I love Ohio and – working at Ohioana, getting to read (and work with) amazing Ohio authors everyday – who could blame me? One of the greatest parts of my job is introducing people to the great literature that comes from my home state; but I get even more excited when others already share my appreciation.
We asked a few of the 2013 Ohioana Book Festival authors to tell us about who inspires them, and whether these authors realize it or not, several have found their inspiration in fellow Ohioans.
Laura Bickle, an Adult and YA fantasy author from Columbus (who also writes as Alayna Williams), fell in love with the fantasy genre while reading Warren, Ohio native Robin McKinley: “Robin McKinley’s Hero and the Crown started my love of fantasy. I read it when I was a pre-teen, and fell in love with fantasy ever after. It was the first book I’d read that had a female protagonist who slew her own dragons. I was hooked.”
Cozy mystery author Duffy Brown, who calls the small Cincinnati suburb of Milford, Ohio home, wanted to be Nancy Drew after reading The Secret of the Old Clock – penned, along with the other twenty-two first Nancy Drew novels, by Toledo-native Mildred Wirt Benson (under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene). “I think my love of cozies started back in the day with Nancy Drew. The Secret of the Old Clock in the sixth grade, not exactly Mad Men era but close. Nancy Drew was smart and caring. I really loved that she was smarter than the guys when guys had it all. I wanted to be Nancy! Reading Nancy Drew was great for mystery and the ego. Nancy was self-sufficient and took charge of her destiny. It planted a seed that took root in enjoying mysteries and life.”
It makes sense that Ohio would be home to creativity and inspiration.
To hear more from Laura Bickle, Duffy Brown, and more than 100 other Ohio authors, join us for the 2013 Ohioana Book Festival on May 11th, 2013 at Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center!
We will be posting more of what the 2013 Ohioana Book Festival authors had to say leading up to the Festival in May!
-Beth Poley, Program Coordinator
