Cookbooks
Chinese Enough by Kristina Cho
Cleveland native Kristina Cho put out her latest cookbook, showcasing recipes that incorporate Chinese and American elements. Seek out dishes like miso pork meatballs, creamy tomato udon and seared egg tofu with honey and soy. The book also shares stories about Cho’s family in Cleveland. eatchofood.com
Meat Pies: An Emerging American Craft by Brian Polcyn and Michael Ruhlman
Food writer star and Cleveland native Michael Ruhlman returned with another cookbook collaboration with Brian Polcyn, this time on a variety of meat-filled pies — including everything from pot pies to turnovers to tarts. ruhlman.com
Tradizione: Southern Italian Recipes for Christmas, Easter & Sunday Dinner by Alex Zordich
Yosteria in Youngstown is known for its Italian fare — and restaurant owner Alex Zordich shares some of them in this cookbook. You’ll learn how to make the Feast of the Seven Dishes, Easter bread, Sunday sauce and more, all stemming from Zordich's family recipes. tradizionepublications.square.site
Wild Ohio Harvest Cookbook
This online-only searchable cookbook from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources offers inventive recipes for hunters — with dishes like air fryer catfish, black and blue venison sliders, grilled wild turkey and more available. ohiodnr.gov
Poetry & Art
Butterflies by Diandra Liccardo
Local poet Diandra Liccardo crafted a book of poetry around experiencing love. “I hope that as you read them that they create butterflies in your stomach and love in your heart,” the book’s description reads. loganberrybooks.com/butterflies
Cheap Motels of My Youth by George Bilgere
One very big childhood cross-country road trip impacted George Bilgere’s life — and influenced his latest poetry collection, which documents travels around the country and experiences in cheap diners and hotels. georgebilgere.com
Fugitive/Refuge by Philip Metres
Philip Metres examines the meaning of “home” in his latest collection of poems. He uses qasida, an Arabic ode format, along with other formats like sonnets, cut-ups and prayer, to reflect on his Lebanese heritage and his ancestors’ lives as refugees. philipmetres.com
Happy Place by Joey Polisena
Willoughby artist Joey Polisena incorporates drawings and writing into a raw collection of poetry, exploring family trauma, grief and growth. ScorchedFeathers.com
Heart of Cleveland 2 by Scott Kraynak
Page through new original works in this compilation by Scott Kraynak and Brandon Weil, in which artists, chefs, musicians and more shared how Cleveland has inspired their work. The book is available to buy from local bookstores and from Hedge Gallery. hedgeartgallery.com
Horse Skull Moon by Robert Miltner
Retired Kent State University poetry professor Robert Miltner published a new chapbook of 23 prose poems this year, playing with forms in poetry — and giving a glimpse at an upcoming full-length poetry book from the writer. Amazon link
Literary Cleveland compilations
Local writing organization Literary Cleveland released a handful of new creative writing anthologies and collections this year, centering voices of Northeast Ohioans in various ways. litcleveland.org
- These Words Are Not My Home: Poems, Stories, and Essays from The Unhoused
- Beyond Service: 2024 Veterans' Voices Anthology
- Gordon Square Review Issue 14
Rock Shots by Mike Petrello
Known for photographing the Cleveland rock ‘n’ roll scene in the ’70s and ’80s, Mike Petrello has released a photography book showcasing his most iconic images. (Notably, the book includes photos of more than 50 Rock & Roll Hall of Famers.) mikepetrellophotography.com
Something To Say by Lake Erie Ink contributors
Local children’s and teen writing program Lake Erie Ink released its eighth poetry anthology this year, housing a collection of poems spanning a variety of subjects — all with “something to say.” The project also features a foreword by local poet Siaara Freeman. lakeerieink.org
Soup by Kevin Latimer
Grieveland co-founder Kevin Latimer brewed a fresh collection, composed of a range of poems, plays and choreopoems that delve into nostalgia, pop culture and current events. instagram.com/grieve_land
Fiction
A Place We Belong by Deanna Adams
A burlesque dancer makes an unlikely team with Cleveland safety director Eliot Ness to help find her long-lost sister in this spin on local historical fiction from longtime author Deanna Adams. Amazon link
A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke
This adventurous story follows Aubrey Tourvel, a main character with a strange illness: She cannot stop moving and cannot revisit a place she has been. She traverses the globe multiple times, meets impressive fellow travelers and encounters magical spaces, in this impressive debut novel written by a former Cleveland Public Library employee. simonandschuster.com
Conversations with My Mother: A Novel of Dementia on the Maine Coast by Ronald-Stéphane Gilbert
Inspired by his mother’s experiences with Alzheimer’s disease, this local author wrote a fictional novel about a woman who succumbs to dementia in Maine and follows her family’s journey in handling and understanding the disease. ronaldstephanegilbert.com
Dreams of Drowning by Patricia Averbach
A magical realist tale weaves together love interests, tragedies and unexpected connections in this novel that follows various characters’ losses and secrets, and the dreams and experiences that connect them. patriciaaverbach.com
Finding Fran by Nancy Christie
This Austintown-based author penned a novel about a romance novelist who struggles to overcome writer’s block after discovering her love life isn’t all it seems to be. She escapes to a California bed-and-breakfast to face the work in front of her — both on the page and in her own life. The book is the latest in Christie’s Midlife Moxie series. nancychristie.com
Letting Frogs Go by Liz Ferro
Five midlife women reconnect and grow after past traumas and hardships, in an uplifting story about the power of friendship. instagram.com/lizferroauthor
The Musical Mozinskis by Susan Petrone
Susan Petrone’s latest novel centers on a family with a shared musical skill: They can see notes of music as they perform. Well, except for Viola, who is tone-deaf. Together, they aim for family band stardom. susanpetrone.com
Fiction: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
The Baker and the Bard: A Cozy Adventure by Fern Haught
Expect a delightfully illustrated adventure in a fantastical land in local illustrator and author Fern Haught’s debut graphic novel, which follows two friends who aim to solve a mystery of missing crops and a community of creatures who live near their town of Larkspur. fernhaught.com
The Elders' Sequence (The Leaders of Aluzamoak Book 1) by S.A. Ferguson
This intergalactic story follows Mira, who leads the planet Aluzamoak and who encounters political questions and difficulties in her work to successfully lead the world with her spouse Zaraith. saferguson.com
The Failures by Benjamin Liar
In his ambitious post-apocalyptic debut book in The Wanderlands series, author Benjamin Liar brings an unlikely group of protagonists who try to defend a mechanical planet that’s threatened to go dark by monsters. benjaminliar.com
Grow by Justin Montello
Aurora middle school teacher Justin Montello published his climate-fiction book about a new effort to save the world from environmental and political collapse. The main character, Autumn Log, is armed with a special power to regrow trees. olympiapublishers.com/book/grow
Making Ash of Errors by Linda Robertson Reinhardt
Paired with a fire elemental fox who lives in singer Krissy Harlow’s aura, Harlow digs into secret societies, frightening enemies and magical powers in this urban fantasy novel with vintage vibes. authorlindarobertson.com
Fiction: Mystery & Thriller
A Chance in Hell by Marcus Cook
Ava Edison is a talented thief — and doesn’t turn away from a challenge. In this thriller, she has to draw on her past to pull off her latest intriguing heist. Facebook page
Broken Albatross by J. Drew Brumbaugh
The third book in the Galiwee Visions thriller series, Broken Albatross follows protagonist Tommy Galiwee as he experiences dangerous visions about a senator and his family — and has to fight to save both himself and his loved ones. jdrewbrumbaugh.com
The Framed Women of Ardemore House by Brandy Schillace
Early this year, Cleveland writer Brandy Schillace released a murder mystery that follows Jo Jones, a neurodivergent book editor who takes over a family estate — and a killing of a groundskeeper. Left to solve the event, Jones must confront family mysteries, too. brandyschillace.com
Going Dark by George Mehok
This thriller follows protagonist Paul Knox, a cybersecurity expert, after a cyber-terrorist plot against America — and weaves in the true historical story of Jack Jouett’s 1791 message delivery from Thomas Jefferson to General Henry Knox during the Revolutionary War. georgemehok.com
Hurt Mountain by Angela Crook
Patrolman Brandon Hall discovers a string of disappearances taking place across the country — and an unsettling new case brings new sides to his family’s struggle after their 8-year-old daughter went missing. angelacrook.wordpress.com
Mystery books by Amanda Flower
Northeast Ohio’s bestselling mystery author Amanda Flower stayed busy in 2024, releasing six new mystery novels in a handful of different series — some festive, some cozy, some delectable. amandaflower.com
- Gingerbread Danger (An Amish Candy Shop Mystery Book 9)
- Crime and Cherry Pits: An Organic Cozy Mystery (Farm to Table Mysteries, 4)
- To Slip the Bonds of Earth: A Riveting Mystery Based on a True History (A Katharine Wright Mystery Book 1)
- Dead-End Detective (Piper and Porter Mysteries Book 1)
- Frozen Detective (Piper and Porter Mysteries Book 2)
- To Slip the Bonds of Earth: Sneak Peek (A Katharine Wright Mystery)
Mystery books by Barbara Howard
Acclaimed Northeast Ohio author Barbara Howard continued her Clover City Files series and also released a couple of other mystery and romance titles in a busy year of publishing. authorbarbarahoward.com
- Love, Lies and Local News
- The Bride Wore Death: A Mystery Short
- A Royal Twist: The Clover City Files Series Book 4
- A Match Made in Murder: The Clover City Files Book 3
Mystery books by Don Hilton
Lorain County author Don Hilton penned three whodunit novels this year, all looking at various fictional mysteries — about geologists turning up dead, small-town investigators, ghosts and serial killers. dhiltonbooks.net
- The Quicks, The Deads, and Me
- The Glass Shard Shooting
- Miss Kuper and the Cascade Corpse
Fiction: Romance
Arrow by Kris Renee
A steamy version of the Greek mythological tale of Cupid and Psyche arrives in local romance writer Kris Renee’s latest novella. krisrenee.net
Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings
After winning the lottery, Opal Devlin purchases a flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina — but runs into a woman who claims she owns the farm and its cabin. The two opposites cohabitate, and while they face new conflict as housemates, sparks start flying. mazeyeddings.com
Love on the Lakefront: Romantic Tales from the Great Lakes
Great Lakes Fiction Writers members came together to release a book of romantic stories which all take place on the Great Lakes. Contributors include Northeast Ohio's Iris Matthews, Sylvie Fielder, Zariah L. Banks, Barbara Howard and more. greatlakesfictionwriters.com
Unveiled Love: A Benton Center Romance by David Allen Edmonds
Medina author David Allen Edmonds expanded on his Benton Center Romance series with a new, wholesome story about an unlikely pairing: a manager of a senator's campaign and a successor to a family bookstore. davidallenedmonds.com
Nonfiction
100 Nights of a Lifetime by Stephanie Vermillion
Who needs daylight to marvel at the world? Lakewood travel writer Stephanie Vermillion looks at nighttime adventures in her debut book, including some of her journeys. See turtles move in moonlight, kayak in Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent bay, view Iceland’s auroras and more in the visual pages. penguinrandomhouse.com
Breaking the Curse by Alex DiFrancesco
In their new memoir, author Alex DiFrancesco digs into their experiences of transgender life, trauma and addiction in a reflective story of healing — plus, a little witchcraft. alexdifrancesco.com
Cleveland’s Riverside Cemetery by Jamie Lynne Owens and William G. Krejci
A fifth-generation staff member of this 150-year-old Cleveland cemetery shares stories about the space’s development alongside much of the city’s growth in this look-back of a book. arcadiapublishing.com
The Cultured Curves Guide to Style for Mature Curvy Women by Linda Peavy
This book serves as a guide to fashion for curvy and plus-size women but also emphasizes building confidence and elegance with sections on makeup, choosing colors and beauty affirmations. culturedcurves.com
I Love Baseball and 1960: When the Pittsburgh Pirates Had Them All The Way by Wayne Stewart
Amherst-based author Wayne Stewart added two new sports books to his slate of releases: a collection of tales and tidbits from lovers of baseball and also an in-depth look at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 1960 “season of destiny.” Amazon link
La Cave: Cleveland's Legendary Music Club and the ’60s Folk-to-Rock Revolution by Steve Traina
A tiny basement venue in Cleveland once hosted The Velvet Underground, Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young and many others in the ’60s. Author Steve Traina shares stories from the venue in this impactful piece of local music history. lacavebook.com
Little Detours and Spiritual Adventures by Regina Brett
Known for her long-running columns at the Akron Beacon Journal and The Plain Dealer, Regina Brett has published a handful of popular books to compile personal stories and her philosophies on life. Her fourth and latest, Little Detours and Spiritual Adventures, she calls, on her website, “a book full of light for dark times.” reginabrett.com
Love and Loss: The Short Life of Ray Chapman by Scott H. Longert
Famously killed when he was struck with a baseball during a game, Cleveland Indians player Ray Chapman has been a figure of intrigue for decades. More than a century after his death, he's the focus of local writer Scott Longert's latest baseball book. scottlongert.com
Music books by Annie Zaleski
Northeast Ohio author and music journalist (and occasional Cleveland Magazine contributor) Annie Zaleski released four new books in 2024 — all focused on some of the world’s most popular musicians and most iconic love songs. anniez.com
- Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs
- The Essential... Lady Gaga
- We Found Love, Song by Song
- Harry Styles: A Sign of the Times
Native Americans of the Cuyahoga Valley: Examining Myths, Misconceptions and Misrepresentations by Peg Bobel and Linda Whitman
Scholar Linda Whitman and writer Peg Bobel teamed up to dig into Northeast Ohio’s rich and complicated Native American heritage. uakron.edu/uapress
Playhouse Square and the Cleveland Renaissance by John Vacha
One of the city’s major pride points was the 1970s rejuvenation of Playhouse Square — an effort that had a ripple effect of Downtown Cleveland becoming the arts destination it is today. That history, and its more recent challenges during the pandemic, make up this historical book. kentstateuniversitypress.com
Shining Art on Light: Colorful Insights by James T. Dakin
A former General Electric physicist and engineer keeps his attention on light, exploring the phenomena and dynamics of illumination, both in nature and in human invention. All four sections of the book also feature museum artwork, celebrating brightness. jimdakin.com
The Truth About Unringing Phones by Lara Lillibridge
A series of essays dig into Lara Lillibridge's upbringing, chasing her father after he moved to the distant Anchorage, Alaska — and explores the dynamics of familial obligation. instagram.com/laralillibridge
Kids
Because Barbara, by Sarah Mackenzie, illustrated by Eileen Ryan Ewen
Featuring illustrations by local artist Eileen Ryan Ewen, Because Barbara is a picture book about fellow picture book-making icon Barbara Cooney. eileenryanewen.com
I See Me in the ABCs: Exploring the World of Fruits and Veggies Through the Alphabet by Shardae Webb
Foods come alive in this colorful picture book, animating tomatoes, avocados, apples and more for young readers. webbdpubco.com
Judi's Folktales: Magical Stories and Fables by Judi Lifton
Find all kinds of stories (18 of them, plus eight fables) in this carefully illustrated, fantastical collection designed for readers of all ages. judilifton.com
Lola and the Troll by Connie Schultz
Inspired by a tweet, author and journalist Connie Schultz embarked on her first children’s book, which teaches lessons about bullying and acceptance. “There is something to be said to all young children, that when you are kind, you are using one of the biggest, greatest powers you have,” Schultz says. penguinrandomhouse.com
Magical Bowl Adventures by Esther Verbovszky
Picky eaters? Esther Verbovszky wrote a children’s book to help them experience the many wonders of tasting new food, using all the senses to do it. The book is designed to help families enjoy mealtime together. Amazon link
Olly & the Spores of Sapphire Creek by Glenn Somodi
The second book in the fantastical Olly and the Spores series follows Olly Appleton and his friend Ember as they continue to defend the community of mystical creatures they have discovered in their small hometown — and discover new secrets along the way. ollyandthespores.com
Otis Finds a Friend by Bana Moureiden, illustrated by Bagas A. Nugroho
A pet duck named Otis finds friendship, and self-love, in this heartwarming, uplifting tale that was inspired by Northeast Ohio author Bana Moureiden’s own pet duck. Amazon link
Running in Flip Flops From the End of the World by Justin A. Reynolds
A humorous, adventurous middle-grade novel sets a wild stage: A town’s residents have all disappeared, except for the kids. With no parental supervision, it’s party time — until they realize a greater mystery threatens them. justinareynolds.com
Trotter the Thankful Turkey by Tony Mariani, illustrated by Tom Fox
A rather selfish turkey learns to be thankful in this festive story that spreads the spirit of Thanksgiving. The book also includes a space to make a "thankful feather" and to color in Trotter the turkey, along with recipes. penniepickle.com
RELATED: Shop Cleveland's Best Independent Bookstores for Your Next Read
For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox six times a week.
Cleveland Magazine is also available in print, publishing 12 times a year with immersive features, helpful guides and beautiful photography and design.
