Need a last-minute holiday gift for a reader? Here are 7 new books by Ozarks authors

Greta Cross, Springfield News-Leader
·8 min read

With the holidays around the corner, you may be scrambling to pick up a few last-minute gifts. If you have a close friend who spends their time reading or a young one in the family, picking up a book by a local author can be a great option.

Over the course of the year, several local authors have released children's books, nonfiction oral histories and picture books. The News-Leader has compiled a list of seven fan favorites, along with local bookstores to support this season.

'Silly Sam From Galapagos Land' and 'Winston' by Alysen Bayles

"Silly Sam From Galapagos Land" is the second children's book from Alysen Bayles. Bayles is the pen name for Missouri author Laurel Stevenson, who lived in Springfield for 25 years. "Silly Sam From Galapagos Land" releases Friday, April 29. The story explores the friendship between feline Silly Sam and Myrtle Turtle in the Galapagos Islands.
"Silly Sam From Galapagos Land" is the second children's book from Alysen Bayles. Bayles is the pen name for Missouri author Laurel Stevenson, who lived in Springfield for 25 years. "Silly Sam From Galapagos Land" releases Friday, April 29. The story explores the friendship between feline Silly Sam and Myrtle Turtle in the Galapagos Islands.

"Silly Sam From Galapagos Land" is Laurel Stevenson's second children's book, exploring the friendship between feline Silly Sam and Myrtle the Turtle in the Galapagos Islands. The children's book was released in late April.

Stevenson's first children's book, "Winston," was released in 2020. This book follows the story of canine Winston, based on Bayles' family dog Nipper.

Aside from her writing, Stevenson has worked as a litigator for over 30 years in Iowa, Wisconsin and Springfield. Today, she works in alternative dispute resolution in Kansas City. To keep her work in law and writing separate, she writes under the pen name Alysen Bayles.

More:Missouri author explores personal experiences, hardships through creative writing

Where to buy "Silly Sam From Galapagos Land":

'The Ozark Mountain Daredevils On Record: A Narrative Discography' by Michael Kuelker

"The Ozark Mountain Daredevils On Record: A Narrative Discography" is a 515-page oral history about the band. The book chronicles The Ozark Mountain Daredevils' history from the band's inception in 1971 to present day.

The book's author, Michael Kuelker, is a long-time fan and friend of The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Kuelker spent his summers watching the band perform regularly. In the late '80s he became friends with Michael "Supe" Granda, one of the band's founding members. At the time, Kuelker was working at a newspaper called Spotlight, writing about Granda's side music projects, Supe & the Sandwiches.

Kuelker spent over 50 hours interviewing the band's members for his book, along with others who worked alongside the band or were prevalent in the Ozarks music scene in the 1970s. Kuelker was also able to interview Steve Cash, one of the band's founding members, before he died in October 2019.

More:The Ozark Mountain Daredevils fan, friend chronicles band's history in new book

Where to buy:

  • The Ozarks Mountain Daredevils On Record website at omdonrecord.com/shop

  • Kaleidoscope at 1430 E. Sunshine St.

  • Pagination Bookshop at 1150 E. Walnut St.

'Springfield' by Connie Yen

A 96-page photobook, "Springfield" showcases the past and present of Springfield architecture. The book features about 160 then-and-now photographs, along with archival research by local author and archivist Connie Yen.

Yen said the majority of the book's photographs were captured by her husband Jimmy Yen. The two spent several weekend mornings together driving around Springfield, taking photos. As for the historical photos, the majority of them came from the Springfield-Greene County Library District.

"Springfield" is a part of Arcadia Publishing's "Then and Now" series, which document towns throughout the country.

Yen is the archives coordinator at the Greene County Archives, and "Springfield" is her third book. She is also the author of "A Postcard History of Springfield," a photobook of historical postcards, and "Sinner and Savior: Emma Molloy and the Graham Murder." This true story is about the 1886 murder in Greene County.

More:Past, present of Springfield documented in Greene County archivist's new photobook

Where to buy:

'Renegade: An Anonymous Justice Novel' by Nancy Allen

"Renegade: An Anonymous Justice Novel" is the first fiction novel in Nancy Allen's "Anonymous Justice" series. The story follows District Attorney Kate Stone who must attend anger management courses after punching an alleged serial assaulter. The novel is 368 pages long.

Allen is popularly known for her work with James Patterson, co-authoring New York Times Bestseller "Juror #3" and "Jailhouse Lawyer." Outside of writing, Allen was an assistant Missouri attorney general and assistant prosecutor in the Ozarks for 15 years. She also served as a faculty member at Missouri State University for 15 years, teaching law classes.

Where to buy:

'Wild Horses' by Dean Curtis

"The Wild Horses of Shannon County, Missouri" is a new photobook from local photojournalist Dean Curtis. The book includes about 100 photos of the four wild horse herds in Shannon County: Shawnee Creek, Broadfoot, Rocky Creek and Round Spring. The book also includes information about the Missouri Wild Horse League.
"The Wild Horses of Shannon County, Missouri" is a new photobook from local photojournalist Dean Curtis. The book includes about 100 photos of the four wild horse herds in Shannon County: Shawnee Creek, Broadfoot, Rocky Creek and Round Spring. The book also includes information about the Missouri Wild Horse League.

Local photojournalist Dean Curtis has photographed the wild horses of Shannon County for about 12 years. His first photobook, "The Wild Horses of Shannon County" features about 100 original images of the horses in their natural habitat. The book also includes information about the Missouri Wild Horse League, a group of activists that helped preserve the existence of the wild horses in the area in the 1990s.

Curtis will be signing and selling copies of his book at Bedford Camera & Video on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

From 1992 to 2014, Curtis served as the photo editor of the News-Leader, after working as a photojournalist at several newspapers across the country, including in North Dakota, South Dakota and New Jersey.

Where to buy:

'The Life' by David Harrison

The latest release from Ozarks children's book author and biologist David Harrison is a bit different than his previous works. In his autobiography, "This Life," Harrison dives into his love for reading, nature and how the two came together, resulting in over 100 published children's books.

Over 10 million copies of Harrison's children's books have been sold and many are translated into different languages. He's won several awards for his writing, including the Christopher Award in 1972 and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award in 2020.

85-year-old Harrison told the News-Leader in November that at least five other books are "in the pipeline." He intends for their release between this year and 2024.

"This Life" was published by the Ozarks Studies Institute, an initiative of the Missouri State University Libraries to preserve Ozarks history.

More:Noted children's author David Harrison reflects on writing career, journey in 'This Life'

Where to buy:

Support local bookstores this holiday season

If you're looking to purchase a book written by a Springfield author, or any piece of literature for that matter, consider supporting local bookstores this month.

BookMarx is a gently-used bookstore located at 325 E. Walnut St. The store specializes in classic literature, contemporary and postmodern fiction, science fiction and children's books. While visiting, don't forget to stop and give love to the store's house cats Googey and Squash.

BookMarx is open on Monday from noon to 7 p.m. and Tuesday through Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Along with selling, BookMarx also buys and trades used books.

Pagination Bookshop sells both new and gently-used books at 1150 E. Walnut St. The bookshop is located in a Victorian-style home on Historic Walnut Street. In addition to books, Pagination offers an array of stocking stuffer gifts, including candles, puzzles, coffee mugs and stickers.

Pagination is hosting two book readings and signings in December. Local photographer Randy Bacon will discuss his photobook, "The Road I Call Home" on Saturday, Dec. 10. The book contains 100 portraits and personal narratives from unsheltered individuals. Harrison will make a visit on Friday, Dec. 16 to discuss "This Life."

Pagination is open noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

ABC Books is located at 2109 N. Glenstone Ave. #J. The indie bookstore opened its doors in 1989. ABC books is accepting books for trade everyday of the week, except Wednesday. Folks are limited to 20 books per trade.

ABC Books is hosting three book signings in December and one in January:

  • Steven Anderson Law, author of "Yuma Gold" and "True Father" on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p .m.

  • Larry Wood, author of "Lady Rebels of Civil War Missouri" on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 1-3 p.m.

  • Dakotah Pike, author of "Fitz the Fish's Frozen Fun" on Saturday, Dec. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon

  • Dorothy Davidson, author of "Mommy & Me: A Love Story" on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

ABC Books is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hooked On Books is one of the oldest used bookstores in the Midwest, established in 1986. It features over 100,000 books for sale. Hooked On Books actively sells and purchased used books.

Hooked On Books is located at 2765 S. Campbell Ave. and open Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday 1-5 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Books by Springfield authors that would make great last-minute gifts