New books by local authors, led by Rice and Clegg

In a quick and informal count, bestselling horror/fantasy writer Doug Clegg, who lives in Groton Long Point, has published close to 30 books and collections. Meanwhile, the equally bestselling Luanne Rice, who hails from Old Lyme and still lives there part time, has authored close to 30 novels about relationships, family and friendships. Note: these are books out from major publishing houses.

Think about that. I have a hard time filling out a Christmas card. Anyhow, here's a cool idea. Doug and Luanne should open a local bookstore together. Not only would it feature their works, which are not always easy to find hereabouts and which would take up half the store - but they could also feature some of the harder-to-find writers in their respective genres and maybe other niche subjects.

Right up front, as you walk through the door, would be a Recent Releases table, and of course Luanne and Doug would have new stuff because, almost every month, Doug and Luanne have new books out.

Rice's latest is "The Deep Blue Sea For Beginners" (Bantam, 320 pages, $26), which tells the story of mother-daughter reconciliation on the isle of Capri set against a backdrop of wealth and privilege in Newport, Rhode Island.

Clegg's latest is "Isis" (Vanguard Press, 113 pages, $14.95), a novella beautifully illustrated by Glenn Chadbourne. It's the story of a heartbroken teenage girl who will risk all and tempt fate to reunite with her beloved brother. Oh, yeah: he's dead.

Here's a roundup of recent books by other local folks:

"Sir Ryan's Quest" (Roaring Brook Press, 32 pages, $16.95) is a book for kiddos aged four to eight authored by Niantic's Jason Deeble. After crawling into the kitchen cupboard one morning, Ryan imagines the King of Pots has knighted him - and he's off on a fantasy adventure.

A new collection of poetry by New London native Mary Vallas Posner is out from Little Red Tree Press - which happens to be a New London publisher. Called "Basil, Mountain Laurel and Jazz" (150 pages, $19.95), the volume includes paintings by Louis Posner.

Bristol-based physician Jonathan Rosen recently published "Displaced Persons" (iUniverse, 277 pages, $17.95), which details the aftermath of Miles Asher, a respected Connecticut doctor who makes a serious error while treating a friend. When his father passes away at the same time, the physician's life starts to crumble - until he meets another dying patient whose past intertwines with Asher's. Self-published? Yes, but there's a great blurb from Stewart O'Nan - and that's saying a lot.

"Martha Hill and the Making of American Dance" (Wesleyan University Press, 384 pages, $35) is a biography of the hugely influential modern dance visionary by Janet Mansfield Soares. The author was a colleague of Hill's at Juilliard and lives part time in Lyme.

Diane Gardner of Madison is the author of "What's Cooking in New England" (Jostens, 310 pages, $32), which is only the latest of her popular literary forays into regional cuisine.

Stonington writer Peg Moran has penned a gardening memoir called "An Acre Plus" (Friends in the Country, 196 pages, $18.95). The narrative follows Moran through a season with fellow artisan growers at markets and her flower farm in coastal New England.

New London native Joseph Farrar, who now lives in Tokyo, has a first novel out called "And One Fine Morning" (iUniverse, 148 pages, $12.95). It's a melancholy coming-of-age story about bitterness between two friends that unfolds over 20 years.

And Norwich's Anthony Maulucci has been busy. He's got two new books out. One is "Regina Saves Christmas" (24 pages, $14.95), a narrative poem about the kids in Milkweed, Conn., taking control when their parents overspend at holiday time. The other is a how-to guide called "The Fiction Writer's Handbook" (56 pages, $11.95), and both are available from Maulucci's Lorenzo Press.