Staff photo / R. Michael Semple Travel writer Brandy Gleason of Ostrander, Ohio, right, talks with Prudy Platt of Champion while signing and discussing her books during her visit Friday to the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library.

WARREN — Growing up in the small Ohio town of Plain City and taking road trips with her family, Brandy Gleason soon developed a deep appreciation for the open road.

That appreciation has led to a huge following in the past six years on social media, with more than 1.5 million followers, the writing of several books and to talks at national education and travel conferences.

Gleason, now living in Ostrander, which is near Columbus, was at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library Friday morning to discuss her road trips as well as her new book, “Unique Eats and Eateries of Ohio: The People and Stories Behind the Food.”

Gleason discussed the founding of Cockeye Barbeque and Creamery in Warren, one of the restaurants covered in her book, which started in the Hoover family’s backyard. They were cooking barbeque for their friends and family.

“Somebody said that they should make it into a restaurant. Just like me not planning to be an author, they did not plan on being restaurant owners. Every time she drove to work, she saw this dumpy building. One day she was driving to work and said that she is going to buy that building and that is where our restaurant is going to be,” Gleason said. “Cockeye Barbeque got its name at a southern barbeque competition. A rival jokingly called Eric Hoover a ‘cockeyed northerner’.”

Gleason described a day trip she took to Yellowstone with her parents, brother and two friends as a 12-year-old child in a large station wagon — a trip that sparked her passion for camping. Her parents found a campground there and asked the children if they wanted to camp in the car.

They were strongly in favor of spending the night. They soon found out that Yellowstone gets cold at night, and they had no blankets or pillows. Fellow campers came to the rescue, bringing them the bedding they needed. People also welcomed them around their campsites.

“This is what gave me my love of camping. This just really stuck in my memory of why travel is so fun. It brings people together and gives you things to do. Some people like to call me the ‘unofficial queen of road trips’,” Gleason said.

Gleason and her husband, Matt, raised and home-schooled their eight children, taking many road trips together.

“We took our kids all over the state. I did not set out to be an author, a writer or a group owner on Facebook. That was all just me, truly sharing what I love about our state and things to do here,” she said.

The passion to write about her travels first led to a website she created six years ago on WordPress about the road trips she took with her husband and children.

Shirley Hill of Newton Falls attended Gleason’s presentation after she said she read about the talk on Gleason’s Facebook group, Ohio Road Trips, a group Gleason started during COVID-19. The group now has 1.3 million followers.

Gleason co-authored the Ohio section of two books, “Midwest Road Trip Adventures” and “Midwest State Park Adventures.” She has authored two additional books, “100 Things to Do in Ohio Before You Die” and “100 Things to Do in Amish Country Before You Die.”

Gleason is also a tour guide for trips both in the U.S. and abroad. Her guided tours can be found at GoPrimeTours.com.

She ended her presentation with a book signing, with all five books she either authored or co-authored available for purchase.