Authors Available

Ohio University Press authors are available for programming that your library might like to plan during National Library Week, which happens to take place during National Poetry Month.  Feel free to contact Jeff Kallet to schedule an author and to get other ideas, including children’s authors, topics in history and politics, memoirs, and more.  If you have an interest in scheduling a talk or reading, here are some ideas, beginning with a few poets (who can be scheduled any time during April should it be more convenient.)
 
POETRY
• Sara Henning, author of Terra Incognita: Poems (MARCH)
Terra Incognita is the winner of our annual Hollis Summers Poetry Prize. The book comes with solid endorsements, including one by Maggie Smith. Terra Incognita is unique among our prize winners in that it’s very much a themed collection, primarily focused on the poet’s wrestling with the death of her mother, the grieving process, and with finding a way back to normalcy after such a loss. Sara is originally from Georgia and now lives in Texas, so this would be a virtual reading/Q&A. (She thinks poetry readings work better if there’s more than one poet involved to either read with or to act as an interviewer.)
 
• David Sanders, author of Bread of the Moment: Poems
David is an Athens-based poet originally from Hiram. This is his second collection of poetry which we published in October. A review of the book just appeared in the Athens News. (You can opt to skip the survey to go right to the review.) He is a seasoned poet and poetry editor.
 
• Bernard Clay, author of English Lit: Poems
This is a coming-of-age debut about growing up African American in Louisville, KY. It has done remarkably well since we published it last August. Bernard lives outside of Berea, KY, these days, so this could be virtual or in-person depending upon location.
 
FICTION
• Andrew Welsh-Huggins, author of the Andy Hayes Mystery series
Andrew lives in Columbus and has written seven mysteries set in the city, all centered on his private investigator Andy Hayes. He is a frequent presenter—funny and quite knowledgeable about the mystery genre.
 
• P. L. Gaus, author of the Amish Country Mysteries
Gaus lives in Wooster. In 2020, we reintroduced the first four books of his highly popular Amish Country Mystery series, all featuring author Q&As, group reading guides, and tailored driving maps to Holmes County based on the plot of each unique mystery. As you may know, readers enjoy learning about Amish culture embedded in a fast-paced mystery.
 
• Bonnie Proudfoot, author of Goshen Road: A Novel
Goshen Road was longlisted for the 2021 PEN/Hemingway Award for Best Debut Novel and it was also selected for the Women’s National Book Association’s Great Group Reads program. Bonnie is based in Athens and is willing to travel. 
 
NONFICTION
• Walter Sturgeon, author of Appalachian Mushrooms: A Field Guide
Walter lives near Youngstown and is one of the top mycologists in the United States. He often appears as an identifier at Ohio Mushroom Society forays. Appalachian Mushrooms has been our best-selling book for three years.
 
• Matt Rapposelli, author of A Taste of the Hocking Hills. Matt is a well-known regional chef now based at The Inn at Cedar Falls, and formerly at both Lake Hope Lodge and the Hocking Hills Lodge. His recipe book focuses on seasonal foods and is also a beautiful document of 75 color photos of Ohio’s well-known travel destination. The last time I spoke with Matt, he was available to transport a stove to do cooking demos. I realize that may not be do-able at this stage of the pandemic, but FYI.
 
• Rick Armon, author of 50 Must-Try Craft Beers of Ohio
Rick is a beer blogger and journalist in Akron-Canton and an expert on Ohio’s phenomenal craft brewing scene. His book is a fun celebration of the creativity and innovation that have gone into this world.