Some pull inspiration from their own experiences, but for many, inspiration comes from the world around them. For local authors Maggie Smith, Ammie E. Elliott and Linda Kass, Bexley is their muse.
Author and Columbus native Maggie Smith said she moved to Bexley when her eldest daughter was born because she wanted a walkable neighborhood with good schools.
Smith said she frequently features Ohio in her writing and is currently working on a novel set in Columbus.
“The trees, the birds, the rivers and the streets all make appearances,” she explained. “My memoir, ‘You Could Make This Place Beautiful,’ was primarily set in Bexley because I wrote it while living here.”
Senior writer at Highlights Magazine and children’s book author Ammie E. Elliott said living in a place with so much nature inspires her writing.
“I find it to be a bit like living in a snow globe, in a charming kind of way,” Elliott explained. “We are surrounded by nature, and this city has chosen to protect it. That kind of dedication to life is inspiring.”
Smith said she wrote her viral poem “Good Bones” at the Starbucks on Main Street. She wanted to write about her experience raising her two children, she explained.
“I was thinking about how to shelter them from the most terrible parts of the world while also making sure they see the beauty of it,” she said.
Smith said she thinks the reason the poem became so popular is because it describes something many parents experience.
Historical novelist and magazine writer Linda Kass said she is inspired by human connection, social consciousness and her family history.
Kass, who owns Gramercy Books, said she uses the store to host monthly events with local artists and writers. Bringing people together through books, music and poetry is gratifying, she said.
“There’s this level of connection within the community that is definitely a part of Bexley,” she explained.
Elliott said community is very important in her writing process. She explained observing others interact with one another is meaningful.
“Witnessing someone compliment their barista’s nails after ordering a drink and seeing the smiles exchanged, being curious about what books people choose to check out as I see them leaving the Bexley Library,” she said. “When I write, I think about the everyday interactions.”
Elliott said inspiration is a spontaneous experience, so staying curious is crucial to her writing process.
Bexley’s proximity to Columbus makes her feel more connected to a larger community, Elliott said.
“Living close to downtown has connected me more to causes we face as a people and allows me to get involved,” she explained. “It helps me when I’m writing for Highlights and allows me to see the kaleidoscope of different ways kids and families can be impacted by their environment.”
Kass explained Bexley residents have strong values that influence everything they do.
“There’s community in what I do, so there’s community in what I write,” she said.
Smith said she believes the more effort a writer puts into taking care of themselves, the more their writing will improve.
“Living in Bexley is good for my writing because it’s good for me as a person,” Smith explained. “If you live where you’re happy and where you have a kind, supportive community, it’s easier to be creative.”
Published and digitized March 2026.
