I recently had the pleasure of interviewing John Scalzi--author, supporter of fellow writers, and all-around nice guy--for my "Dayton Reads" feature on mydaytondailynews.com. May seemed fitting timing to feature John in this monthly series, because this month John is a recipient of the 2016 Governor's Award for Arts in Ohio.

The interview reveals a lot about John's background, working process, and just how he ended up choosing science fiction as his genre. (The answer is a bit surprising.) Read the interview by clicking here.

John also generously shared a short story for the online feature, a story that is both wry and (at the end) just a bit poignant, too. Read "When The Yogurt Took Over" by clicking here.

And click here for a brief video at the Dayton Barnes & Noble in which I talk about John's work as well.

I'm a goal-setter and planner.

But occasionally, the opportunities that are the most fun are ones that I couldn't possibly plan or anticipate.

A few months ago, I was one of many authors at a fundraiser for my local Washington-Centerville Public Library. Barnes & Noble Dayton supported the book-sales portion of the event. Ian Charles Kirk, the Community Business Development Manager of the store, handles the sales. Of course, I didn't just sign copies of my own titles... I bought books, too, and briefly met Ian.

Shortly after that, Ian contacted me with an idea: a shelf featuring authors from the Dayton area and Southwest Ohio  at the Dayton Barnes & Noble. Since I write a weekly Literary Life column for the Dayton Daily News, as well as a monthly Dayton Reads feature, Ian suggested I'd be a good fit for picking titles by one or two area authors each month. The Dayton Barnes & Noble helping with an idea he'd had for awhile--a shelf featuring authors from the Dayton area and Southwest Ohio. 

Ian's management not only approved a shelf... but an entire end cap bookshelf!

We had a soft launch in April, focusing on area poets including Heather Christle and Herbert Woodward Martin.

For May, the "Sharon Recommends" bookshelf focuses on John Scalzi and Kameron Hurley. John, a science fiction writer from north of Dayton, is a recipient of the Ohio Governor's Award for Individual Artists; he will receive his award at a special luncheon in Columbus, Ohio on May 18. I'm delighted that, as his nominator, I'll be at the luncheon. Kameron Hurley, a Dayton area science fiction writer, was one of several publishing professionals who wrote a letter of support for his nomination.

Starting with May, we're creating brief video interviews to introduce the books on the Dayton Barnes & Noble Sharon Recommends Shelf. Here's May's, where I explain to Ian my thoughts about my book picks on the Dayton Barnes & Noble Facebook Page. 

Learn more about John and his work on his website, Whatever.scalzi.com.

Learn more about Kameron and her work on her website, KameronHurley.com