Burton W. Cole

Author and humorist Burton W. Cole is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist with 30 years of experience and more than 50 humor writing awards to his credit.

Cole grew up on a small farm south of Conneaut, in northeast Ohio. From attending Sunday school with family and friends to finding entertainment outside on the farm, adventures could break out on even the dullest days when Cole, his siblings and cousins got together to romp through each other's family's fields, farms and barns. Those boyhood experiences inspire his colorful and zany stories today.

Written for middle-grades children, Cole's first two novels, "Bash and the Pirate Pig" (B&H Kids, September 2013) and "Bash and the Chicken Coop Caper" (B&H KIds, May 2014), are illustrated by former Disney and VeggieTales illustrator, Tom Bancroft. For his third book in the series, "Bash and the Chocolate Milk Cows" (B&H Kids, May 2015), also a former Disney and Veggie Tales artist, takes over the illustration duties.

Cole is features editor for the Tribune Chronicle in Warren, Ohio, and his award-winning humor column, "Burt's Eye View," has appeared weekly for more than 20 years. Throughout his career, Cole's writing has been highly recognized, receiving awards like the Illinois Associated Press Editorial Excellence: Sweepstakes Award and the Humor Press: Best Essay award. Cole has also earned awards from the Ohio Associated Press Editorial Excellence in the best columnist, and best feature writer divisions, among many others.

Aside from using his free time to plot more mischief for Bash Hinglehobb and the gang, Cole's personal interests include what he calls the three "R's" - reading, 'riting and running - in addition to some un-R activities such as watching cartoons and playing the trombone. Cole lives in Garrettsville, Ohio, with his wife, Terry.