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): 2025
Merrill Rainey
Growing up, Merrill Rainey spent most of his Saturday afternoons drawing, watching monster movies, and going on imaginary adventures. Today, he is a cowboy-boot-wearing, picture-book-creator and paper-toy-maker. Merrill’s work focuses on exploring creativity and imaginative play. His current titles include Giants Are Very Brave People (2023 Cybils Awards nominee) written by Florence Parry Heide, Roar! I’m a Dinosaur (winner of the Good Housekeeping Best Kids’ Board Book of 2022), Oink! I’m a Pig, and the Color, Cut, Create series. His newest title My First Town: A Building Block Book, is a modern take on the classic children’s building block toys. Young builders are able to punch, build, and stack a 3D city of their own. My First Town empowers children to know that if they can fold a sheet of paper four times to create a block and add a little bit of creativity and ingenuity, then they can build anything! Merrill also works for many children’s magazines like Highlights, Ranger Rick, and Humpty Dumpty. You can see more of his work at littlerainey.com or follow him on Instagram @littlerainey
Mary Reed
Mary Reed is a freelance writer and photographer based in Athens, Ohio. She is the author of Hocking Hills Day Hikes, Hiking Waterfalls Ohio, Hiking Ohio, Hiking West Virginia, and more. Learn more at maryreed.biz or follow her on Instagram @maryreedhikes
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.
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.
Mar Romasco-Moore
Mar Romasco-Moore is the author of the novels Deadstream (forthcoming 2025), I Am the Ghost in Your House, Krazyland, and Some Kind of Animal, as well as the multimedia flash fiction collection Ghostographs. They teach writing at Columbus College of Art and Design. Learn more at: https://marromascomoore.com/
A.J. Romriell
AJ Romriell is a Pushcart-nominated writer and educator, originally from Salt Lake City, Utah. He is the author of Wolf Act (2025), a memoir that earned first prize in the Utah Original Writing Competition and was a finalist for the Writers’ League of Texas Manuscript Contest. His essays, stories, and poems have been featured in The Missouri Review, Black Warrior Review, Brevity, New Delta Review, and elsewhere. Originally from Utah, he is now a Presidential Fellow at The Ohio State University where he writes about queerness, fairy tales, video games, apocalypse narratives, HIV, and more. When not writing, he can be found making a mean latte or playing hide and seek with his cat.
Rafael Rosado
Born in Puerto Rico and based in Columbus, Ohio, Rafael Rosado is a seasoned writer, director and storyboard artist for the animation industry. After five years honing his skills in Los Angeles, Rafael moved back to Ohio to raise his family. He is now one of the most highly sought-after storyboard artists, working for major studios such as Warner Brothers, The Walt Disney Company, Sony, Universal and the Cartoon Network. Rafael’s first graphic novel, Giants Beware!, was published by First Second Books in early 2012. His short film The Tortured Clown was acquired by and featured on the Sundance Channel.
Blythe Russo
Blythe Russo is an author-illustrator currently living just outside Cincinnati, Ohio. When she’s not making books, you can find her sewing, building puppets, or in the kitchen on a never-ending quest for the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. Visit her at https://www.blytherussoillustration.com/
Patricia Sargeant
Patricia Sargeant is a national best-selling author. She writes romance as Patricia Sargeant and Regina Hart, and mysteries as Olivia Matthews. Her work has been reviewed in national publications such as Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Kirkus Reviews, Suspense Magazine, Mystery Scene Magazine, Library Journal and BookRiot. Patricia was drawn to write romance because she believes love is the greatest motivation. Her mysteries put ordinary people in extraordinary situations to have them find “the hero inside.” For more information about Patricia and her work, visit PatriciaSargeant.com
Mandy Shunnarah
Mandy Shunnarah (they/them) is a Southern-born, Midwest-loving journalist, essayist, poet, and roller-skating enthusiast who calls Columbus, Ohio home. Their work has been featured in the New York Times, Electric Literature, the Rumpus, and more. Midwest Shreds: Skating Through America’s Heartland is their first book. Read more on their website, mandyshunnarah.com