This spring sees a wealth of new books by Minnesota writers

This spring will be crazy busy for local authors — and, by extension, local readers. Kao Kalia Yang's new memoir, "The Song Poet," is just one of many new books being published between April and June by local writers. Check the authors' websites, or the Star Tribune Sunday books page calendar, for book signings and other events.

Jacqueline West, who lives in Red Wing, is the bestselling author of the middle-grade series "The Books of Elsewhere." She takes a darker turn with her first novel for young adults, which is loosely based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet."

Minneapolis writer Kate DiCamillo, a two-time winner of the Newbery Medal, sets her new middle-grade novel in Florida during the summer of 1975. Ten-year-old Raymie has signed up for baton-twirling lessons in hopes of winning a competition and luring home her wayward father. Two other students — fluttery Louisiana Elefante and hard-as-nails Beverly Tapinski — have their own reasons for entering the competition. All three become unlikely friends.

Mary Sharratt has lived abroad for years, but her roots are in Minnesota and she'll be back here for a book launch and tour. Her latest historical novel imagines the life of Shakespeare's "dark lady" — in Sharratt's vision, a poor but educated young woman who collaborates with Shakespeare on some of his finest plays.

Cheri Register's memoir, "Packinghouse Daughter," told the story of the 1959 meatpackers' strike in her hometown of Albert Lea, Minn., and won a Minnesota Book Award. Her new book, "The Big Marsh," is part history, part memoir, as she uncovers the story of land in southern Minnesota that was drained for farmland, and forever changed.

The third novel in Louise Erdrich's justice trilogy tells the story of two families tied together by tragedy, guilt and grief. When Landreaux Iron accidentally shoots and kills the 5-year-old son of his best friend, he gives his own son, LaRose, to the grieving family. Erdrich, who lives in Minneapolis, was a Pulitzer Prize finalist and winner of the National Book Award for the first two novels in this trilogy.

This is the second memoir by the author of "The Latehomecomer." Kao Kalia Yang's new book focuses on the life of her father, a farmer in Laos, a refugee in Thailand, a machinist in St. Paul, but in his heart and passion, a poet.

This young-adult novel by Minneapolis writer Bryan Bliss is set in North Carolina and follows one powerful night in the life of Thomas, who has graduated from high school and is expected to join the Army in the morning, like his father and brother before him.

Peter Geye's third novel is, like his first two, set on the North Shore. "Wintering" tells the story of Harry Eide and his dangerous plan to spend the winter with his son in the wilderness of northern Minnesota.

Laurie Hertzel is the Star Tribune's senior editor for books.