How, I wondered, would I ever come up with this much material?

I’ve now passed the five year mark of writing Literary Life, so I thought it might be appropriate to share what I’ve discovered in five years of writing about the writers and poets, literary events and history of the greater Dayton area.

First, a confession: when I was first asked if I’d like to write this column, I said “yes” with a bit of skepticism.

Fifty-two columns a year? Focused solely on writers from or residing in the Dayton area, who are traditionally published, or who are self-published with an exceptional platform? Focused on writing workshops, literary events, and occasionally on our area’s literary history?

In my defense, I’m not alone in this skepticism. Others ask me the same thing: how can there possibly be this much to write about the literary life of Dayton, Ohio and environs?

I’m skeptical no longer. I’ve missed a few weeks due to personal situations, but in five years, I’ve produced more than 255 Literary Life columns. And I have yet to find myself sitting at my desk, panicked about what to write. In fact, I currently have a list of ideas through mid-July. And I’m confident that by the time I hit mid-July, I’ll have ideas through September.

I’d love to take credit and say this plethora of ideas is due to my own amazing imagination and/ or investigative prowess, but truthfully, it’s because of where I’m blessed to live.

The greater Dayton area has, after all, several active and engaging library systems — Dayton Metro, Greene County, Washington-Centerville, and Wright Library, to name a few. An excellent offering of bookstores: Barnes & Noble locations, Books & Co., Jay and Mary’s Book Center, Bonnett’s Book Store, New & Olde Pages, Blue Jacket Books, and three independent bookstores in Yellow Springs: Same & Eddies, Dark Star Books, and Epic Book Shop.

And let us not forget the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, the world-renowned prize and event that celebrates the best of literary work exemplifying the theme of peace and which brings stellar writers to our area to share deep and

GREENLEES / STAFF TY The Dayton Literary Peace Prize has brought Dayton’s contributions to peace and literature to the forefront. Pictured are the winners and runners-up of last year’s Dayton Literary Peace Prize, as well as two of the books by Marilynne Robinson, the...