Deanna R. Adams is a freelance writer, essayist, writing instructor, and speaker, whose articles and essays have been published in a number of publications in her thirty-year career.
Her first book, Rock 'n' Roll and the Cleveland Connection by Kent State University Press, was a finalist for the 2003 ARSC Award (Association for Recorded Sound Collections) for excellence in research, and a 2003 finalist for the Ohioana Book Award for nonfiction.
Her book, Confessions of a Not-So-Good Catholic Girl, is a collection of true stories about growing up a baby boomer in the Midwest.
Cleveland's Rock and Roll Roots is a photographic celebration of the rich and colorful Cleveland music history of the '50s through the '70s. Its companion, Cleveland's Rock and Roll Venues, celebrates the historic venues from 1960s through the present day.
Her fiction works include Peggy Sue Got Pregnant, and sequels, Scoundrels & Dreamers, and The Truth About Justyce.
She has also authored a book for writers, The Writer's GPS: A Guide to Writing & Selling Your Book.
Deanna has taught at Lakeland Community College, the Cuyahoga Library's Lit Programs, and Literary Cleveland.
She teaches online classes for Pennwriters and is director/coordinator of the annual Western Reserve Writers' Conference at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Library's Writers Center, where her title is The Book Whisperer. Deanna is also the founder/director of the Women Writers' Winter Retreat, Write-on-the-Lake Retreat, and the Write-in-the-Country Retreat.
Freelance Writer 1989 – Present
Deanna has written for numerous publications. She also contributed an article on the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and Museum for the 2007 Encyclopedia of the Midwest.
She is included in the Who's Who in America, Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who in the Midwest, and Who's Who in the World.
Affiliations
Author's Guild
Women's Fiction Writers Association
International Women's Writing Guild
Chautauqua Writers' Center
Western Reserve Writers Group
Sisters in Crime
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)
Pennwriters, Inc.
Cleveland Entertainment Coalition
Awards
2003 Ohioana Book Award in Nonfiction.
2003 ARSC Award (Association of Recorded Sound Collections) for excellence in research.
2009 Ohio Excellence in Journalism Award (Single Essay category)
Nominated for her high school's 2008 Andrews School Distinguished Alumna Award
Speaking Presentations, Workshops, Media
Western Reserve Writers' Conference, Cuyahoga County Library's William N. Skirball Writer's Center
Rock Music Presenter for the Association of Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) 2004 Conference
Wayne College Writers' Workshop
CSU Student Journalism Project
Cleveland State University
University of Cincinnati
In the Company of Women Workshop (an IWWG Program)
Cleveland Entertainment Coalition – Education Series
Northwest Ohio Writers' Group
"Write On" Series
Lakeland Community College
Northwest Ohio Writers' Conference
Galleria 324, Cleveland, Ohio
Skyline Writers' Conference
Pennwriters' Conference and Workshop
Writing for Money Conference, sponsored by Poets and Writers League of Greater Cleveland
Library Presentations throughout Northeast and Central Ohio
Open Doors Academy Camp
Book Signings and Readings at all major, and many independent, bookstores throughout Ohio
Guitar Center, Cleveland and Florida
S & K Music Store signing, Las Vegas
Guest Appearances in book and music stores in Naples, and Cape Coral, Florida
Radio and TV Appearances
Most Local Stations including PBS and NPR
Regular guest on Denny Carlton's "Cleveland Music Connection" radio show
96 K-Rock, Southwest Florida