Bio:

Ross R. Olney

Author, radio and TV talk show host, and newspaper reporter/columnist. Public relations expert. Has published more than 175 books with major New York publishers, and hundreds of magazine articles. Online writer of medical material, also a prize-winning photographer who often illustrates his own books and who has many photos in other media including calendars.

Immediate Past President of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association, an international group of the top motor racing broadcasters and journalists in the world, he is a current or past officer and Board of Directors member of the University Club, Ventura County Branch, the Greater Los Angeles Press Club, the Ventura County Press Club, the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

His books cover a wide range of non fiction and fiction subjects from astronomy and space travel to imagery, the law, magic, nature, automobiles, sports and science, and include the best selling DAREDEVILS OF THE SPEEDWAY and the multi award winning OFFSHORE! His most recent books are on race driver Lynn St. James and on the history of the death penalty, for younger readers, and an adult biography on Col. Charles Hudson, the most decorated bombardier in WWII.

As a photojournalist he covers most of the major sporting events in the country, including the Indy 500, each year. He works with photographers from Sports Illustrated, Associated Press, United Press, Agence France Presse, the Los Angeles Times and other media, on the sidelines and in the pits of major sports and entertainment events: The Super Bowl, the Oscars, Emmys, Grammies and Golden Globes, and many pro football, basketball, hockey, and motor racing contests.

He is a writer of several original articles for Reader's Digest Magazine, and recently finished a major automobile maintenance book for Shell Oil (THE SHELL AUTO CARE GUIDE, Simon and Schuster).
Olney is a teacher of writing with periodic classes at various colleges in the area including UCLA, USC, UCSB, and both Oxnard and Ventura College. His students have a remarkable record of publication, many of them publishing first books and some having become full time writers.

Host of the long-running "Ross Olney Show" on AM radio, Olney moved to KXBS, an FM station, where he served as Special Correspondent and news writer and broadcaster. He was co-host of a twice weekly, one half-hour television program called "Education in Review," and host of a one and one half-hour "On The Agenda" television program, where he served as moderator of various panels of experts. He co-hosted a radio show called “Talking Cars” for several years. As a part of his writing, radio and television work, he interviews guests from a wide variety of fields, including sports, medicine, politics, entertainment and journalism, among others.

Olney is a regular master of ceremonies and celebrity auctioneer at charity functions in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. His hobbies include painting (pictures, not houses), motorcycle riding, reading, volunteering for community events, conducting local bands, and racing stock cars, which he does at local tracks.

He has three sons, Ross (a physicist and automotive designer at Delphi), Scott (an investigator), and Erich (a casino employee in another state).

Olney served six years in the United States Air Force, flew 100 combat missions in Korea, and was decorated several times. Copies of his works, references, and a more complete biography are available upon request.







Writer
PAL
Member since 1971
Region: California: Central - Coastal

Contact Information

Website:  http://www.rossrolney.com www.rossrolney.net

Published In Children's Market: Yes
Available for Speaking Engagements? Yes