Books of local interest

Three Adirondack-themed books were recently released.

“Adirondack Mysteries,” published by North Country Books Inc., Utica, was compiled and edited by Dennis Webster. The stories in the collection have Adirondack backdrops. Contributors include John H. Briant, David J. Pitkin and S.W. Hubbard.

The book sells for $17.95 and is available at the publisher's Web site, northcountrybooks.com, or at online bookstores.

North Country Books has also released “Forgive Me, Ma'am ... Bears Don't Wear Blue” by Larry Weill of Rochester.

The book is the third in a trilogy about the experiences of a wilderness park ranger in the Adirondacks. It includes tales based on Mr. Weill's time spent living in the backwoods of the West Canada Lakes Wilderness Area, in the southwestern region of the Adirondack Park. The book also has chapters about Mr. Weill's stint as a luge track worker during the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.

Mr. Weill's daughter, Kelly, 15, wrote two chapters in the book. It sells for $17.95 and is available at online bookstores and northcountrybooks.com.

Firefly Books Ltd., Richmond Hill, Ontario, has released the coffee table picture book “Adirondack Moments.”

It contains photos and essays by James Kraus, who taught forest recreation at Paul Smith's College for 30 years.

The book sells for $29.95 and is available at online bookstores or on the publisher's Web site, www.fireflybooks.com.

Romey Gallo and Wayne Martin have self-published “Indian Givers — The Story of Moss Lake” through AuthorHouse.

Mr. Gallo and Mr. Martin were at different times first sergeant of Troop D state police until their retirement.

“In 1974, the Warriors Society, a group of Canadian Mohawks, came down from Canada along with a few Indians from the Akwesasne territory and by the threat of force, took over and occupied a 612-acre abandoned girls camp called Moss Lake,” according to the book's preface.

“The approach of this book to events is not scholarly but a straightforward mission of facts as seen through the eyes of two state police supervisors who were there and deeply involved in the happenings as they unfolded,” the preface adds.

The book sells for $15.75 and is available through authorhouse.com and other online book sites.

Compiled by Times staff writer Chris Brock.