Wisconsin is, and has been, home to a wide variety of writers. From self-published authors to literary giants, books by local authors are in the hands of readers across not only the state or the country, but the world. Read on to find some of the newest titles by Wisconsin authors.
GIRLFRIENDING BY SUSANNA DANIEL
Release: February 10, 2026
Genre: Contemporary
Susanna Daniel, an author from Madison, is releasing her third novel, an adult contemporary title called Girlfriending, this February. This is the story of a woman whose marriage ended in divorce after a messy affair and is trying to begin again. Along with her best friend, she sets out to go on ten first dates, to not only maybe find love, but her way back to herself.
THE UNVEILING BY QUAN BARRY
Release: October 14, 2025
Genre: Horror
If you’re itching to pick up a new book now, look no further than University of Wisconsin- Madison English professor, Quan Barry. Barry’s fourth novel, described as “literary horror” and entitled The Unveiling, was released in October. This novel follows Striker on an Antarctic cruise as she scouts locations for an upcoming film. When she and some fellow travelers are stranded on an island of ice, they must not only survive the elements, but each other.
WILDWOOD BY AMY PEASE
Release: January 6, 2026
Genre: Thriller
A native to Wisconsin and graduate of the Madison Writer’s Studio, Amy Pease’s sequel to her debut, Northwoods, is releasing this January. Another adult procedural thriller set in Wisconsin, Wildwood, is the continuation of small town Deputy Sheriff Eli’s story. When the FBI rolls into their quiet community, Eli and his mother, the town sheriff, learn of a violent crime community that will have them questioning everything, and everyone, that they know.
NEARLY BELOVED BY KENDRA BROEKHUIS
Release: November 4, 2025
Genre: Christian
Released right ahead of the holidays in November, you may have missed Milwaukee resident Kendra Broekhuis’s newest novel, Nearly Beloved. In this Christian fiction story, Dylan discovers a life altering secret after her father passes away: she is not biologically related to him. When her mother won’t provide answers, she sets off across the country to find them. Told in prose and epistolary styles, this novel explores the idea of if we’re better off knowing the truth or a carefully constructed lie.
THE ROAD FROM NOWHERE BY AVI
Release: January 6, 2026
Genre: Historical
Prolific University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate and author, Avi, is releasing his newest middle grade (ages 8-12) historical fiction novel this January. Set in the 1930s during the Great Depression, Ollie is trying to make a better life for his family by finding silver in the local mines. When a geologist comes to town and assists them in discovering unmined treasure, Ollie, his brother and his best friend must figure out how to get their share and leave town before they’re stopped by the mine’s owner.
BIRDS OF THE GREAT LAKES BY DEXTER PATTERSON
Release: October 7, 2025
Genre: Nature Nonfiction
If you’re a nonfiction reader and nature lover, this book by Wisconsin author and podcast host, Dexter Patterson, is your next buy! Released in October this guide is sure to help you find all of the native birds in the area. If you plan on traveling around the state and visiting sites, this guide will help to familiarize you with the local birds. Or if you’re looking to get into birding, this book, and the author’s podcast, are sure to get you started.
SKYLARK BY PAULA MCLAIN
Release: January 6, 2026
Genre: Historical
Though she has since moved, once a Wisconsinite, always a Wisconsinite. Paula McLain (known for The Paris Wife) is releasing her newest novel, an adult historical fiction story, in January. Told through two perspectives, in two different time periods, readers will learn about a side of Paris they never knew existed. Alouette, a young girl in 1664, is locked up in an asylum when she attempts to free her father from being wrongly imprisoned. Kristof, a doctor in 1939, must help his Jewish neighbors when the Nazis descend upon Paris. These two stories of justice seekers will entwine in surprising ways.
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