These are among the new titles released by local writers, listed in alphabetical order by author names:
“My Name Is Emilia del Valle” by Isabel Allende
Ballantine Books, 304 pages, $30, May 6, 2025
Isabel Allende, the longtime Marin County resident and internally bestselling author of “A Long Petal of the Sea” and “The House of the Spirits” (among numerous titles) returns with another strong female protagonist and South American setting in “My Name Is Emilia del Valle.” Once described as the world’s most widely read Spanish language writer, Allende’s new historical novel details the journey of a free-thinking young writer who defies convention, risks scandal and journeys from San Francisco to war-torn Chile in the 1880s. Publishers Weekly called it “riveting” and said, “The author’s legions of fans will love this” and the Associated Press said, “All of Allende’s books, ‘My Name Is Emilia del Valle’ included, have the epic feel of a major Hollywood film.”
“Shaken Free” by Ilana DeBare…