Central New York Authors & Their Books that Belong on Your TBR Shelf
Over the past few years there has been a revitalized interest in simpler, more old-fashioned activities. While the global pandemic was a significant factor in this cultural trend, there’s something beautiful about this shift in leisure activities. People are putting aside their e-readers and cozying up at their local bookstores more than ever. And with this surge of new local bookshops, more local authors are getting their moment to shine. Here are several Central New York authors (or authors who live in Syracuse or have ties to the Syracuse area) and the books they’ve written that belong in your TBR pile. This selection of books covers everything from children’s books, fantasy, local history, travel, and more.
Please do your part in supporting and shopping local. Avoid big box retailers or Amazon and either buy directly or at a local bookstore.
Sarah Dulany-Gring
Sarah hosts local journaling workshops and does consulting work through her business, Fauved. She brightens up every room she enters with the head of curls and infectious laughter.
Click here to learn more about Sarah Dulany-Gring.
Books by Sarah Dulany-Gring
📖 NAKED
As a collection of stories that millennial women can relate to, this book is the type that you can flip open to a random page and read a snippet to enjoy. It’s filled with quotable moments and laugh-out-loud stories.
Jonah Fugo
Jonah currently lives in Cazenovia with his wife and dog. He and I used to work together at Syracuse University where he added a little whimsy to everyday with his festive suits and colorful bowties.
Click here to learn more about Jonah Fugo and his books.
Books by Jonah Fugo
This children’s book covers the struggles that little ones have when their feelings are too big for them to handle. Set in a magical dreamscape with beautiful illustrations, this is a great choice for elementary-aged kids.
Rebecca & Kevin Kelly
Rebecca & Kevin met in Texas and currently live in Manlius, New York. Together they wear many hats as authors, designers, and illustrators while also teaching at Syracuse University. The couple also teaches writing workshops at local schools during the summer. The Kellys created the pen name “P. Knuckle Jones” to represent them as the author of their children’s books.
Click here to learn more about Rebecca & Kevin Kelly and their books.
Books by “P. Knuckle Jones” (Rebecca & Kevin Kelly)
📖 FINDER’S CREATURES: BOG GONE!
📖 FINDER’S CREATURES: ALARM AT THE FARM!
This series of graphic novels is both adorable and educational for children in grades K-5. Featuring creative graphics, lots of puns, and a great group of characters, kids won’t even realize how much they are learning because they’ll have so much fun reading. Plus, there are plenty of hidden references that adults will enjoy.
Other books by the Kellys include SCOOPED, a Halloween-themed story about pumpkin carving, and THE AWESOME, IMPOSSIBLE, UNSTOPPABLE GADGET.
Linda Lowen
Linda is a local theatre critic for The Post Standard and a book reviewer for national outlets. She’s a writing icon in the Syracuse area and has a good pulse on the local literary and cultural scenes.
Click here to learn more about Linda Lowen.
Books by Linda Lowen
📖 100 THINGS TO DO IN SYRACUSE BEFORE YOU DIE
The ultimate bucket list for people living in or visiting the salt city, this book covers a little bit of everything. From regional dishes to festive events, find out what you shouldn’t miss in Syracuse, New York.
If you love weird, obscure, and unusual stories, this book is for you. Highlighting some of the oddest events, people, and places in the Syracuse area, this book is filled with things that make you go “Huh. Really??”
More Books by Central New York Authors
📖 BEST BY FAR by Brittany Graves
📚 HAUNTED CENTRAL NEW YORK by Dennis Webster
📖 GIRL IN THE GLASS COFFIN: THE TONKIN AFFAIRS by Lee Ellen Hickey
📚 DREAMS OF FREEDOM by Marilyn Higgins
Books by Authors who used to live in Central New York
📖 CENTERNIA: WHISPERS IN THE AZURE by Rose Catherine Khan
Rose is a friend-of-a-friend who used to live in the Syracuse area, but now lives elsewhere. She has a series of fantasy novels and does some incredible illustrations that can be seen on many jigsaw puzzles!
📖 12 TRIPS IN 12 MONTHS by Jen Ruiz
This inspiring memoir is about a dream year during which Jen traveled the world before turning 30, utilizing the most of her vacation time and budget-planning. Jen is an award-winning travel writer and content creator currently living in Florida, but with ties to the Rochester area. She’s also the person in my field who I aspire to be like the most.
You May Also Like
Amazon Prime Day 2022 – Travel Deals
Syracuse Experiences to Gift this Holiday Season
