About the author

His news and feature writing experience is extensive. He was a reporter and columnist for 11 years for the old Ohio State Journal, a Columbus, Ohio daily which folded in 1959; he served 10 years as editor of the Catholic Exponent, Youngstown, Ohio, diocesan weekly, before being promoted to the Cleveland headquarters of the Catholic Press Union, a three paper diocesan newspaper chain. He served as both editor and managing editor of the Catholic Universe Bulletin, and managing editor of the press union’s papers in the Toledo and Youngstown dioceses.

In retirement, he has written more than 100 news and feature stories for Catholic News Service (CNS) in Washington, D.C. In addition, his stories have appeared in numerous Catholic magazines. For many years, he was a ghost writer for a nationally prominent bishop.

At age 80, and seeing the need to adopt a story telling style, Barmann enrolled at Kent State University and studied fiction writing under three professors, all published authors. Their guidance as well as feedback from fellow Kent State students in a workshop setting provided the encouragement to write this story.

He lives in Twinsburg, Ohio with his wife of 55 years, Margaret Ann.

Dear Annamelia, published just before Barmann's 84th birthday, is his first novel.