William Zink is the author of numerous books, including The Hole, Ballad of the Confessor, Ohio River Dialogues, Pieta, Wild Grapes, Homage, Eddy and Julia, and most recenltly North Hill. His books have been praised by Booklist, Andrei Codrescu, The Charleston City Paper, The Main Street Rag, David Giffels, Michael Stanley, Donald Ray Pollock, Dagoberto Gilb, and others.
"A writer isn’t someone who uses big words so they can sound impressive. Nor is a writer someone who is there to reinforce your existing beliefs or views. A good writer is a conduit through which truth passes. You take what you know to be true, simplify without bending it, distill without leaving out the important parts, and what comes out the other end is a singular story that stands as a broader reflection for all humanity. That’s why good writing is so hard. That’s why good writers are often persecuted. Because they reflect back humankind without makeup, which can be shocking to those looking for a pretty face. "
"London’s population during Shakespeare’s time was about 100,000. Ireland—the greatest literary country in the world, per capita, has about 5 million people – half the population of Ohio and about the same size. The Akron metropolitan area has about 700,00 citizens . . . For me, Akron is the center of the world. It’s the palette from which my images, my stories, emerge. Understand its people, and you’ll understand humanity."