REGION — The Upper Delaware River Valley, and the communities near it, must hold some kind of magic.

The area plays host to an abundance of writers.

“Writing is, in part, giving yourself permission to see your ideas as worthy and being optimistic enough to hope that others will agree,” said Narrowsburg, NY author Greg Triggs. “Protect your curiosity and be able to see the world through other eyes and you’re off to a running start.”

Here is just a partial list of recent works by local authors. Be sure to check these books out—at the library, in bookstores near you, and online.

Read the books and then review them at your favorite review site—not only does your opinion matter, but the review helps the author too.

Again, don’t forget to shop at the local bookstores—and at arts organizations and historical societies. You never know what books you’ll find.

“A Farm Animal’s Day at the Fair,” by Stephanie Matolyak and Deborah Bailey

Local business professionals Matolyak and Bailey have written a follow-up to “A Farm Animals’ Christmas.” The crew of animals head to the fair, discovering the rides, the fun, the prizes… and the garbage.

Learn more on the Stephanie’s Farm page on Facebook.

“The Green Amendment,” second edition, by Maya K. van Rossum

Van Rossum is the Delaware Riverkeeper and the founder of Green Amendments for the Generations. The book is her roadmap to a healthier world—one that uses the law to empower activists and support environmental and social justice for all communities.

Learn more at forthegenerations.org.

“Holding Things Together,” by Chuck O’Neil

O’Neil, who serves as the poet laureate in Milford, PA, has put together a collection of poems that reflect family, continuity, place and history. Reviewer Eamonn Grennan described it as “lovingly unsentimental poems for his wife and family, for his town past and present, or for his natural surroundings.”

Learn more at chuckoneilauthor.com.

“How to make lilac syrup,” by Kristin White, in “25 Ready-to-Use Sustainable Living Programs for Libraries”

White is a local librarian who also writes for the River Reporter on topics ranging from homesteading to foraging. Here she turns her skills to good use with a craft that anyone can enjoy.

Learn more at www.alastore.ala.org/sustainableliving.

“Oh’ to Be a Banana,” by Ashley Blain

A story about food waste, food sustainability, and why bananas matter. (Blain notes that about 114.8 million metric tons of banana waste is produced each year.)

For kids of elementary school age.

Learn more at www.ohtobeabananabook.com

“The Paper Pirate,” by Dawn McIntyre

McIntyre has worked in corporate America and remodeled homes. She’s also racked up a collection of published short stories and novels.

Cozy mystery “The Paper Pirate,” out this year, chronicles five friends who own a small-town bookstore, and the mysterious person who is searching their homes and their businesses for—what?

Learn more at www.dawnmcintyreauthor.com.

“Ramsay the Goat: Taxes” and “Ramsay the Goat: Savings,” by Tommy Sarkar

Sarkar, an actor, cosplayer and writer, takes on teaching kids about finance.

Ramsay, a goat, learns about financial literacy from his parents and teachers. In this book, Ramsay learns about taxes, their importance and how the community benefits from taxes.

Sarkar says on his website that “the purpose and intention of this series are to help parents teach their children to manage money efficiently from an early age and to share that idea with others.”

Learn more at ramsaythegoat.com.

“That Which Makes Us Stronger,” by Greg Triggs

In a book that’s been nominated for the 2023 PEN/Faulkner award for Best American Fiction, Triggs has created a tribute to his brother Art Radke. The book addresses special needs, addiction and growing up LGBTQ+ in Wisconsin.

Learn more at gregtriggs.com, or at redhawkpublications.com.

“The Toe Snatchers,” by Marileta Robinson

Robinson is a local children’s writer and a former senior editor at Highlights Magazine.

In “The Toe Snatchers,” the Frools are off in search of their favorite snack—tender, fresh-picked human toes. But first, they have to  figure out how to share the toes equally, and that’s when their problems begin.

The book is illustrated by Ron Zalme.

“Your Number’s Up,” by Marylou Ambrose

Playwright and author Ambrose has transformed one of her plays, according to Leah Casner recently in a review she wrote for the River Reporter, into a novel about the trials of having a parent with dementia—especially given that the parent has a touch of ESP.

Learn more at marylouambrose.com.

Want to add a book to the list? Email copyeditor@riverreporter.com.