Three to read at the Ohioana Book Festival

As the Ohioana Book Festival has evolved over the past decade, one key element has remained the same. “Our festival is unusual among state book festivals in that it is specifically dedicated to authors who actually are from or live in the state,” says Ohioana director David Weaver. Nearly 120 authors—all with Buckeye ties—will participate in the April 8 event at the Sheraton Columbus Hotel at Capitol Square. Here are three (and their latest books).ohioana.org

“Fates and Traitors,” Jennifer Chiaverini

The best-selling author returns to her native Ohio to promote her latest historical novel, “Fates and Traitors,” about Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth and four of his female confidants. Chiaverini lives in Wisconsin, but was born in Cincinnati. To participate in the festival, an author has to either have been born in Ohio or lived in the state for at least five years, Weaver says.

“The Complete Funky Winkerbean, Volume 6,” Tom Batiuk

The Medina cartoonist started Northeast Ohio-setFunky Winkerbeanin the 1970s as a typical joke-a-day comic, but it has grown more narratively complex over the years. Weaver says Batiuk's other syndicated strip,Crankshaft, will feature the Ohioana Festival when it's published during the week of April 2.

“Carrying Coal to Columbus: Miningin the Hocking Valley,” David Meyers (co-author)

The prolific Columbus historian will be promoting his latest book of local history written with Nyla Vollmer and his frequent collaborator, his daughter Elise Meyers Walker. Weaver says Meyers' book about the Kahiki Supper Club was the biggest seller at the 2015 festival.