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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2008 > June > 04 > Entry
connecting the dots
Wherever I wandered at Book Expo America I encountered people who savored the notion that I was there for the Dayton Daily News in OHIO. That Ohio connection really got people going. Let me explain.
When I met Ted Turner and he found out about my Ohio connection he told me that he grew up in Cincinnati and that he moved south when he was nine years old. That’s just one instance.
When I met the humorist Christopher Moore and he found out I was from Ohio he confessed that he grew up in London, Ohio. Then he told me his Ohio anecdote. He said that years ago he was on a panel with our homegrown comedian Jonathan Winters. He said that Winters told him a story about Jonathan’s grandfather. It seems that he was a contemporary of the Wright Brothers and whenever Jonathan’s gramps spotted the Wrights in downtown Dayton he would yell “What?! You can’t find air in Ohio?” (I guess you had to be there).
My most fascinating Ohio connection happened completely randomly. I was standing in a hallway with the novelist Robert Crais. He had offered to give me a lift to a party. While we were preparing to leave he saw a guy that he knew. He introduced me to the writer David Wise. I was not familiar with Wise or his work. He told me that he had spent his early years in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Then, like so many other former Ohioans that I had encountered at BEA, he moved away.
Wise offers an account of himself over at Amazon.com. He told me virtually the same thing; “I’m David Wise, and even if you’re not familiar with my name, if you’ve ever heard a teenage mutant ninja turtle say “Cowabunga, dude,” you’re familiar with my work.”
Wise has written for numerous animation series including 15 episodes of TRANSFORMERS, more than any other writer. Now he imports manga from Japan. Fascinating guy.
That Ohio connection seemed to virtually unlock the floodgates of nostalgia.
Vick Mickunas
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: confessions of a galley slave
Comments
By victor mickunas
June 5, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this
I still root for the Hawkeyes and against the Buckeyes. Does that answer your question?By prose
June 5, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this
Winters is and will always be one of my favorite comics. The man was pure genius. Nice to hear him mentioned, as people too easily forget the pioneer he was. Just wondering, do you live in Ohio as an ex-patriot Iowan, or now have converted and embraced your new locale and consider yourself an Ohioan? Just curious.