Local author David Sapp from Berlin Heights, Ohio, has released two new books this year. The first, "Acquaintances," is a collection of poetry and prose published by Main Street Rag Press in Mint Hill, North Carolina. This work consists of sketches and portraits of people who have crossed paths with Sapp, leaving lasting impressions. Reflecting on the collection process, Sapp noted how even brief encounters can have a significant impact.
The second book, "The Origin of Affection," is a memoir in poetry and prose form published by Snake Nation Press in Valdosta, Georgia. This publication followed Sapp's receipt of the Violet Reed Haas Poetry Award for 2025. Describing the memoir, Sapp said it recounts his childhood experiences in a small Ohio town during the 1960s and 1970s, including memories from his grandparents' farm in Gambier.
Sapp is recognized as a Pushcart Prize nominee and has received Individual Excellence Award Grants from the Ohio Arts Council for both visual art and poetry. He spent three decades teaching studio art and art history at Bowling Green State University's Firelands campus before retiring. His academic background includes a Master of Fine Arts degree in Drawing from BGSU.
His literary works have been featured across various international platforms such as the Hong Kong Review in China and Poetry Salzburg at the University of Salzburg in Austria. Additionally, he has authored several chapbooks and novels.
Discussing his creative approach, Sapp explained that his goal is to create art that embodies natural expression through direct experience or memory rather than aiming for sensationalism or intellectual novelty.
"Acquaintances" can be purchased through Main Street Rag Press's website at mainstreetragbookstore.com, while "The Origin of Affection" is available via Snake Nation Press at snakenationbooks.store.
