Skip to main content

A Year Filled with Blessings!

Who would have thought that 2018 would bring about such wonderful growth for Higher Ground Books & Media!  At the beginning of the year, I had a couple of goals for our little publishing company.  One, I wanted to sign two new authors.  Two, I wanted to publish at least five new titles.  These were fairly conservative goals and I wasn't sure we would be able to accomplish either of them.  Things were slow at the beginning of the year.  Lots of starts and stops.  A few sour grapes along the way.  Some unfortunate incidents with less than reputable individuals who were not dealing above board.  And a few months of weary soul-searching about whether or not it even made sense to keep going.  And then, suddenly...a breakthrough. I prayed and prayed for God to help me figure out the direction I needed to take.  And He delivered the most awesome message to me.  He said, "Trust Me."  And in the midst of conflict and disappointment, I handed it all over to Him once again

Books from Higher Ground Author Fair!

In just two weeks, Books from Higher Ground will be having our First Annual Author Fair!  Here is a listing of authors who will be participating:

Mark Etter
Mark Etter has currently released three titles with BHG! 32 Days with Abraham, 32 Days with Christ's Passion, and the newly released, 32 Days with God's Story.
Rev. Mark Etter has been a pastor for over thirty years and is currently the pastor of a Bethany Lutheran Church in Northern Kentucky. He graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri... with a Master of Divinity degree and from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Mark has published several books of Adult Bible studies and numerous devotions and youth studies with Concordia Publishing House in St. Louis. He has served the greater church as a pastoral coach, evangelism chairman, and circuit counselor. He is married to Joan and they have three grown children who live in Kentucky and Indiana.

Stephen Bowman
Stephen Bowman’s Out of Darkness is a story of rebirth. It is a story about a person living for many years in the dark. Finally freed, they are given another chance. A chance to be born again and live a new life. A true rebirth!
Bowman is a 53 year-old child of God. He's battled addiction, depression and catastrophic illness. A counselor and licensed clergyman, he enjoys working with and helping people. When he's not helping others, he enjoys fishing and an occasional walk.

John Baldasare
John Baldasare is the author of Knowing Affliction and Doing Recovery.  John has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. His 40 years professional experience in addictions and mental health programs includes roles of Therapist, Director, CEO, and Consultant in a variety of settings around the United States. He currently works as an independent contract consultant to treatment centers and related programs. He also does public speaking for advocacy groups, civic clubs, treatment programs, and schools.

Charlotte Hopkins
Charlotte Hopkins is a freelance writer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her writing has been published in a variety of newspapers, magazines and websites. She was published in Chicken Soup for the Soul, Shadows & Light Anthology, and Authors for Haiti. She wrote feature pieces for Newscastic.com, highlighting life and times of Pittsburgh. Her article, 5 More Minutes, was a tribute to lives lost on September 11th. In 2005, it was read in a military service f...or soldiers and their families.
 
Chuck David
Chuck David is the author of the children’s story, The Tin Can Gang. This title will be available at the BHG Author Fair!
Chuck David lives in Monongahela, Pennsylvania with his wife and fantastic son along with 3 boxers, a cat and elderly father in law.

Mina Raulston
Mina Raulston is the author of Home Should Be Safe. She is also the owner of Hat Rack Books, LLC. Mina’s book will be available at the BHG Author Fair.
From newsletters to Bible studies, from newspapers to magazines, from speeches to to book reviews, from leading writers' groups to giving domestic violence presentations as well as self-publishing a non-fiction book, Mina Raulston has done a little bit of everything. Mina gives all the credit for her accom...plishments to God.

Gary Thomas
Gary Thomas is from Youngstown, Ohio. He has a BA Degree in Christian Ministry/Leadership and works as a lead at Central Aluminum.
He strives to profess and proclaim God's Word to others so that they may be saved from this corrupted decaying darkened society, His book, From Crack to Gary, can be bought through Amazon and Barnes and Noble online!

Brian Forschner
The perspective of Brian Forschner has been created through a span of experiences involving the operation of halfway houses, university teaching, writing and research and, more recently, the building and operation of affordable housing for families and elderly Americans, retirement and nursing homes, home health and post-acute services of a major health system. During his career his role spanned from one of teacher, writer, counselor, consultant and CEO to community board member and social advocate.

Vicki Watkins
Vicki Watkins is the author of the inspirational poetry book, "Against the Tide" and owns the Under the Stars Art Gallery in Batavia, Ohio.
Her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Vicki has collaborated with John Hunt, Executive Director of the Jason William Hunt Foundation, and author of “Walking with Jason” to share her life story, one of heartbreak and many trials and tribulations that through her faith and the intervention of those she believes were sent by God, she persevered. Vicki is married to her husband Jim, of 24 years and lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. John resides in Batavia, Ohio and is married to his wife of 44 years Rosemarie D’Occhio Hunt.

Gerda Braunheim
Gerda Braunheim experienced the horrors and trials of World War II as a young girl living in East Prussia. This story is her recollection of what happened when Hitler invaded Europe, and she was forced to flee her home in the train station and leave everything behind. She fled with her brother Willi, her older sister... Lilli, an Aunt, and their Grandmother. Landing in a refugee camp in Gedhus, Denmark, their camp containing 5,000 displaced Germans had no way of communicating with loved ones left behind in Germany, as all communication was suspended for two years. This story isn't about political viewpoints or economic impacts of the war, but the impact of the war on the world of a young girl. The book closes with Gerda's revisit to Stonischken and her immigration to America.

Richard Dumont
Richard has a life-long interest in Native Americans and their culture. As a boy, he always played the Indian in cowboys and Indians. He has been writing since high school, producing short stories, poems and novels. He is a graduate of Xavier University and took creative writing courses at the University of Cincinnati. His desire to publish a novel led to Hunkpapa Sioux, in which he combined two passions of his life.
A Vietnam veteran, he resides in Cincinnati. He is currently working on his next young adult novel about Native Americans.

Angela Patton
Angela Patton is the daughter of two army veterans. She was her parents and grandparents Christmas present. She was born in Virginia but raised by her grandparents in Ohio. She is a teacher and a writer among many other titles. She is passionate about missions. Growing up she was quiet, timid, and shy. As a teen, she struggled to find her identity and purpose. But as she grew into a woman of God, she began to discover her inner lioness and allow others to hear her voice, her roar. Angela has been writing and collecting pieces of work since she was a child. One of her goals has always been to publish a book.

Keith Maginn
Keith Maginn was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, the youngest of four children. He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, as an Evans Scholar. After earning his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology he relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee, to work for AmeriCorps and for Habitat for Humanity.

Keith released TURNING THIS THING AROUND, an inspiring self-help memoir of overcoming personal struggles, in December 2010. In January 2013, he self-published GOODWILL TOUR: PAYING IT FORWARD, detailing a 3,000-mile philanthropic pay-it-forward road trip through the southeastern United States. (EXTRA)ORDINARY: INSPIRATIONAL STORIES OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE, released by KiCam Projects in September 2016, tells seven inspirational stories of everyday people. All three books are available in paperback and e-book on Amazon.com or at keithmaginn.com. Keith feels writing to help and inspire others is his life’s purpose.

Matthew E. Morgan
Matthew E. Morgan is an author and writer whose works are as varied as his interests. He’s a mental health counselor by trade, a husband by choice, a father by a miracle, and a Child of God by grace. He grew up in central Ohio, earned a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and Pastoral Ministries (with a minor in youth ministry) from Trinity Bible College, earned a Masters in Professional Counseling from Liberty University, and is still part of the central Ohio community. Matthew believes that everyone has a story to tell – many of which are still being written today.

Yolonda Sanders
Yolonda Sanders was born and raised in Sandusky, Ohio.  She moved to Columbus, Ohio after graduating from high school where she attended college. While studying at Capital University, Yolonda double-majored in Political Science and Criminology. In 1998, she graduated from Capital and enrolled in The Ohio State University where she completed her master's program and was awarded a degree in Sociology in 2000. After completing her college and graduate education, Yolonda worked as a researcher with the State of Ohio until 2004 when she resigned to focus full-time on writing.

A geek at heart, Sheenah Freitas has a love for the whimsical and magical. She looks to animated Disney movies and Studio Ghibli films for inspiration because of the innovative twists on fairytales, strong story structures, and character studies. When not writing, you might find her in a forest where she’s yet to find any enchanted castles.

Wayne Page is the author of Barnstorm. Wayne is an ex-Air Force Officer who flunked his first and only flight aptitude test (“I flew the entire test upside down.”) Born and raised a farm boy, Page provides an entertaining and engaging romp through life on a small farm. Previous writing credits include screenplays, short stories, and musical plays.
 
Wayne is a 1966 East Clinton graduate. A retired human resources executive, he now lives in Cincinnati with his wife, Laura. He's an active member of Cincinnati's Legendary Writers and facilitator of an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute creative writing course at the University of Cincinnati.
 
Rebecca Benston is the author of the mystery series, The Rona Shively Stories.  She has also written several devotionals including Wise Up to Rise Up.  Benston’s short story, “Eleven,” was published as part of the horror anthology, From the Shadows.  She has also written a short story titled, “Empty,” which was published by Alive Magazine.  In addition, her short story, “The End” placed in the 8th Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition.
She is a Christian, the mother of one amazing daughter, and an advocate for women and children.  Benston is also privileged to publish works of inspiration and transformation for a group of amazing authors through Books from Higher Ground. 
Mya Benston is an 8th grader who has published two books in her series about Whobert, an owl who gets kidnapped, but finds his way home.  Books in this series include Whobert the Owl and Snowy the Owl.
and
 
 
 
I hope you will join us on Saturday, November 4th at The Summit Church!  We'll be there from 1 to 5 p.m.  Admission is free.  Some authors will accept credit cards, but be sure to bring cash for those who can't and in case you get hungry while you're looking around!  We'll have a few cool door prizes and some workshops going as well!  Stop by our Facebook event page and let us know you'll be joining us!

Comments