The 2026 Buckeye Book Fair welcomes an extraordinary group of independent authors whose work reflects the imagination and creative spirit found across Ohio. This year’s Indie Author features are written by Christina Hartmann‑Benchoff, publisher and editor of Prickle Forrest Books, contemporary western romance author, award‑winning short story writer, and former Buckeye Book Fair author.

We begin with a writer whose life has taken him across continents while keeping him rooted in the communities that shaped him.

John M. Schmid: Finding Community in Unexpected Places

By Christina Hartmann‑Benchoff

Wayne County native John M. Schmid has traveled far from his Ohio roots, but the stories of home, faith, music, and the people he has met along the way remain at the heart of his writing.

Schmid was born in Wayne County and grew up near the village of Moreland. Today, he lives in Holmes County, just ten miles south of his birthplace. His varied life has taken him from building barns and silos and working as a plumber and farmer to serving as a missionary in Costa Rica, ministering in prisons, traveling internationally, and sharing his music as a singer and songwriter.

His books reflect those experiences, telling stories of Amish Country, prison life, faith, and the remarkable influence a song can have on a person, a crowd, a movement, or even an era. His books include The Power of a Song, Stories From Amish Country, and Every Day Is a Gift.

While living in Costa Rica, Schmid was walking through downtown Lima, Peru, after participating in a youth retreat. The enormous city was a far cry from the small Ohio communities he knew. As he made his way through the crowded streets, he heard someone repeatedly calling, “Juan!”

Juan is a common name in Peru, so Schmid paid little attention—until the voice became louder and called out, “JOHN SCHMID!”

He turned and was astonished to recognize John Maust, a fellow student from the language school in San Jose, Costa Rica. They had graduated several years earlier and gone their separate ways — Maust to Peru and Schmid remaining in Costa Rica.

The two friends reunited across a busy Lima street, caught up over coffee, and then continued on their separate journeys. Schmid has not seen Maust since that day in 1985, but the unexpected encounter remains a cherished reminder that friendship can find us in the most unlikely places.

Schmid will bring his stories and books to the 2026 Buckeye Book Fair, where visitors can also enjoy a glimpse of his Ohio roots through his table display featuring a windmill and a toy Amish buggy.

“The Buckeye Book Fair is a day to meet other Ohio authors and many friends who enjoy the stories and history contained in a good book,” Schmid says.

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From unexpected friendships in Peru to zombie numbers invading from another galaxy, Christina Hartmann‑Benchoff’s next featured Indie Author brings a wildly different creative world to the Fair.

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Beware the Numbers!

Florenza Lee Brings Zombie Aliens, Coloring Fun, and Creativity to Buckeye Book Fair 2026

By Christina Hartmann‑Benchoff

What do you get when numbers invade from another galaxy, creativity takes over, and a calming journal sits nearby?

You might get a very interesting stop at Florenza Lee’s table at the 2026 Buckeye Book Fair.

Lee, a multi-genre author, publisher, and podcast host from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, is bringing a collection of books and interactive experiences that demonstrate just how many directions a good story can take. Her newest releases range from the calming and creative activities of Calming Your Mind Journal to the wildly imaginative world of McGill & Lee: Invasion of the Mutant Plications, a graphic novel featuring zombie aliens in the form of numbers.

For visitors looking for something they can do as well as something they can read, Lee’s table will offer plenty to explore. She plans to feature Calming Your Mind Journal and McGill & Lee: Invasion of the Mutant Plications, along with coloring pages and activity sheets inspired by the books. Galaxy-themed trinkets will add another playful touch to the graphic novel experience. And Lee may take that experience one step further.

She is considering arriving at the Buckeye Book Fair dressed as a zombie number.

With zombie aliens, numbers, coloring activities, and the possibility of meeting an actual zombie number, Lee’s table promises to be one where readers are encouraged to interact, explore, and have fun.

But Lee’s creative world extends far beyond the pages of her own books. As a podcast host, she interviews authors on On the Air with Florenza, giving her an opportunity to learn about the people behind the books—their creative processes, their challenges, their successes, and the stories behind the stories. “Currently, my main community of creators is made up of the authors I interview for On the Air with Florenza,” Lee says. “Hearing about their journeys, their processes, and even the day-to-day realities of their writing lives energizes and excites me.”

Recently, Lee interviewed Traci Hall, an author who has written more than 75 books since 2014.

“Seventy-five!” Lee says. Hearing about Hall’s journey, determination, and enthusiasm for writing was “music to my book-loving soul.”

Every writer has a story behind the story—the idea that wouldn’t leave them alone, the manuscript that nearly drove them crazy, the rejection that hurt, the breakthrough that came at exactly the right time, or the moment they finally held their book in their hands. “I love hearing those stories,” Lee says.

That enthusiasm for creativity also extends to the young writers she encounters during school visits and creative writing workshops.

Lee says there is a special kind of joy in watching a young person discover that the wild idea bouncing around in their head can actually become a story. She has watched tentative hands go up, ideas become bigger, and confidence begin to grow.

Sometimes, the child who starts out convinced they have nothing to write becomes the child Lee can’t get to put the pencil down.

For Lee, those moments are particularly meaningful because children can approach creativity without many of the expectations adults place on themselves.

“For them, it can still be about imagination, possibility, and the sheer delight of creating something that didn’t exist before,” she says. “Watching them begin to see themselves as storytellers is its own kind of magic.”

Lee also helps aspiring authors take their creativity a step further through her publishing work. Under her publishing umbrella, she works with new authors as they move toward becoming published writers.

One recent experience involved a 98-year-young author whose book had originally been published seven years earlier. When Lee was contacted about republishing the book, she quickly saw opportunities to give the work new life. In only five weeks, Lee watched the author go from, “Yeah, I wrote a book,” to, “Oh my Lord—I wrote THIS book!”

For Lee, that transformation was about much more than republishing a title. She watched the author, her family, and her community celebrate the work in a new way. “I wasn’t simply helping her republish a book; I was helping her recognize the value of what she had created,” Lee says.

That belief in the power of creative communities is one of the threads connecting Lee’s many endeavors. Whether she’s creating an interactive journal, exploring a fantastical world of mutant numbers, publishing an adult psychological thriller, interviewing another author, or encouraging a young writer to put an idea on paper, she sees creativity as something meant to be shared. She believes writers are some of the most supportive and enthusiastic cheerleaders around because they understand what it takes to move from “I have an idea” to “I wrote a book.”

“We celebrate the debut author and the author releasing book number seventy-five,” Lee says. “We share what we’ve learned, commiserate over the frustrations, celebrate the victories, and remind one another to keep going.” And, she says, that generosity has a way of coming back around.

Every time Lee interviews a writer and leaves inspired by their journey, she is refreshed. Every time she watches a child discover the storyteller within, she is refreshed. Every time she encourages a new author who isn’t sure they can do this, she is refreshed. For Lee, the Buckeye Book Fair brings all of those elements together. “Buckeye Book Fair is one of my favorite spaces to be—where stories meet readers, new connections are born, and literacy is celebrated in every conversation, whether a book is bought or simply shared in spirit,” Lee says. “It’s a vibrant, joyful gathering I look forward to every single year.”

Whether you come looking for a creative activity, an unusual graphic novel, a thought-provoking thriller, a conversation about writing, or simply a little book-fair fun, Florenza Lee plans to have something waiting. Just remember: if you see a zombie number wandering around the Buckeye Book Fair, don’t panic.

It may just be Florenza Lee.

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The Indie Authors of the 2026 Buckeye Book Fair remind us that storytelling in Ohio is as varied and vibrant as the people who write these books. Through Christina Hartmann‑Benchoff’s interviews, readers can step into the quiet roads of Amish Country with John M. Schmid or leap into Florenza Lee’s galaxy of zombie numbers and creative exploration. Each author brings a distinct world to the Fair, yet all share a commitment to connection, imagination, and the belief that stories matter.

Independent authors shape the Buckeye Book Fair in powerful ways. They bring fresh ideas, unexpected genres, and the kind of personal passion that inspires readers of all ages. Their work reflects the heart of Ohio’s literary community, where creativity thrives, friendships form, and new voices are welcomed.

The Buckeye Book Fair is proud to celebrate these creators and grateful to Christina Hartmann‑Benchoff for capturing their stories.

Additional Independent Authors at the 2026 Buckeye Book Fair