2025 Book Releases by Austin Authors
Austin has long been a hub for creative minds, and 2025 is shaping up to be an incredible year for local authors. From heartfelt picture books to bold literary debuts, from dark academia thrillers to historical reimagining, these upcoming books showcase the depth and diversity of Austin’s literary scene. Discover some of the most exciting books from Austin writers hitting shelves this year!
The Sinners All Bow
Book by Kate Winkler Dawson
Publish Date: Jan. 7, 2025
The Sinners All Bow by Kate Winkler Dawson is a true-crime book exploring the 1832 death of Sarah Maria Cornell, whose case inspired The Scarlet Letter and America’s first true-crime book. Found dead in a New England farmyard, Cornell’s past and ties to Methodist minister Reverend Ephraim Avery led to a controversial trial. Though Avery was acquitted, writer Catharine Read Arnold Williams investigated and documented the case. Nearly two centuries later, Dawson revisits the mystery using modern forensic techniques to uncover the truth and highlight the role of three women who defied societal expectations.
Lilith Mason Takes On The Everlore
Book by Wendolyn Baird
Publish Date: February 1, 2025
Lilith Mason Takes On The Everlore by Wendolyn Baird follows Lilith as she navigates the divided, supernatural city of Penumbra, searching for powerful grimoires while evading the wrath of the fae. Haunted by dark bargains and the fallout of past battles, she’s determined to find her lost friends, despite the dangers ahead. With a grieving illusionist and a mysterious palm reader by her side, Lilith faces trials that test her strength, loyalty, and heart. Struggling with chronic illness and the impossible demands of The Dahlias, she must decide: sacrifice her dreams for what’s right or ignite chaos to save the woman she loves.
Dangerous Latitudes
Book by Jack Woodville London
Publish Date: February 18, 2025
Author Event: March 2, 2025 | 603 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78703
Dangerous Latitudes by Jack Woodville London is a historical adventure set six years after the fall of the Alamo, as Texas teeters on the edge of losing its independence. Naïve surveyor Alexandre LaBranche takes on a perilous mission to map the Rio Grande but is soon entangled in espionage and war. Featuring legendary Texas figures like Sam Houston and Jack Hays, the novel follows LaBranche’s desperate quest to rescue 200 captured Texans before the Mexican army executes them, blending history, survival, and high-stakes adventure.
Rick Riordan Presents: a Touch of Blood
Book by Sajni Patel
Expected Publication: February 25, 2025
Author Event: February 25, 2025 | 603 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78703
Rick Riordan Presents: A Touch of Blood by Sajni Patel is a mythological fantasy blending Greek and Indian lore, serving as a companion to A Drop of Venom. Years after sacrificing herself to save her people, Eshani is dragged into the Nightmare Realm to fulfill her bargain with the shades. There, she faces monstrous creatures, the Shadow King’s sinister plans, and a prophecy tied to her identity as the "little goddess of spring." Her only hope lies with Hiran, a hidden figure with a destiny of his own. Together, they must defy fate and rise against the Nightmare Realm’s power.
Play, With Knives
Book by Jeanette Horn
Publish Date: March 4, 2025
Author Event: March 19, 2025 | 603 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78703
Play, With Knives by Jeanette Horn is a surreal and poetic novel set aboard a traveling theater troupe’s train journey through the Midwest. Edgar Cosentino, a talented but truth-obsessed set designer, falls for actress Ava Vale—only to unknowingly become entangled in her secret marriage. Meanwhile, playwright Fallon Finn-Dorset weaves their unfolding drama into her scripts, which mysteriously begin manifesting in reality. With a partly tame fox, a barman resembling Abraham Lincoln, and fiction colliding with truth in unpredictable ways, the troupe’s fate—and Edgar and Ava’s relationship—hangs in the balance. A whimsical tale exploring art, reality, and the power of storytelling.
The Crossing: El Paso, the Southwest, and America's Forgotten Origin Story
Book by Richard Parker
Publish Date: March 4, 2025
Author Event: March 25, 2025 | 603 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78703
The Crossing by Richard Parker redefines American history by centering it around El Paso, Texas, rather than the traditional East-to-West narrative. Positioned at a vital Rio Grande crossing, El Paso has long been a hub of Indigenous trade, European colonization, and immigration—more so than even Ellis Island. The book highlights the city’s role in the Indian Wars, Manifest Destiny, civil rights struggles, and the shaping of a multicultural America. Parker argues that El Paso is not just a historical crossroads but a model for the nation’s diverse and evolving future.
Nightweaver
Book by R.M. Gray
Publish Date: March 6, 2025
Author Event: March 18, 2025 | 603 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78703
Nightweaver by R.M. Gray follows 17-year-old pirate Aster Oberon, whose life at sea has kept her family safe from the powerful, mystical Nightweavers. But when they lose a devastating battle, Aster and her family are forced to live among their enemies. Given an unexpected chance at survival by the mysterious and handsome Nightweaver Will, they take refuge at his family's grand estate. As Aster struggles with her deep-seated hatred for his kind, an undeniable attraction grows between them. But secrets lurking within Bludgrave Manor threaten to unravel everything she believes in—and everything she loves.
The Human Scale: A Novel
Book by Lawrence Wright
Publish Date: March 11, 2025
Author Event: March 11, 2025 | 603 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78703
The Human Scale by Lawrence Wright is a gripping thriller that follows Tony Malik, a Palestinian American FBI agent, as he is drawn into a high-stakes murder investigation in Gaza. Originally in the region for his niece's wedding and a routine assignment, Malik becomes entangled in the case of the Israeli police chief’s assassination. Partnering with Yossi, a hardline Israeli officer, Malik must navigate deep political and personal tensions as they uncover a conspiracy amid growing violence. Featuring a richly drawn cast and culminating in the real-life Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the novel offers a compelling exploration of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a deeply human lens.
Blood of the Blackthorn
Book by Rocio Carranza
Publish Date: March 11, 2025
Blood of the Blackthorn by Rocio Carranza is a gripping fantasy tale of magic, secrets, and survival. Eve has spent years living as a noblewoman in the opulent Givensmir court, suppressing the magic in her blood. But when a princess turns up dead, suspicion falls on her, and she becomes trapped in a deadly game of deception. In a kingdom that hunts witches and wages war against the Blackthorn—land of magic across the sea—Eve must find a way to escape before her hidden past seals her fate.
The Unwanted: A Novel
Book by Boris Fishman
Publish Date: March 25, 2025
Author Event: April 8, 2025 | 603 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78703
The Unwanted by Boris Fishman is a gripping novel about survival, resistance, and family bonds in the face of war and persecution. Susanna, George, and their eight-year-old daughter, Dina, have managed to stay safe despite their country’s brutal civil war targeting their minority sect. But when George loses his university job, their fragile security shatters, forcing them to flee. As they navigate refugee camps and dangerous seas, each family member must make painful sacrifices to survive. Lies and betrayals threaten to tear them apart, but at its core, The Unwanted is a powerful tale of resilience, dignity, and the lengths people will go to for their safety.
Roy Reuther and the UAW: Fighting for Workers and Civil Rights
Book by Alan Reuther
Publish Date: April 1, 2025
Author Event: April 26, 2025 | 603 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78703
Roy Reuther and the UAW: Fighting for Workers and Civil Rights by Alan Reuther is a biography of labor leader Roy Reuther, highlighting his pivotal role in the UAW, civil rights, and voter advocacy. As a key figure in the Flint sit-down strike and political director of the UAW, Reuther fought for workers' rights, civil rights legislation, and farmworker justice. The book connects his struggles to modern issues like worker organizing, voter suppression, and racial justice, illustrating how activism can drive meaningful change. It serves as both an inspiring account of his victories and a cautionary tale about the challenges faced by reformers.
Mistaco
Book by Eliza Kinkz
Publish date: April 1, 2025
Author Event: April 5, 2025 | 603 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78703
Mistaco by Eliza Kinkz is a hilarious and heartwarming picture book about turning mistakes into something delicious. After a terrible day at school, Izzy just wants to be alone, but her grandfather, Lito, encourages her to make tortillas. When she shares her mistakes, Lito playfully suggests turning them into a "mistaco"—a taco made of mistakes—which he happily eats. Inspired, the whole family joins in, turning their blunders into a feast of laughter and love. This fun, relatable story teaches kids that mistakes aren’t the end of the world—they might just make life a little more flavorful!
Bitter Texas Honey: A Novel
Book by Ashley Whitaker
Publish Date: April 15, 2025
Author Event: April 18, 2025 | 603 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
Bitter Texas Honey by Ashley Whitaker is a sharp, hilarious debut novel about Joan West, a 23-year-old aspiring writer caught between her evangelical Texas family and her liberal Austin surroundings. Torn between past and present identities, Joan obsessively chronicles her relationships—especially her rivalry with ex-boyfriend Roberto—as fuel for her novel. But when her reckless cousin Wyatt faces a crisis, her carefully constructed worldview starts to unravel. Full of wit, contradictions, and poignant moments, this coming-of-age story explores ambition, family dysfunction, addiction, and the messy pursuit of artistic success.
Reckoning: Book Two in The Infernis Duology
Book by Gillian Eliza West
Publish Date: April 29, 2025
Reckoning, the thrilling conclusion to The Infernis Duology by Gillian Eliza West, follows Oralia as she returns to Aethera, the golden kingdom she once called home, to stop King Typhon and the god she once saw as a father. With betrayal at every turn, she must harness her newfound powers to protect Infernis, the shadowy realm where she now reigns as queen. Meanwhile, Renwick, the King of the Dead, prepares for war, torn between his duty to Oralia and his kingdom. As tensions rise and destiny looms, Oralia must fight to save Infernis—without losing herself in the process.
Abuelita's Song
Book by Gloria Amescua
Publish Date: May 20, 2025
Author Event: May 31, 2025 | 603 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78703
Abuelita's Song by Gloria Amescua is a heartwarming picture book that celebrates family, music, and cultural traditions. A mother sings a special lullaby to her baby each night, a song that stays in his heart as he grows. When he moves away and starts a family of his own, he passes the song down to his daughters. Now, with Abuelita coming to visit, the girls plan a heartfelt surprise—they will sing “La canción del corazón” for her, keeping the cherished melody alive across generations.
That Devil, Ambition
Book by Linsey Miller
Publish Date: June 3, 2025
That Devil, Ambition by Linsey Miller is a dark academia fantasy filled with ambition, betrayal, and high stakes. At an elite school where success means everything, top student Fabian Galloway must join the exclusive honors class—where the only assignment is to kill their professor, a devil summoned to either kill or be killed. If the students succeed, their debt is erased; if they fail, they die. Alongside his brilliant but unsuspecting friends, Fabian must navigate deadly rivalries and unravel the professor’s secrets before time runs out.
The Slip
Book by Lucas Schaefer
Publish Date: June 3, 2025
The Slip by Lucas Schaefer is a gripping literary novel set in Austin, Texas, weaving together themes of identity, transformation, and mystery. In the summer of 1998, sixteen-year-old Nathaniel Rothstein gains confidence under the mentorship of a charismatic ex-boxer, David Dalice—until he suddenly vanishes. Meanwhile, across the city, a teenager named X searches for connection in a world that refuses to see him for who he is. More than a decade later, Nathaniel’s uncle Bob reopens the case, unraveling a web of secrets involving boxers, cops, and past gymgoers. This bold, multi-layered story explores race, sexuality, and belonging, culminating in a powerful reckoning inside—and outside—the boxing ring.
Mother-Eating
Author: Jess Hagemann
Publish Date: October 28, 2025
Mother-Eating by Jess Hagemann is a dark and provocative reimagining of Marie Antoinette’s royal court—transposed into the heart of modern-day Austin, Texas, as a secretive and hedonistic sex cult. Told as an oral history, the novel blends historical intrigue with unsettling horror, drawing comparisons to Exquisite Corpse and Lincoln in the Bardo. With an eerie mix of decadence and dread, it explores power, desire, and the grotesque lengths people will go to in pursuit of pleasure and control.
With so many incredible books coming from Austin writers this year, your reading list is about to get a lot longer. Get ready to be inspired, entertained, and completely captivated!
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