Minneapolis' Scarletta Press, a small publisher of literary fiction and the occasional book of serious nonfiction, is branching out into children's books. They will publish "Lost in Lexicon: An Adventure in Words and Numbers" by Pendred Noyce in August, the first in a series of four books.

A literary fantasy, "Lost in Lexicon" is the story of two cousins who head out on a quest to find lost children in a world where numbers and words run wild. Noyce, of Massachusetts, wrote the book for her son's ninth birthday and then self-published it last fall. It was named an Indie Next for kids, and while on book tour she came to the Twin Cities to be on KFAI-FM's "Write On Radio" show -- hosted by Scarletta publisher Ian Graham Leask. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Also ...

•George Rabasa's new novel is scheduled for publication in April with Unbridled Books. "Miss Entropia and the Adam Bomb" is a quirky love story about two young mental patients. Rabasa is the author of "The Wonder Singer," and is a two-time winner of the Minnesota Book Award.

•"Bingo Barge Murder," a mystery by Jessie Chandler of Minneapolis, will be published in May by Midnight Ink. Chandler is the manager of True Colors Bookstore and a former police officer. Her novel is the first in a series featuring the crime-solving Shay O'Hanlon, owner of a Minneapolis coffee shop.

•Joanne Fluke's latest Hannah Swensen mystery, "Devil's Food Cake Murder," will be published in March by Kensington. Fluke is a best-selling author from Minnesota who wised up and moved to California. And speaking of food-related mysteries, "Cookie Dough or Die," by Minnesota writer Virginia Lowell will be published in April by Berkley.

•"My Heart Is a Mountain," 11 short stories and one short memoir by Catherine Holm, has been published by Holy Cow! Press. Holm lives in Cook, Minn. This is her first book.

•"The Able Life of Cody Jane," by Marly Cornell, will be published in May by Lightalight Press. It's the story of the full and rich life of Cornell's daughter, Cody, who had spina bifida. Cornell, who lives in Minnesota, is the co-author of "Walks on the Beach With Angie."

•"Chasing Alliecat," a teen novel by Rebecca Fjelland Davis, has been published by Flux of Woodbury. Davis is the author of "Jake Riley: Irreparably Damaged." She teaches at South Central College in Mankato.

•"Bringing Jon Home: The Wilderness Search for Jon Francis," by David Francis, has been published by Beaver's Pond Press. Jon Francis disappeared in 2006 while climbing in Idaho; this memoir, by his father, traces the family's search for him and their work to change the law providing legal protection for missing adults.