books

Carolrhoda Books, a longtime publisher of picture books in Minneapolis, is branching out into fiction for teens ("and their sympathizers," says the press release). The new division is called Carolrhoda Lab, with three titles scheduled for this fall. The books will be available as printed books and as e-books.

"The Freak Observer," by Blythe Woolston, comes out in August; "The Absolute Value of -1," by Steve Brezenoff of St. Paul, will be published in September (with a launch party Sept. 23 at Magers & Quinn in Uptown), and "Draw the Dark," by Ilsa J. Bick, pubs in October.

Carolrhoda Lab, says editorial director Andrew Karre, will be a home for "exciting, surprising, dramatic and boundary-pushing works of young-adult fiction." Carolrhoda is an imprint of Lerner Publications.

Also ...

•"The Taking of Libbie, S.D.," a McKenzie novel by David Housewright of St. Paul, will be published in June by Minotaur. Housewright has won an Edgar award and two Minnesota Book Awards.

•"Sin Eater," a collection of poetry by William Reichard of Minneapolis, has been published by Mid-List Press.

•"Chief Bender's Burden," by Tom Swift of Northfield, Minn., is out in paperback with Bison Books. The book, which received a starred review from Library Journal, is about Charles Albert Bender, the most accomplished American Indian baseball player of all time.

•"Frozen Stiff," a Claire Watkins mystery by Mary Logue, will be published in June by Tyrus Books. Logue lives in the Twin Cities.

•"Honeymoon of the Dead," by St. Paul author Tate Hallaway, will be published in May by the Berkley Publishing Group. Hallaway's novel is about a vampire and a witch who get stuck in Minneapolis on their way to Transylvania.

•"Road to Omalos," a novel by Marilyn Jax of Minneapolis, will be published in June by Beaver's Pond Press.

•"Creak! Said the Bed," by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Regan Dunnick, has been published by Candlewick. Root will be at the Red Balloon Bookshop, 891 Grand Av., St. Paul, at 10:30 a.m. May 15. She lives in Minneapolis, teaches at Hamline University, and has written 6 million (give or take a few) books for children, each one loads of fun.