Rocky River Public Library Book Festival Meet the Authors

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Meet the Authors Saturday, April 21, 2012

Jenna-Clare AllenJenna-Clare Allen is a Tennessee native, though she has had the good fortune to live all over the United States. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in theological studies. Though she has written for as long as she can remember, As the Spark Flies Upward is her first novel. It tells the story of four generations of a family living in the Depression-era south. She also writes poetry, non-fiction and children’s stories. Ms. Allen has been married for more than a decade to composer, Dr. Jeremy Allen. Jenna-Clare lives in Cleveland Heights with her husband and their three-year-old son.

Gail Ghetia BellamyGail Ghetia Bellamy is a Certified Culinary Professional with a Ph.D. in creative writing. The managing editor and food editor of Restaurant Hospitality magazine, she has also written about food for many local and national magazines and for America Online’s Food & Drink Network. She has contributed to several books including Fodor’s/Wall Street Journal Guides to Business Travel in the U.S. and Canada and Bergh’s International Digest of Gastronomy, Cookery, and Wine. An accomplished poet, Gail is the author of Victual Reality: Food Poems. Her newest book, Cleveland Food Memories, collects the fondest memories of Clevelanders who still ache for treats from the past.

Rocky River Public Library Book Festival

Meet the Authors April 21, 2012

We want to thank the following for their support —Book Festival Authors • Barnes & Noble Booksellers • Gray & Company, Publishers

Cosponsored by the Women’s Committee of Rocky River Public Library and the Friends of the Library.

1600 Hampton Road Rocky River, OH 44116

(440) 333-7610 www.rrpl.org

John Derf BackderfA critically acclaimed comics creator and cartoonist, Derf Backderf, launched his edgy, cranky comic strip, The City, in 1990. For over 20 years, it has been one of the most-widely distributed weekly comics and has garnered numerous awards, including a Robert F. Kennedy Award in 2006. Derf is the author-artist of three graphic novels. Trashed (SLG Publishing, 2002), was named “the funniest book of the year” by Time.com and nominated for an Eisner Award. Next came Punk Rock & Trailer Parks (SLG Publishing, 2009), followed by his newest, My Friend Dahmer, which tells the haunting account of his teenage friendship with the future serial killer.

Emilie BarnettWhile Emilie has had considerable education in the field of religion, particularly Jewish studies, she had never heard of Beatrice Nasi Mendes (Doña Gracia 1510-1569) of Portugal, one of the most outstanding figures of Jewish history. Born into a family of secret Jews at the height of the Inquisition, Beatrice dared to rescue others, declare her faith and establish a homeland for the Jews in Palestine. Emilie discovered her by accident and spent years researching her life and visiting the cities where she lived to write Daring Daughter of the Covenant and share this extraordinary life with others.

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Carole Calladine Carole, the Director of Senior Services for the City of Rocky River, is also the author of three books. Her first two books were on parenting challenges: Raising Siblings...Raising Brothers and Sisters without Raising the Roof (Delacorte Press), and One Terrific Year (Winston Press). Her recent book is a memoir titled Second Story Woman (Bird Dog Publishing, Inc.). The Akron Beacon Journal reviewed Carole’s memoir and said, “Likeable and candid, Calladine writes a lively account of her quest for second chances─while becoming a ‘second-story woman’ herself.” Carole lives in Rocky River with husband, Andrew and their cat, Hank.

Judith G. CetinaJudith G. Cetina, Ph.D. is manager and archivist at the Cuyahoga County Archives and frequently lectures to local historical and genealogical societies. A certified archivist, she holds a Ph.D. from CWRU. She is a member of the Academy of Certified Archivists having served as former president and board member. A published writer of book reviews and articles, she has contributed a chapter to Pioneer Healers, A History of Women Religious in American Health Care, and she authored a history of Cuyahoga County published in Glimpses of Ohio Counties. Dr. Cetina’s new book for Arcadia Publishing is Cuyahoga County: The First Two Hundred Years.

Brian ChulikBrian will be signing Brian’s World: Personal Perspectives and Insights from the Mind of an Ordinary Everyday Philosopher. The debut book of author, science teacher, dog lover, and all-around everyman, Brian’s World is an eclectic collection of wisdom on topics ranging from overcoming self-doubt, the trials and tribulations of romantic rela-tionships, the benefits of owning pets, the value of personal integrity, and much more. Black-and-white photographs reflecting the author’s life intersperse this smorgasbord of tell-it-like-it-is observations. It’s an anthology that’s fun to read whether a bit at a time or all at once.

Charles Cassady, Jr.Writer, photographer and illustrator Charles Cassady, Jr. after years of visiting parallel universes and alternate realities (meaning only that he was a film critic) got into writing about the supernatural in Cleveland Ghosts, Paranormal Great Lakes and Paranormal Mississippi River, all published by Schiffer, of Atglen, Pennsylvania. Cassady approaches the extraordinary with newsroom skepticism, pop-culture savvy about how weird tales are marketed, and fondness for bundling some good information along with the folklore of poltergeists, UFOs, hairy man-beasts, water monsters, vampires and werewolves.

Susan Condon Love representing George E. CondonThe late George E. Condon wrote nearly 15 books in his long and illustrious career. He worked at The Plain Dealer for nearly 45 years and in the course of his career, he was a copy editor, reporter, television editor, and for the last 30 years of his tenure, a popular columnist. A well-known historian and lover-of-all-that-was-Irish, one of Mr. Condon’s most popular books is a compilation of the whimsical and downright goofy nicknames of Cleveland’s colorful Irish population: Gaels of Laughter and Tears. Mr. Condon passed away in October 2011. His book is being offered today by his daughter, Susan Condon Love, a former PD columnist herself.

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Joyce DyerJoyce Dyer teaches creative writing at Hiram College in Ohio. She is the author of six books, including In a Tangled Wood: An Alzheimer’s Journey (1996), Gum-Dipped: A Daughter Remembers Rubber Town (2003), and Goosetown: Reconstructing an Akron Neighborhood (2010). Dyer is a widely published essayist and won the 2009 David B. Saunders Award in Creative Nonfiction. Perhaps best known for her work in memoir, she has conducted summer workshops in this genre at the Antioch Writers’ Workshop, the Appalachian Writers Workshop, and 826michigan. Dyer lives in Hudson and is currently at work on a book about John Brown.

Diana J. EidEver since the first settlers arrived in 1816, Parma, Ohio has steadily been growing, residentially and industrially and is now the largest suburb of Cleveland, as well as the seventh-largest city in Ohio. Diana J. Eid has been fascinated with the Parma community for years. After researching old documents, interviewing residents and officials, she has compiled a fun and easy to read pictorial history of the city with over 200 photographs in her book Images of America: Parma. The historical images in this book bring to life the stories and people of the past, which will carry on to future generations.

Mary Lee CorlettBorn and raised in the Cleveland suburbs, Mary Lee Corlett earned her M.A. in art history from Case Western Reserve University and began her career at the Cleveland Museum of Art as a teaching assistant for the Saturday children’s classes. She moved to Washington, DC in 1988, joining the staff of the National Gallery of Art in 1989. Her publications include works on Romare Bearden, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jackson Pollock. Belle: The Amazing, Astonishingly Magical Journey of an Artfully Painted Lady, featuring the National Gallery’s collection, is her first children’s book. Ms. Corlett lives in Falls Church, Virginia with husband, Tom, and daughter, Victoria.

Casey DanielsCasey Daniels once applied for a job as a tour guide in a historic cemetery. She didn’t get the job, but while she was there, she did get the idea for her Pepper Martin mystery series. Pepper works in a Cleveland cemetery and investigates mysteries for the ghosts there. Recently, the 8th book of the series, Wild, Wild Death was published. Book #9 comes out in September. It’s called Supernatural Born Killers. As Kylie Logan, she also writes the Button Box mysteries. The first book of that series, Button Holed, was published in September. Casey started her career writing historical romance and to date, has published 40 novels.

Dan CoughlinDan has covered the Cleveland sports scene for 45 years, as a sportswriter for The Plain Dealer (1964–1982) and on WJW TV8 (since 1983). His columns also appeared in several daily newspapers, including the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, Medina Gazette, Lake County News-Herald and more. He was twice named Ohio Sportswriter of the Year and was honored with a television Emmy. He traveled with the Browns and Indians, sat ringside for several world championship fights and covered 17 Indianapolis 500s. Dan has authored Crazy with the Papers to Prove It and recently, Pass the Nuts. He lives in Rocky River.

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Harold A. GeorgeA resident of Lakewood, George is an author and lecturer of historical topics. He has written, produced and published ten books, DVDs and quick reference guides since 1993. He offers ten historical programs which he performs “first person” for the public. He has been performing as a Civil War Re-enactor since 1992. He will be signing the following books and DVDs: Civil War Monuments in Ohio, Abraham Lincoln Visits Ohio: 1861 & 1865, Andrews’ Raiders — “The Great Locomotive Chase,” Civil War Campsites in Ohio: 1861 – 1865, Civil War History of the 9 th Ohio Light Artillery, and Custer’s Last Stand.

John GormanIn 1973, John moved to Cleveland to join WMMS and over the next thirteen years he would help turn WMMS into one of the most popular rock stations in the country. He went on to start 98.5 WNCX and then a radio consulting firm, Gorman Media. He was inducted into the Ohio Radio-TV Hall of Fame in 2000 and received an Award for Excellence in Broadcasting from the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters in 2008. He will be signing The Buzzard. This rock and roll radio memoir takes you behind the scenes at the nation’s hottest station during FM’s heyday, from 1973 to 1986.

Murray FishelDr. Murray Fishel is professor emeritus of political science at Kent State University. He is a late arrival to bicycling, purchasing his first bike at age fifty-one. Since 1991, Murray has become an avid recreational cycle tourer. To date, Murray has ridden in forty-two states and seven countries and has completed many long-distance rides — across the U.S., down the Mississippi, along the Oregon Coast, and from San Francisco to Mexico, to name a few. He will be signing Pedaling on the North Coast coauthored with Stan Purdum.

Marty GitlinAuthor Marty Gitlin has had more than 60 books published, but admits that The Great American Cereal Book is nearest and dearest to his heart. The book is a fun, funny, colorful cereal encyclopedia and coffee table book. It features more than 350 nostalgic images of cereal boxes and memorabilia dating back more than 100 years, as well as fascinating facts about 800 cereals produced from 1863 to the present. The book highlights such iconic cereal spokescharacters such as Tony the Tiger and the Trix Rabbit. Gitlin covers the Cleveland Browns for cbssports.com and lives in North Olmsted with his family.

Justin GlanvilleJustin grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland and now lives on the West Side. From 2000 to 2005, Justin worked as a reporter for The Associated Press in New York City before returning to Cleveland to earn his master’s in urban planning, design and development. From 2007 to 2011, he served as Project Director for Building Cleveland by Design. He is the author of New to Cleveland: A Guide to (Re)Discovering the City (2011). He is recipient of a 2012 Creative Workforce Fellowship from the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture. Justin is currently working on a novel and a book about urban living in the Rust Belt.

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Lawrence HohmanAlphabetical Breeds in Color is the latest in a series of alphabetical books by Lawrence (Larry) Hohman. As both an artist and author, his past works include Alphabetical Birds in Color, Alphabetical Beasts in Color, Alphabetical Botanicals in Color, and Alphabetical Butterflies in Color. All have become favorites of children and adults. Born in Cleveland, Larry’s talent for drawing was honed at The Cleveland Institute of Art. After graduation, he went to work as an art studio designer, then as an advertising agency art director, and finally as the owner of a commercial art studio before retiring in 1996.

Jennie JonesIn 2010, Jennie Jones, a well-known photographer, donated some 22,000 images to the Michael Schwartz Library, Special Collections at Cleveland State University representing 30 years of her work. As a commercial architectural and fine art photographer, she was privileged to have worked on most of the major building sites in Cleveland during those decades. With her art history and fine art background, she was able to capture the beauty, strength and complexity of the city. She will be signing her 12”x 12” coffee table book, Cleveland Inside Outside. It’s full of visual surprises and stunning photographs of the changes and growth of Cleveland, Ohio from 1981-2011.

Walter GrossmanAfter several years of producing landscape photographs, Grossman became interested in architectural subjects. In 1994, he worked on a project for the Cleveland Bicentennial Commission for which he photographed the structures and landmarks of Cleveland. More recently, he collaborated with his longtime friend, Barry Herman, to co-author the book, Cleveland’s Vanishing Sacred Architecture, published by Arcadia Press in 2010. Grossman’s photographs have been exhibited and sold across the United States and in selected galleries in Europe. He has recently entered the realm of digital processes, but still prefers conventional large format cameras to capture his images.

Karen J. HasleyKaren J. Hasley’s academic study of 17th-century female poets inspired a love for the rich treasures to be found in women’s lives of the past, treasures yet to be discovered and shared. With a unique storytelling gift, Karen intertwines fictional heroines with historical real-life women so closely and so convincingly that you may need a history book to figure out which is which. Akron’s Beacon Journal called Hasley’s writing “impeccable” and “satisfying.” (10/15/06) She will be signing: Lily’s Sister, Waiting for Hope, Where Home Is, Circled Heart, and her newest, Gold Mountain. www.karenhasley.com.

Barbara HachaBarbara writes both fiction and nonfiction and is a freelance book editor. Her new historical novel, Line by Line, was a finalist in the Best New Fiction category of USA Book News “Best Books of 2011” Awards. Line by Line, set in the 1930s, tells the story of Maddy Skobel, who, as the Great Depression deepens and her family disintegrates, flees her central Ohio town determined to make her own way. Barbara is also a photographer who teaches photography to people with disabilities. She occasionally exhibits in the Cleveland area. Barbara lives in Concord, Ohio.

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MaryLou LambMaryLou is a Pastoral Disability Specialist recently retired from Outreach Ministry, Catholic Dioceses of Cleveland. She is a former Special Education teacher, Program Coordinator and Director of the Task Force for Persons with Disabilities—Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry. She received the Cuyahoga County Award for Advocacy and New Programs in 1973 and the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Service in 1998. She will be signing A Star and a Rainbow for Benji. Not in print but available on request: Be Gos-pels of Love, Special Stories and Rainbow Program.

Sharon KreighbaumAfter working with clients for 20 years, Sharon noticed that when they put their house on a diet and got rid of clutter they lost weight as well. She decided to write a book to include interior design tips, decluttering strategies, and how to clean an entire house in less than 90 minutes for less than 75 cents using what you already have in the kitchen (baking soda, vinegar, dish detergent and lemon oil). Is Your House Overweight? Recipes for Low-Fat Rooms is filled with vintage graphics, before and after photos and reads like a magazine with short, entertaining information and recipes for low-fat rooms.

Donna MacMeansAward winning romance author Donna MacMeans will be signing Redeeming The Rogue, nominated for both the 2011 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award for Best Innovative Historical Romance and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Publisher’s Weekly says “Irish rebellion, smuggled guns, and the assassination of James Garfield form a lively backdrop for this sweet, sexy, and smartly told Victorian romance.” A brief resident of Lakewood, Ohio and otherwise practicing CPA, Donna’s books have won numerous awards including the Golden Heart from Romance Writers of America, and the 2008 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award for Historical Love & Laughter.

Laurie Lazzaro KnowltonLaurie is the author of forty books and the author/ illustrator of two more. She has been published in the trade, educational, craft, and Christian market. Why Cowboys Sleep with Their Boots On won the Premier Print Award given by Eastman Kodak and has sold over 45,000 copies. The Children’s Book Committee of Bank Street College of Education selected A Young Man’s Dance, as among the best Children’s Books of the year, 2007. Laurie Knowlton is an international speaker, addressing students, educators and writers throughout the United States and Mexico. You can reach Knowlton at LauriepKnowlton@

aim.com and visit her webpage at www.laurieknowlton.com

Tiffany LauferTiffany is a professional artist and writer. Her recent book, The Porch Dream, focuses on two dogs dreaming of saving the day — a best seller at the Buckeye Book Fair. Tiffany has been an artist her entire life. In grade school, she won her first award — a large purple bunny for her coloring of a rabbit. In high-school, Tiffany won two Scholastic gold key awards for watercolors. Tiffany’s illustrations have been seen in books, magazines and in public art commissions. A recent watercolor appeared in the national SCBWI Magazine. Visit her at www.tiffanylaufer.com

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Larry MorrowAs a Cleveland radio DJ and host for more than four decades on four radio stations—WIXY, 3WE, WERE, and WQAL— Larry Morrow became popular for his upbeat personality and gentle good humor. He was inducted into the Radio and Television Hall of Fame and is the only Ohio Broadcaster nominated to the National Radio Hall of Fame. Now, one of Cleveland’s most popular celebrities, (given the honorary title “Mr. Cleveland” by former Mayor George Voinovich) Larry shares favorite stories about remarkable people and extraordinary events from a long and varied career in his book, This Is Larry Morrow….

Victoria Naumann PeltzVictoria Naumann Peltz is a writer, artist, photographer and teacher. She was the founding curator of the Cowan Pottery Museum at Rocky River Public Library, during which time she co-authored the book Cowan Pottery and the Cleveland School with Dr. Mark Bassett. Today, Victoria teaches English as a Second Language on the campus of Case Western Reserve University, and Dr. Mark Bassett is a member of the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Art. Together they wrote the history of R. Guy Cowan, whose studio was in Rocky River during the 1920s on Lake Road.

Sandra PhilipsonAuthor Sandra Philipson is a reading specialist and consultant with a strong background in the education and publishing fields. She has written eight children’s books and will be signing: Max’s Wild Goose Chase, Max’s Rules, Forever Home, Ollie’s Monsters and Other Stories, and Creation Station Literacy Workbook. As a children’s author, Philipson has visited over 450 schools in Ohio and the midwest in the last 12 years. Philipson, her husband, Elliot, and the Springer Spaniel, Tak , and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Oliver, reside in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. (Sadly, the original dogs, Max, Annie, and now Trini are deceased.

Jen McConnellWelcome, Anybody is the debut short story collection by author Jen McConnell. Published by Press 53, it is a collection of fourteen stories about the quiet despair and hope of everyday living. Her fiction has previously been published in literary journals including Spectrum, Clackamas Literary Review, The Unknown Writer, The Clockhouse Review, Word Riot, SNReview, Bacopa Literary Review, r.kv.r.y., and Flint Hills Review. A California native, Jen McConnell moved to Rocky River in 2010, after living in Columbus, Connecticut, and San Francisco. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine, and received her MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College in Vermont.

David PowersDavid Powers earned a degree in Creative Writing from Ohio University. He has since worked as a freelance music critic, a section editor at an alternative newsweekly, and is currently a technical writer, creating help files for a leading software developer in the Cleveland area. He recently wrote Beyond Delicious with “Ghost Whisperer” Mary Ann Winkowski. His fiction has appeared under the name David Christopher in magazines such as Lost Worlds, The MacGuffin, The Inflated Graveworm, and Enigmatic Tales. He currently maintains OH Hellmouth, a fiction blog at graveworm.com

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Stan PurdumLong an avid bicycle tourist, Stan Purdum has ridden several long-distance bike trips, including a cross-nation ride recounted in his book Roll Around Heaven All Day, and a trek on the length of U.S. Route 62, from Niagara Falls, New York, to El Paso, Texas, the subject of his book Playing in Traffic. His book Pedaling to Lunch is a guide to 20 bicycle rides in Northeast Ohio. Stan’s newest book is Pedaling on the North Coast. Co-authored with Murray Fishel, it narrates 18 bicycle rides in the Greater Cleveland area. Stan makes his living as a freelance writer and editor. www.StanPurdum.com

Les RobertsRoberts is the author of 15 mystery novels featuring Cleveland detective Milan Jacovich, as well as nine other books of fiction. The past president of both the Private Eye Writers of America and the American Crime Writer’s League, he came to mystery writing after a 24-year career in Hollywood. He was the first producer and head writer of the Hollywood Squares and wrote for “The Andy Griffith Show,” and “The Jackie Gleason Show” among others. In 2003, he received the Sherwood Anderson Literary Award. Roberts lives in Northeast Ohio and is a film and literary critic. He will be signing many of his novels, including his newest, The Cleveland Creep.

Michael SamulakOn a trip to Uganda, Africa, Michael got the inspiration for his book, A is for Africa, and was fortunate enough to meet a local artist who helped to make that inspiration a reality. This alphabet book (now also a coloring book) is a fresh depiction of the English Alphabet set to authentic native African “batik” style illustrations. The book has won the 2010 Silver Medal from the Mom’s Choice Awards and is recommended by Early-Childhood Educators, the Daily Dose of Reading, and Parents. Mr. Samulak has worked as an educator and church youth minister for over 15 years.

Janie ReinartA teacher consultant, freelance writer and storyteller with a passion for reading and writing, Janie Reinart seeks ways to give people of all ages a voice to tell their own stories. In writing groups, workshops and school residency programs, Janie encourages emerging writers to play with words, telling their stories through prose and poetry. Love You More Than You Know: Mothers’ Stories About Sending Their Sons and Daughters to War contains a component inviting readers to share their stories using writing tips on her blog: www.loveyoumorethanyouknow.com Reach her at [email protected]

John SabolJohn is the author of three books that chronicle the histories of Cleveland Czechs and Cleveland Slovaks, and most recently, Cleveland’s Buckeye Neighborhood. A Cleveland native, he worked at a number of positions at the old Cleveland Press until it closed in 1982. He also spent more than 20 years at Ernst & Young, where he was a senior editor in the firm’s communications group. In 2008, he retired and began his career as an author of local histories. John’s fourth book, expected in the spring of 2013, will deal with the history of Kelleys Island, where he and his wife Jeanne have a summer home.

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Pam SpremulliSpremulli accredited by the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, is best known for her award-winning (GOLD Mom’s Choice Award for Distinctive Illustrations) children’s book Letter Birds (PublishingWorks, Inc.). Her artwork has won numerous awards and is privately collected both domestically and internationally. She continues to show her work in galleries in New York and Cleveland. A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and Northern Ohio Illustrator’s Society, her second children’s book Woof! (PublishingWorks, Inc.) was released in 2011. Pam resides in Chagrin Falls, Ohio with her husband and two daughters.

Tricia SpringstubbTricia Springstubb has worked as a teacher and a children’s library associate, and is now lucky enough to be a full time writer. She’s published for kids of all ages, most recently two middle grade novels set in Cleveland: What Happened on Fox Street and its se-quel Mo Wren Lost and Found. Fox Street was a Washington Post Best Book of the Year and also won the Ohioana Award for Children’s Literature. A starred review of Mo Wren predicts “readers will be inspired and comforted by these indefatigable sisters.” Tricia currently lives in Cleveland Heights.

“Big Chuck” Schodowski“Big Chuck” began his television career as an engineer at KYW Channel 3 in 1960, but quickly moved to a temporary position at WJW TV8, which lasted for 47 years. Schodowski appeared in humorous sketches with Ernie “Ghoulardi” Anderson on the TV show “Shock Theater” and eventually took over as co-host with Bob “Hoolihan” Wells, and later along-side Lil’ John Rinaldi on “The Big Chuck & Lil’ John Show.” He is the recipient of two-doz-en local Emmys, numerous television and film awards, and a Grammy nomination. Tune in as this Cleveland TV legend tells hundreds of funny stories in his book: Big Chuck!

Marilou SuszkoLocal foods advocate, agricultural enthusiast and author, Marilou Suszko will be signing two books that focus on the pleasures, flavors and stories behind local foods. Farms and Foods of Ohio: From Garden Gate to Dinner Plate (Hippocrene Books, 2007) profiles more than 40 small family farms in Ohio with over 100 recipes. Her newest release, The Locavore’s Kitchen (Swallow Press, August 2011) focuses on seasonal foods with information on cooking, canning and preserving plus over 200 recipes. A freelance writer, Suszko’s work appears in numerous local and national publications and she is a frequent guest speaker at venues around Ohio on the topic of local foods.

Ted SchwarzTed Schwarz may be the most prolific author you’ve never heard of. It’s understandable because he’s made his living for years as an uncredited ghostwriter, but he still has plenty of books under his own name, including tomes on the Kennedys and true-crime stories ─ perhaps his best-known title is The Hillside Strangler. The latest book by Schwarz is Marilyn Revealed: The Ambitious Life of an American Icon. His magazine work has appeared in publications ranging from Family Circle to Germany’s Stern to Cosmopolitan. Newspaper work has ranged from The Detroit News to the Akron Beacon Journal, Toledo Blade, and others.

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David YoungDavid Young taught for many years at Oberlin College, where he is still active as editor at FIELD magazine and Oberlin College Press. He is the author of ten previous books of poetry including Black Lab and At the White Window. His most recent book of poems is Field of Light and Shadow (Knopf, 2010), and his most recent translation is Paul Celan’s From Threshold to Threshold (Marick Press, 2010). He has also translated Petrarch, Du Fu, Rilke, and Miroslav Holub. Young was a recipient of Guggenheim and NEA fellowships as well as a Pushcart Prize.

Mary Ann WinkowskiMary Ann was born in Cleveland, Ohio and has been communicating with Earthbound spirits for most of her life. Over the course of work as a paranormal investigator her reputation has spread. She is a consultant to CBS’s “Ghost Whisperer,” has appeared on numerous TV and radio news programs, and spoken at countless lectures. She has authored: When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits (Grand Central Publishing, October 22, 2007), The Book of Illumination (Three Rivers Press 2009), The Ice Cradle (Three Rivers Press 2010), and her latest book Beyond Delicious: The Ghost Whisperer’s Cookbook. (Clerisy Press September 2011).

Joe TaitJoe was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 after 40 years on the air as the radio voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He also did play-by-play for the Cleveland Indi-ans for 15 seasons and broadcast games for the Cleveland Rockers, Cleveland Crusaders and other teams. This legendary broadcaster is like an old family friend to generations of sports fans. It’s Been a Real Ball celebrates his inspiring career with stories from Joe and dozens of fans, media colleagues and players. He says it’s his first and will be his only book. He lives with his wife Jean in LaFayette Township.

Maura Poston ZagransFor three decades Maura placed her career as a mother of six first, so it was not until 2007 that she finally turned her attention to writing for publication. The result is Miracles Every Day: The Story of One Physician’s Inspiring Faith and the Healing Power of Prayer (Doubleday Religion, 2010). Passionate about homelessness in America, Maura is proud to have served on the Board of Directors of the Elyria Y.W.C.A. Maura is an avid animal rights advocate and enjoys photography, vegetarian cooking, hiking and biking. She supports book clubs of all types, especially Sunday Night Solstice Book Club, which she founded eight years ago. www.MauraZ.com

Claudia J. TallerWhen Claudia discovered the long wine-making history and the passion of growers and winemakers at the 40-plus wineries along Lake Erie’s shores and islands, she wrote a book about it: Ohio’s Lake Erie Wineries. Taller writes travel, history, people profiles, and lifestyle articles for numerous publications. A lifelong writer, she is a graduate of Kent State University’s English department with a degree in literature and writing certification. She interned with the Kent State University Press. She owns Igniting Possibilities (IgnitingPossibilities.blogspot.com), a business that encourages people to become more creative through writing. Her musings are at ClaudiaTallerMusings.blogspot.com

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Neil ZurcherNeil Zurcher logged more than a million miles on Ohio’s roads over 25 years as a TV travel reporter. He was the original host of the “One Tank Trips” travel report. Zurcher received the Distinguished Service award from the Society of Professional Journalism and the Silver Circle award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He also received an Emmy, the Award for Excellence in Broadcasting from the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters, and has been inducted into the Cleveland Press Club Hall of Fame. He has written five books about Ohio, including Ohio Oddities, Strange Tales from Ohio and most recently, Tales from the Road.

Thanks to the businesses that contributed items for door prizes!

Books A MillionBurntwood TavernCaribou CoffeeEarth FareErie Island Coffee CompanyGray & Company, PublishersHalf Price BooksMarket RestaurantNature’s BinStarbucksThe Melting PotWine Bar Rocky River WineStyles

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Rocky River Public Library Book Festival Meet the Authors