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John Schlimm (born December 1, 1971) is an American author. He is a member of the award-winning Straub Brewery family of Pennsylvania, one of the oldest brewing families in the United States. Called a Celebrewtante by the media, he is the author of The Ultimate Beer Lover's Cookbook and several other books.^[1] With more than 400 food and drink recipes that all use beer as an ingredient, John's book made history in 2008 as the largest beer cookbook ever published.

Early years

John was born in St. Marys, a small town in Northwestern Pennsylvania that was once called the "Carbon Capital of the World." The great-great-grandson of Straub Brewery Founder Peter Straub, he grew up immersed in the beer culture and within walking distance of his family's brewery.^[2]

Early Writings

The first article John published was a front page feature in his hometown newspaper, The Daily Press, about his family's 4th of July parade tradition. He chronicled how every July 4th his family celebrates the holiday with a private family parade at their woodland retreat. The tradition was started by his Great Uncle Frank Straub, who served as the family's Uncle Sam, almost fifty years ago.^[3][4]

Years later, while continuing to contribute feature articles to Autograph Collector Magazine (now Autograph magazine), in 1998, John became a contributing editor for the magazine and started writing more feature articles as well as a monthly column titled "The Book Collector".^[5] He continues to serve as a contributing editor and book critic for the magazine today, writing about some of the world's biggest superstars and pop icons.^[6]

During this time, he also wrote a column titled "The Culture Collector" and features pieces about such notable public figures and celebrities as presidential candidates on the campaign trail during the New Hampshire primary, Monica Lewinsky, and artist Peter Max for the now defunct Pop Culture Collecting magazine.^[7]

Early career

During his early career in the 1990s, John served in the Vice Presidential Communications Office at The White House where he worked with Second Lady Tipper Gore as well as having worked in production and scriptwriting for the national radio series Enterprising Women, fundraising for various national and local non-profits, and Country Music PR at FrontPage Publicity in Nashville where he worked with Naomi Judd and other superstars.^[8]

In 2003, John joined the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford as an adjunct professor in the Communication Arts Department where he was also the host of the radio program Campus Crossfire for five seasons. During the 2006/2007 school year, he served as the Visiting Assistant Professor for Broadcast Communications.

Since 2005, John has been a promotional writer for the country’s preeminent literary public relations firm and a leading publisher, where he has written on behalf of Hollywood and literary superstars as well as some of the country’s most respected brand names.^[9]

Books

John's first published book in 1996 -- Corresponding With History -- told tales of his brushes with fame, in person and as pen pals, with the likes of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Bette Midler, John Wayne Bobbitt, and even Mother Teresa -- and marked the beginning of his historic autograph collection that numbers more than 4,000 signed pieces today and has been widely chronicled in [[Autograph magazine]].^[10]

John has written or co-authored several other books as well, including The Pennsylvania Celebrities Cookbook (2005), Straub Brewery (2005), The Straub Beer Party Drinks Handbook (2004), The Ultimate Elk Cookbook From the Heart of Elk Country (2005), The Straub Beer Cookbook (2003), and his newest work, The Ultimate Beer Lover’s Cookbook: More than 400 Recipes That All Use Beer (2008).

While currently on book tour in support of The Ultimate Beer Lover's Cookbook, John is also at work on several new book projects, spanning numerous genres.

Other Writings

John's articles and writings have also appeared in Boys’ Life Magazine^[11], various newspapers, Barbara Delinsky’s Uplift^[12], A Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas, and Republican's Soul.^[13]

Community Involvement

John’s ongoing community-based efforts include serving on the Board of Directors for Citizens Against Physical, Sexual & Emotional Abuse, co-directing the award-winning TEAM STRAUB (an adjunct fundraising arm of the Straub Brewery, Inc.)^[14], working as a Red Cross-certified swimming instructor for nearly twenty years, and as a Public Relations Volunteer at St. Joseph Convent.

He has also served as the moderator for the Blood, Guts, & Glory Lecture Series on the media, pop culture, politics, and other topics in 2006^[15], Event/Public Relations Organizer for The Celebrities Gala in 2005^[16], Founder/Organizer of C.A.P.S.E.A., Inc.’s Swim for the Children Fund & related activities, including the annual swim-a-thon and Voice Award from 2000 – 2003^[17], Special Events Coordinator at the ASAP Children’s Assistance Fund in Washington, D.C. from 1995 – 1996, Communications Director for the 1995 Erie Diocesan Youth Rally, and Founder of the Angels Among Us Christmas Project in Elk County, PA, from 1998 – 2000.

Education

John graduated Summa Cum Laude from Elk County Christian High School in St. Marys, PA, in 1990. Beginning his college career as a Fashion Design Major at Marymount University in Arlington, VA, in 1990, he switched majors and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University with a Bachelors degree in Communications/Public Relations and a minor in Studio Arts.

During the late 1990s, John returned to college at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, earning dual Secondary Education Certifications in English and Speech Communications.

In 2002, John graduated with a Master's in Education from Harvard University.^[18]

Bibliography

The Ultimate Beer Lover's Cookbook, Cumberland House Publishing, 2008.Straub Brewery, Arcadia Publishing, 2005.The Pennsylvania Celebrities Cookbook, Stohn Books, 2005.The Straub Beer Party Drinks Handbook, Stohn Books, 2004.The Ultimate Elk Cookbook From the Heart of Elk Country, Stohn Books, 2004.The Straub Beer Cookbook, Stohn Books, 2003.Corresponding With History: The Art & Benefits of Collecting Autographs, ETC Publications, 1996.

References

Sources

Publishers Weekly, Week of June 2, 2008The Bradford EraUrbanDaddy (Los Angeles edition), May 9, 2008Tri-County Sunday newspaper, May 18, 2008Autograph magazine, June 2008 issueThe Daily Press, June 12, 2008Fox 13: Good Morning Memphis, June 6, 2008Clear Channel Rock 103 Memphis, Goodtimes Radio Show, June 6, 2008Memphis Flyer, June 5, 2008The Commercial Appeal, Memphis Playbook, June 6, 2008Cumberland House Publishing, Nashville, TNStraub Brewery, Inc., St. Marys, PA