Mary Lee Dunn's new book, "Ballykilcline Rising" (University of Massachusetts Press, 218 pages, $28.95), traces the history and experience of Irish tenant farmers who were evicted from their land and fled -- or were coerced to flee -- County Roscommon during the years of famine.

Many of the families ended up in Minnesota; Dunn writes about the McGann and the McGinty families, specifically, that settled in Minnetonka. The Ballykilcline Society in Ireland is working to trace the immigrants and would like to hear from you if you're a descendant. Go to www.ballykilcline.com for more information.

Also ...

• The Suicide Collectors," by David Oppegaard is being published this month by St. Martin's Press. The futuristic novel is being compared to Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" and received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. Oppegaard was born in St. Paul and holds degrees from St. Olaf College and Hamline University.

• Nodin Press of Minneapolis has published "Green Stamps to Hot Pants: Growing Up in the '50s and '60s," by Genny Zak Kieley (184 pages, $19.95). Kieley is also the author of a series of histories of northeast Minneapolis.

• "The Remarkable and Very True Story of Lucy and Snowcap" by Heather Bouwman has been named one of the Best Children's Books of 2008 by Kirkus Reviews. Bouwman teaches at the University of St. Thomas.

• Caroline Lazo of Minneapolis has published "Someday When My Cat Can Talk" (Random House, $16.99), a book for ages 4 to 8. Lazo has written biographies of Alice Walker, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Arthur Ashe and others. This is her first picture book.

• Lorna Landvik's newest book, "'Tis the Season!," has been published by Ballantine Books (223 pages, $22). Told entirely through letters and e-mails, the novel is about a lovely but badly behaved heiress who slowly comes to terms with her past. Landvik, who lives in Minneapolis, has several signings this month, including: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Barnes & Noble, Galleria, Edina; 7 p.m. Thursday, Barnes & Noble Burnsville, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Barnes & Noble, Mall of America.

• St. Martin's Press has just published "In Triumph's Wake: Three Royal Matriarchs, Three Tragic Daughters" by historian Julia Gelardi. Gelardi specializes in European royal history. She lives in Plymouth.