From poems about Ohio forests to tales of Cleveland newsrooms, local publishers make space for stories rooted in place and heart.
Two of the region’s most committed champions are Kent State University Press and Gray & Co. Though different in structure, both are grounded in the belief that Northeast Ohio has stories worth telling, with audiences eager to read them.
Founded in 1965, KSU Press has long prioritized place-based storytelling, from poetry collections to essay anthologies on the Rust Belt’s past and future.
“Our regional program highlights grounded, diverse voices from a part of the country, and the world, that might not otherwise be well-represented in bookstores and libraries,” says Derek Krissoff, editor-at-large at KSU Press.
One standout title? Light Enters the Grove, a poetry and art collection inspired by Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
“It illustrates the promise of place-based publishing in our region,” Krissoff says.
At Gray & Co., David Gray stepped in to fill a need for local storytelling. Since 1991, he’s published more than 200 titles
focused on Cleveland-area interests — books “Clevelanders want to read.”
“I knew that large national publishers were not interested in publishing books about Northeast Ohio, because there were nearly none at that time” Gray says.
While they serve different audiences, both presses offer an impactful local focus.
“We’re already here,” Krissoff says, “publishing from our grounded perspective every day instead of swooping in.”
Together, KSU Press and Gray & Co. help prove that Northeast Ohio stories belong on the shelf and in the spotlight.
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.
