok is the author of Ward Toward, which won the Yale Younger Poets Prize. She is a former high school science teacher and current Kenyon Review fellow teaching poetry at Kenyon College. A MacDowell fellow, Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Award finalist, and Phyllis Smart-Young Poetry Prize winner, she also edits and translates poetry.
John Kachuba
John Kachuba is the award-winning author of thirteen books. His most recent book is The Bottle Conjuror, an historical fantasy novel set in 18th-century England. Haycorn Smith and the Castle Ghost is a paranormal novel for middle-grade readers set in the haunted Chateau Laroche in Loveland, Ohio. Other novels include Dark Entry, a paranormal novel, and The Savage Apostle and Women of the Way, both historical fiction.…
Read MoreJohn Kachuba is the award-winning author of thirteen books. His most recent book is The Bottle Conjuror, an historical fantasy novel set in 18th-century England. Haycorn Smith and the Castle Ghost is a paranormal novel for middle-grade readers set in the haunted Chateau Laroche in Loveland, Ohio. Other novels include Dark Entry, a paranormal novel, and The Savage Apostle and Women of the Way, both historical fiction.
John’s nonfiction, Shapeshifters: A History, was published in June 2019 and was a finalist in the 2020 Horror Writers Association’s Bram Stoker Award. Several other works of nonfiction are about ghosts and the paranormal, humor writing, and occupational safety and health.
John holds MA degrees in Creative Writing from Antioch University Midwest and Ohio University and presently teaches Creative Writing at Ohio University and the Gotham Writers Workshop. He is a member of the Historical Novel Society, the Horror Writers Association, and the American Library Association’s Authors for Libraries.
John is a frequent speaker at conferences, universities and libraries, and on podcasts, radio and TV. John’s website is http://johnkachuba.com
Jay B. Kalagayan
Jay B. Kalagayan (MeSseD creator, writer and publisher) has been an annoyingly consistent entrepreneur and arts advocate in Cincinnati for more than twenty years. A Xavier University graduate from Erie, PA, Jay is founder of Know Theatre of Cincinnati and a co-founder of the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. He is a writer of plays, cartoon strips, reviews, articles, marketing collateral, fundraising appeals, and geeky event calendars. His major influences are his wife Jan and daughters Meggie and Fi.
MeSseD is the nickname of the Metropolitan Sewer District and features sewer worker Lilliput. She is our tour guide to the weird, wild and wet world beneath our feet.
Creating a comic book like MeSseD has been a lifelong dream. With two seasons published, featuring artwork from friend and collaborator Dylan Speeg, Jay tours the country promoting MeSseD. He just finished his People’s Liberty project, the MeSseD Tunnel Tour, an immersive comic book experience taking place three stories underground.
Linda Kass
Linda Kass is the author of three historical novels, Tasa’s Song (2016); A Ritchie Boy (2020), an IPPY Gold Medal Winner in Historical Fiction in 2021; and Bessie, which was named A Hasty Book List Most-Anticipated Historical Fiction Title for 2023. Bessie was released in September 2023. Linda began her career as a magazine journalist and correspondent for regional and national publications. She is the founder and owner of Gramercy Books, an independent bookstore in Columbus, Ohio. Find her online at http://www.lindakass.com.