Greater Oklahoma City

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A wide variety of writers hail from Oklahoma City

Posted by: Kennedy Parker on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 12:00:00 am
Tags: history, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City history
  • Ralph Ellison, author of the 1953 National Book Award winner “Invisible Man” and Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree (1969), grew up in Oklahoma City. You can see a sculpture of him at the Oklahoma City library that bears his name or see a portrait of him at the Oklahoma State Capitol.  You can learn more about his life and how the time he spent in OKC impacted him on VeloCityOKC. The Ralph Ellison Foundation keeps his legacy alive.
  • Award-winning mystery writer Carolyn Hart grew up in Oklahoma City and has written 60 novels. Her most recent books are “Ghost on the Case” and “Walking on My Grave.” The University of Oklahoma alumna also taught classes on the campus from 1982-1985.
  • Oklahoma City native and resident Lou Berney has written several critically-acclaimed, award-winning novels and has had his work featured on “The Today Show”. His most recent book, “November Road”, was named one of the Best Books of 2018 by The Washington Post, Boston Globe, Newsweek, Booklist and more. If storylines like the JFK assassination, mob bosses, and a chance encounter are some of your favorites, be sure to pick up “November Road.”
  • Oklahoma City native Gena Showalter, is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her most popular series include Lords of the Underworld, Otherworld Assassins, the Original Heartbreakers, Angels of the Dark, as well as two young adult series, Everlife, and the White Rabbit Chronicles.
  • Chef Rick Bayless grew up in Oklahoma City (his family’s business was the barbecue restaurant called Hickory House) and now operates Frontera Grill in Chicago. He has written several cookbooks featuring the Mexican cuisine for which he is known. His brother, Skip Bayless, is a sportswriter and columnist and a television commentator for ESPN’s “First Take.”

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