Award-winning local author Loren Long is being honored at Ohioana 2017, a special event sponsored by the Ohioana Library Association and presented by the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.
The annual event, designed to celebrate the rich heritage of local authors, takes place 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 2, in the Main Library Reading Garden Lounge, 800 Vine St., downtown Cincinnati.
The event features Hamilton County authors, such as Cynthia Beischel and Jim Obergefell, most of whom have published books within the past year. Children’s author-illustrator Loren Long is accepting Ohioana 2017’s Cooper Award and speaking at the event.
The Cooper Award was created in 2003 and named for the founding family of Ohioana. It is given to an individual or organization that has made outstanding contributions to the promotion of books and reading in Hamilton County. Past winners include Will Hillenbrand, Writer’s Digest, Mercantile Library of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Public Radio.
Readers will have the chance to meet and talk with their favorite local authors. Families are invited to join Loren Long for a special storytime at 3 p.m. and other kid activities. Long is signing books as well, which are available for purchase courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers. The Ohioana event is free and open to the public. Call 513-369-6919.
About Loren Long
Long was born in Joplin, Mo. He graduated from University of Kentucky with a B.A. in graphic design. He is best-known for his “Otis” books and is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of President Barack Obama’s picture book Of Thee I Sing, the re-illustrated edition of The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, and Mr. Peabody’s Apples by Madonna. He lives in Cincinnati with his wife and two sons.
About Ohioana
The Ohioana Library Association was founded in 1929 to collect, preserve and promote the written work of Ohio’s authors, artists and musicians. Visit www.ohioana.org.
