On Thursday, May 3 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Join Robin Yocum as he reads from his new novel Favorite Sons at the OSU ReadAloud!
The Ohio State University – Thompson Library Room 202, Columbus, Ohio.

On Tuesday, May 8 from 4:00 -5:30 p.m. Nancy Petro will be reading from and discussing her book False Justice at the Ohioana Library and the State Library of Ohio – 274 E. First Ave., Columbus, Ohio

Wednesday, May 9 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Donald Ray Pollock will be at the Peggy McConnell Art Center, 777 Evening St., Worthington, Ohio reading from The Devil All the Time.

On Thursday, May 10 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Cartoonist Tom Batiuk will be at Laughing Ogre Comics, 4258 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio; from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Elise Meyers Walker will be discussing her book Look to Lazarus at the Lennox Center Barnes & Noble, 1739 Olentangy River Rd., Columbus, Ohio; and from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m., mystery writer Les Roberts will be sharing Detective Milan Jacovich’s cases at the Easton Barnes & Noble, Easton Town Center, 4005 Townsfair Way, Columbus, Ohio.

OBF ON THE AIR!

You can listen to broadcasts with Ohioana Book Festival authors:

On Thursday, May 10 from 11 a.m. – 12 noon catch authors Tom Batiuk, Cinda Williams Chima, and Casey Daniels on WOSU-FM 89.7’s All Sides with Ann Fisher. At the same time,  Nancy Roe Pimm and  Donald Ray Pollock will be on VOICECorps‘ Morning Exchange with Amy Billerman. Both programs will air from 11a.m. – 12 noon and will also be recorded as podcasts!

You can read the whole review here.

OHIOANA BOOK FESTIVAL:

Celebrating Ohio’s Authors

Saturday, May 12th

Live music, food carts, exhibits, fun-loving crowds and….books—lots and lots of books!  The Ohioana Library’s goal, as it prepares to present the 6^th annual Ohioana Book Festival, is creating a Festival that brings readers, writers and books together for an inspiring, fun learning experience.

Nearly 100 authors, including 10 who are designated as “featured,” will be at the Festival with new books they have published within the past 16 months.  The main event will be held on Saturday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center, 546 Jack Gibbs Blvd., near downtown Columbus and the Short North. This event is free and open to the public with no tickets or advance registration required.

“We are proud to announce the 10 outstanding and diverse writers who have been selected as the featured authors for the 2012 Ohioana Book Festival. These authors are all stars in their chosen literary fields,” said Executive Director Linda Hengst.

During the week prior to the Festival, the 10 featured authors, along with many other  selected festival authors, will take part in more than 15 outreach programs in the Columbus area and around the state. A number of programs will be held in public venues while others will be provided for specific populations such as schools and classrooms.

Featured Authors
Tom Batiuk
Jeni Britton Bauer
Cinda Williams Chima
Casey Daniels
Nancy Petro
Donald Ray Pollock
Emilie Richards
Les Roberts
Michael J. Rosen
Robin Yocum

Festival Programs

Activities during the May 12^th Festival will include more than 20 panel discussions on a variety of topics.  The 10 featured authors will appear in a track of five panels, including conversations about their own literary influences, the writing life and the creative process.  Additional panel dialogue will explore children’s literature and poetry, along with several “behind-the-scenes” opportunities for new writers to find out more about how to get published. Author roundtables will be devoted to popular genres such as mystery, romance and science fiction.

“Each year, we offer at least one panel on the ‘how-to’s’ of the publishing business and the room is filled to capacity,” said Hengst. “Many people who come to the festival are aspiring writers who are trying to get their work published.  This year we’ll have more opportunities for those writers to meet people from inside the publishing industry, as well as talk to authors who will share their own experiences of breaking in to the business.”

In celebration of the 200th birthday of Columbus, there will be a special track of panels about the city, including The Ohio State University, the Lazarus Store and historically haunted places.  One panel, “Lit, Lives, and Landmarks,” will introduce a new Ohioana program “Ohioana Library On the Road,” highlighting tours that will begin in June. The Columbus tours will visit sites connected to noted authors such as O. Henry.

“We are excited to have so many nationally recognized authors participating in our sixth festival.  They are all Ohioans by birth or residents with books that have been published in the past year,” Hengst said. “They represent every major literary field and genre – fiction (mystery, romance, fantasy, science fiction, and literary fiction), nonfiction (memoirs, history, essays, and cook books), poetry and books for children and young adults.”

Click here to see all of our Festival  Authors

Additional festival activities will include a children’s room with programs designed to entertain young readers. The line-up for youth was created and is managed by the Kent State University School of Library and Information Science students and faculty, along with local librarians.

Food will be provided by popular Columbus food carts and local musicians will entertain during the lunch break. The most recent books published by the Festival authors will be available at the on-site Barnes and Noble Bookstore.

For photos and interviews, contact Linda Hengst at the Ohioana Library. Detailed Festival information can be found at www.OhioanaBookFestival.org .

The Festival is presented by the Ohioana Library Association with major funding provided by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, State Library of Ohio, the Reinberger Foundation, the Ohio Humanities Council, the Ohio Arts Council, and Honda of America Mfg., Inc. The children’s space and activities are sponsored by Huntington Bank, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and Margaret Wong & Associates.  Our media sponsors are WCBE, Ohio Magazine, and PDG Communications. Along with the Kent State University School of Library and Information Science, twenty-one local and statewide partners and contributors are helping to make the Festival program possible including the Toledo Public Library, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Ohio Center for the Book, Cleveland Public Library, VOICECorps, and numerous local organizations. The full list can be found on the Ohioana Book Festival website: http://www.ohioanabookfestival.org/sponsors/.

Ohio’s libraries are the best in the country.  With great collections and high circulation rates, is it any wonder that Ohio is the home of some of the country’s best writers?

Ohioana’s mission is to: recognize and encourage the creative accomplishments of Ohioans, preserve and expand a permanent archive of books, manuscripts, and other materials by Ohioans and about Ohio, and disseminate information about the work of Ohio writers, musicians, and other artists to researchers, schools, and the general public. Ohioana is a 501-C-(3) not for profit organization supported by memberships, subscription, gifts, grants, and a subsidy from the State of Ohio.

We are very excited to announce the ten featured and all the fair authors that will be participating in the sixth annual Ohioana Book Festival: Celebrating Ohio’s Authors on May 12th 2012 at the Ft. Hayes Metropolitan Education Center.

Authors appealing to every reader’s interest will be at the 2012 Festival! The full list of authors is up on our authors page. We will be updating the website as we get closer to the Festival, but for now, clicking on an author’s name will direct you to their website!

In the next few weeks we will add program information including descriptions of the  panel discussions and other activities that will take place at the Festival. You will also be able to read about our community outreach programs being held prior to the Festival that are open to the public.

We need volunteers to help before, during, and after the Festival! If you would like to help out, please contact Jen Johnson – jjohnson@ohioana.org.

I look forward to seeing you at the 2012 Ohioana Book Festival!

Sincerely,

Linda Hengst
Executive Director

It is time to act on behalf of Ohioana….

Contact Your State Representative Now to Support the Ohioana Budget!

Governor Kasich’s proposed state budget bill has been released.  It includes an appropriation of $120,000 in each of Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013 for Ohioana.  Because this funding is critically important for Ohioana to maintain core services, we ask you to contact your state representative to express your strong support for our budget. (If you don’t know the name of your representative, please refer to item #4 below.)

The Ohioana budget will first be heard in the Ohio House by the Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee. We expect to provide testimony in the last week of March, and will be relying on you to write, call, and/or visit your representative to voice your support.  If you prefer to write, please send letters, not emails.  Letters should be brief and cite your personal experiences for supporting Ohioana’s programs.  Phone calls and visits are also very effective.  Please note the following suggestions:

1.      Be positive.  Express your appreciation for previous state funding.  Share your personal experiences that have led you to become an avid Ohioana supporter.  We suggest you use the following format in addressing letters to representatives:    The Honorable Jane Doe, The Ohio House of Representatives, 77 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215.

2.      The following are talking points that you may want to consider when composing letters or having discussions with legislators.

· At the foundation of all of our services is the Ohioana Collection.  On behalf of the citizens of Ohio, Ohioana promotes and preserves the legacy of Ohio authors, musicians and artists and through our programs we foster and nurture the talents of aspiring young writers and readers.

· State funding is needed to sustain our core services.  These funds are necessary so that Ohioana can seek out and leverage additional private support. Through this successful public/private partnership, Ohioana programs touched more than 80,000 Ohioans, including the Ohioana Book Festival, outreach to schools and libraries, and online educational materials.

· Ask for their support of $120,000 each year for Fiscal Years ‘12 and ‘13 for Ohioana funding.  The funds are appropriated in line item 355-501 of the budget bill.

· Thank the legislator for his/her consideration and past support.

3.      If you are calling or visiting legislators, but are unable to meet personally with them, take advantage of the time to speak with their legislative aides.  Because of heavy scheduling demands with multiple hearings and meetings, legislators may not be available at all times and do rely upon their aides to assist them in hearing constituent concerns.  If possible, send a follow up note of appreciation after the meeting.

4.      If you do not know who your state legislators are, check the website http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/ or call your county board of elections or local library.  You can also call the toll free legislative information number at 1 (800) 282-0253 to find phone numbers and addresses of legislators.

Thank you for showing your support of Ohioana.  Legislators have told us that the views of their constituents are very important to them, so please let them hear from you!

In order to qualify as an author for the festival, you must: have an Ohio connection (either born in Ohio or lived in Ohio for five or more years); your book must have been/be published after January 2010; your book must be traditionally published – we are not acception self-published authors at this time.

If you are interested in applying, click here for an application.

Please mail, email, or fax the application back to us with two copies of your book, a brief (120 words or less) bio, and a photo.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Authors will be notified no later than January 31 about participation in the festival.

The 4^th annual OHIOANA BOOK FESTIVAL is just around the corner – but even before the “Main Event” this Saturday (10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the State Library of Ohio, FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC), you can get a sneak preview by seeing and hearing some of our authors in these special appearances:

Wednesday, May 5:

11:00 a.m. – Noon
ALL SIDES with Ann Fisher (WOSU 820 AM)

In celebration of the 4^th annual Ohioana Book Festival, Ann Fisher hosts three authors as they reflect on writing and their Ohio roots:  poet and Ohio State University English professor Andrew Hudgins and children’s author Angela Johnson, and author and illustrator David Catrow.

4:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.
DANNO TALK OF THE TOWN (WCRS-FM, 102.1/98.3)

Ohioana’s David Weaver and authors Laura Bickle and Dara Naraghi join host Dan “Danno” Thomas for a preview of the 2010 Ohioana Book Festival

7:00 p.m.  – 8:00 p.m.
Barnes & Noble Lennox Town Center
1739 Olentangy River Road – Columbus, OH 43212

Young adult historical novelist Lisa Klein and horror and science fiction writer Lucy Snyder read from their works, talk with fans, and sign copies of their books at this first of two free events hosted at the Lennox Town Center by Barnes & Noble, the official bookseller of the Ohioana Book Festival

Thursday, May 6:

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.           �
Worthington McConnell Art Center (MAC)
777 Evening Street – Worthington, OH 43085

Meet and hear writer and Worthington resident Lucy Snyder at a free public reception in the beautiful new McConnell Arts Center

7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Barnes & Noble Lennox Town Center
1739 Olentangy River Road – Columbus, OH 43212

Cartoonist, author and illustrator David Catrow and poet Andrew Hudgins share their works, greet fans, and sign copies of their books at this second free event celebrating the Ohioana Book Festival

Friday, May 7:

Get a sneak preview of the 2010 Ohioana Book Festival and meet these featured authors at the following Columbus Metropolitan Library branches – all free and open to the public:

10:00 a.m.            DAVID CATROW
Northside branch
1423 North High Street – Columbus, OH 43201

11:00 a.m.            LORI FOSTER
Whitehall Branch
4371 E. Broad Street – Columbus, OH 43213

1:00 p.m.              ANGELA JOHNSON
Northern Lights Branch
4093 Cleveland Ave. – Columbus, OH 43224

1:30 p.m.              DAVID CATROW
Hilltop Branch
511 South Hague Avenue – Columbus, OH 43204

2:00 p.m.              LORI FOSTER
Gahanna Branch
310 Granville Street – Gahanna, OH 43230

2:00 p.m.              DAN CHAON
Dublin Branch
75 N. High St, – Dublin, OH 43017

We hope to see you at these events – and remember to join us Saturday, May 8 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the State Library of Ohio for the 4^th annual OHIOANA BOOK FESTIVAL – it’s FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!  No ticket required – no advance registration.  FREE parking, too!

The festival will take place at Ohioana and the State Library of Ohio on Saturday, May 8, 2010 from 10am to 4:30pm, which means we need volunteers in the afternoon on Friday, May 7 and ALL DAY (8am – 6:30pm) Saturday.

We ask for at least a 2 HOUR commitment from our volunteers, though if you are able to commit more time to the festival, we would appreciate it. All Ohioana Book Festival volunteers will receive an Ohioana Book Festival t-shirt, which we will ask you to wear during your shift. Food will be provided during the festival to volunteers who have committed to four or more hours.

The times we need you are:

Friday, May 7 (Day before the Festival)

1pm – 5pm: We may not be here that late, but we need help setting up tables inside and with any last minute things for Saturday.

Saturday, May 8 (Day of the Festival)

8am – 10am: Set-up of outside and any final adjustments
9am – 11am: Festival operation/information, etc
11am – 1pm: Festival operation/information, etc
1pm – 3pm: Festival operation/information, etc
3pm – 5pm: Festival operation/information, etc
4:30pm – 6:30pm: Tear-down of Festival

If you are interested in volunteering, please email Beth Poley at bpoley@ohioana.org.

The Ohioana Book Festival exists to showcase the talents of Ohio’s authors, increase awareness of their literary contributions, and to celebrate and encourage the love of reading.  We have ten great featured authors and more than 70 festival authors this year.

We look forward to hearing from you and working with you on the 2010 Ohioana Book Festival!

The 2009 Ohioana Awards are quickly approaching (this weekend!).  You can still make reservations until the end of business today (October 15), so we hope to see you there!