A brisk week of new books and a string of local memorial notices landed in the same news cycle this week—one side celebrating fresh queer and genre voices headed to shelves in March 2026, the other honoring people from our community whose services have been announced. Below is a clearer, more readable roundup that stitches together the publishing highlights, the obituary notices and the practical steps readers and neighbors can take next.
Books to watch in March 2026
– The early March surge: March begins with a concentrated push for queer-centered fiction. On March 3, Sara Torres’s literary novel X Is Where I Am (translated by Maureen Shaughnessy) arrives in bookstores and online. The following week—March 10—brings three more notable releases: Whidbey by T Kira Māhealani Madden, the historical gothic Spoiled Milk by Avery Curran, and Alexis Hall’s sci‑fi novel Hell’s Heart. Publishers say this clustered timing is meant to magnify publicity and lift diverse voices across genres.
- – Mid- and late-month highlights: The slate continues later in March with several varied entries: – March 17: Salt Lakes: An Unnatural History by Caroline Tracey — a nonfiction study of saline lake ecologies and their cultural histories. – March 24: Almost Life by Kiran Millwood Hargrave — a character-driven literary novel. – March 31: A mixed release day including Kirsten King’s A Good Person alongside several scholarly works, notably Hip Hop Studies and Queer Black Feminism, edited by Elaine B. Richardson, Gwendolyn D. Pough and Treva B. Lindsey.
- – More picks across tastes: Romance fans get So Very Lucky (Caitlin Devlin) and Anderson in Bloom (Jennifer Dugan), while historical romance includes A Lady for All Seasons (TJ Alexander, March 10). YA readers should watch for graphic novels and fantasy such as Punk Like Me (JD Glass & Kris Dresen) and When I Was Death (Alexis Henderson). Memoir and nonfiction entries include When We’re Born We Forget Everything (Alicia Jo Rabins) and the cookbook-memoir Will This Make You Happy: Stories & Recipes From a Year of Baking (Tanya Bush). Poetry and reissues round out the month, including the witch doesn’t drown in this one (amanda lovelace) and a reissue of Beatrice the Sixteenth by Irene Clyde.
Why this matters and what to do
– The packed calendar concentrates media buzz and retail promotion, giving reviewers, booksellers and librarians a chance to spotlight queer and cross‑genre work in a single window.
– If something on this list interests you: check your favorite bookseller for preorders, ask your library to place holds, and watch publisher pages or retailer feeds for any format details or schedule changes. Advance review copies and publicity materials will roll out in the weeks leading up to each release.
Concise memorials and service information
This section summarizes recent obituary notices and service arrangements drawn from local funeral director postings. Where details are pending or inconsistent, family and funeral home listings are the authoritative source—reach out to them for confirmations.
- – Wayne Earl Chesnut, Taos, Missouri — Born September 11, 1940; died February 26, 2026. The funeral notice from Tyler M. Woods Funeral Director records his military service and lists visitation on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 3–6 p.m. at the Taos Knights of Columbus, with military honors at 6 p.m. followed by a memorial service; burial is private. The notice also names Elizabeth “Betty” Chesnut as predeceased but shows an apparent date error (her death is listed as December 3, 2026), which the funeral home may correct—please consult Tyler M. Woods for clarification.
- – Three central Missouri residents who recently passed: – Jed A. Kiebel, Jefferson City — Born March 9, 1961; died February 19, 2026. Survived by his wife, Stephanie Battles, and daughter Julia (Acheron) Spencer. The family will hold a private celebration of life at a later date. – Cindy Louise Hall, Eldon — Born June 6, 1960; died February 19, 2026. Family members remember her as a devoted wife and mother; funeral arrangements will be announced when finalized. The family suggests subtle tributes (a hummingbird, for example) for those who wish to honor her memory. – Joseph Greg Ramsey Jr., Eldon — Born May 23, 1978; died February 17, 2026. An electrician by trade, he is survived by his fiancée, Stephanie Maxwell, his children and stepchildren. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for March 21, 2026, from noon to 3 p.m. at Osage Hills in Osage Beach; attendees should confirm details with the family or event organizers.
- – Additional notices: Alan D. Wadsack (died February 15, 2026), Darlene Hazel Henderson (died February 12, 2026) and Lawrence “Larry” W. Buehrlen (died February 12, 2026) — obituaries list surviving relatives and note that service information will be announced when available. No causes of death were reported in the published notices. Families have asked for privacy while arrangements are finalized.
Practical notes and next steps
– For readers: if you’re making a reading list, mark March 3 and March 10 for the early queer-focused launches and check retailer preorders and library holds. Later-month releases start March 17 and continue through the end of the month.
– For mourners and friends: funeral directors’ postings are the definitive source for visitation, service times and locations. If you plan to attend a public event—such as the March 21 Celebration of Life at Osage Hills—call ahead to confirm logistics or changes.
– Corrections and updates: expect publishers and funeral homes to issue revisions as needed. Official publisher channels, retailer listings and the funeral homes mentioned should be consulted for the most current information.
If you’d like, I can:
– Pull these titles into a clean, printable reading list with links to preorder pages.
– Create a one-page handout of the memorials with phone numbers for the funeral homes and families that have requested public RSVPs.
Which would you prefer?