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Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cité des Arts
109 Vine Street
Downtown Lafayette
ACADIANA BOOK FESTIVAL SCHEDULE 8 a.m. Doors Open 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. BLACK BOX THEATRE Writing Outside the Box Carey Weeks, blogger, http://unarrator.blogspot.com/ Cyril Vetter, multi-‐media, Dirtdobber Blues Moderated by Carla Hostetter, Goals for a Sinner CAFÉ – Coffee, donuts and water available A conversation with novelist Ernest Hill, Family Ties Moderated by Cheré Coen, Magic’s in the Bag MAIN THEATRE Animal Tales Theresa Singleton, Grandfather Lee and the Bees Rosemary Smith, Lizzie Walks On The Wild Side Jackie Hirshberg, Nicky the Swamp Dog Patricia Veazey Alvarado, Publisher of Piggy Press Books Moderated by Bruce Coen, Bayou Storytellers Guild 10 a.m. to 10:30 Booksignings and break 10 a.m. Children’s Museum of Acadiana Storytime: Terri Hoover Dunham, The Legend of Papa Noel: A Cajun Christmas Story Julie Lamana, Three Little Bayou Fishermen 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. BLACK BOX THEATRE Writing, it's a Mystery June Shaw, Killer Cousins DB Grady, Red Planet Noir Brandon Hebert, My Own Worst Enemy Moderated by Barbara Colley, Dusted to Death CAFÉ – Coffee, donuts and water available Self-‐Publishing Your Book Jim Booksh, My Life With Rita Morena J. Caleb, The Louisiana Sharecroppers, Memories of a Sharecropper's Daughter Mary Langford, Songs in a Strange Land Moderated by Christee Atwood, In Celebration of Elastic Waistbands
MAIN THEATRE Writing About The Bayou State Mary Gelham, publisher of Margaret Media Press Tom Aswell, Louisiana Rocks! Ann Dobie, Civil Changes: Civil Service in Louisiana, 58 Days in the Cajundome Shelter Woody Falgout, The Miracle of St. Genevieve, Cajun Mariners Mark F. DeWitt, Cajun and Zydeco Dance Music in Northern California: Modern Pleasures in a Postmodern World Moderated by David Cheramie, CODOFIL 10:30 a.m. -11:30 p.m. Children’s Museum of Acadiana Storytime: Rose Anne St. Romain, Moon’s Cloud Blanket Pat Veazey Alvarado, publisher of Piggy Press and author 11:30 p.m. to Noon Booksignings and break 11:30 a.m. Children’s Museum of Acadiana Storytime: Rosemary Smith, Lizzie Walks On The Wild Side Noon to 1:30: Lunch Noon-1:30 p.m. Children’s Museum of Acadiana Storytime: Pam Kaster, Molly the Pony 1 p.m. Children’s Museum of Acadiana Storytime: Theresa Singleton, Grandfather Lee and the Bees 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. BLACK BOX THEATRE Spotlight on Children’s Books Rose Anne St. Romain, Moon’s Cloud Blanket Sheila Hebert Collins, Jacques et La Canne a Sucre : A Cajun Jack and the Beanstalk Terri Hoover Dunham, The Legend of Papa Noel: A Cajun Christmas Story Pam Kaster, Molly the Pony Moderated by Beverly Vidrine, Halloween Alphabet CAFÉ — Coffee, donuts and water available Cooking up the Perfect Cookbook Carolyn Shelton, Zydeco Blues ‘n Gumbo Marcelle Bienvenu, Who’s Your Mama, Are You Catholic and Can You Make a Roux?, Cooking Up a Storm, Stir the Pot: The History of Cajun Cuisine Cheré Coen, Cooking in Cajun Country Moderated by Jeanette Poole
MAIN THEATRE Spotlight on University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press Anne Butler, Louisiana Hwy. 1; Louisiana Swamp Tours Henry Cancienne, Louisiana Hwy. 1; Louisiana Swamp Tours Greg Guirrard, Atchafalaya Autumn II, Inherit the Atchafalaya Don Davis, Washed Away? Carl Brasseaux, Stir the Pot: The History of Cajun Cuisine, Acadian to Cajun, Creoles of Color in the Bayou Country, The Founding of New Acadia Moderated by James Wilson, University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press 2:30-3 p.m. Booksignings and break 2:30 p.m. Children’s Museum of Acadiana Storytime: Jackie Hirshberg, Nicky the Swamp Dog 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. BLACK BOX THEATRE Christee Atwood’s In Celebration of Elastic Waistbands show in connection with her book release. Introduced by Cheré Coen, Magic’s in the Bag CAFÉ — Coffee, donuts and water available A Novel Idea Christa Allan, Walking on Broken Glass Erin Osborne, Spy Recruit Don Stanford, Southern Kingdom’s Harvest George Bishop, Letter to My Daughter Moderated by Sudie Landry MAIN THEATRE Conversations with Darrell Bourque and Ava Leavell Haymon Darrell Bourque, In Ordinary Light: New and Selected Poems Ava Leavell Haymon, Why The House is Made of Gingerbread Moderated by Patrice Melnick, Turning Up the Volume 3 p.m. Children’s Museum of Acadiana Storytime: Sheila Hebert, Les Trois Cochons, Cendrillon: A Cajun Cinderella, Jean-Paul Hébert Was There 4-4:30 p.m. Booksignings and break 4 p.m. Children’s Museum of Acadiana Storytime: Beverly Vidrine, Halloween Alphabet 5 p.m. Festival Concludes
Authors of the Acadiana Book Festival Christa Allan, Walking on Broken Glass A true Southern woman who knows that any cook worth her gumbo always starts with a roux and who never wears white after Labor Day, Christa Allan weaves stories of unscripted grace with threads of hope, humor and heart. Her debut novel, Walking on Broken Glass, was released in February from Abingdon Press. Her next novel, Edge of Grace, will be released in October of 2011. She and her husband, Ken, live in Abita Springs. Website: www.christaallan.com Patricia Veazey Alvarado, Publisher of Piggy Press Books Patricia Veazey Alvarado was born in Abbeville and holds degrees from UL and the University of Oklahoma and a Translator’s License for Spanish and English. In a spirit of adventure, Pat moved to the Republic of Panama to teach in the Fruit Company schools. After a 30-‐year teaching career, Pat established Piggy Press Books, a publishing company for multilingual children’s stories and juvenile novels by Panamanian and foreign authors. Piggy Press has more than 60 multilingual titles, 13 of which have been converted to audio stories. As a writer, Pat has published several multilingual stories of her own, including the renowned adventure series of William Worm, Tunnel Engineer. Pat resides in Panamá with her husband, her elegant cat and her mutt. Website: www.piggypress.com Tom Aswell, Louisiana Rocks: the True Genesis of Rock & Roll As a journalist, Tom Aswell reported Louisiana news for more than 25 years, working as a reporter and editor for multiple Louisiana newspapers including the Baton Rouge Advocate, Ruston Daily Leader and Monroe News-‐Star. He also owned his own news service for eight years. Aswell has always had a passion for music, particularly music native to the South. He lives with his wife, Betty, in Denham Springs. Website: www.louisianarockstomaswell.com Christee Gabour Atwood, In Celebration of Elastic Waistbands: Episodes of Imperfection, Insanity, and Occasional Enlightenment Christee Gabour Atwood is proud to say that she is an overnight success — and it only took 51 years to get there. Atwood began as a radio and television host, then moved into positions as a newspaper editor and columnist, a Universal Studios tour guide, and even tried a stint as a stand-‐up comic. She now works as executive director, trainer and consultant to various trade and professional associations and has written five business and training books for ASTD Press. Her humorous books have included Journal of a Midlife Crisis and Three Feet Under. Website: www.christee.biz Marcelle Bienvenu, Pecans from Soup to Nuts Known as the “Queen of Cajun Cooking,” Marcelle Bienvenu is an accomplished chef and writer. Her articles and recipes have been featured in a multitude of publications, including Louisiana Cookin’ magazine and CityLife, and she regularly contributes a column to the New Orleans Times-‐Picayune. She worked as a contributing editor for magazines and newspapers such as Food and Wine, Southern Living, Redbook and The New York Times, and her diverse culinary skills are captured in her many cookbooks. She resides in St. Martinville with her husband.
George Bishop Jr., Letter to My Daughter George Bishop Jr. worked as an actor for eight years in Los Angeles before traveling overseas as a volunteer English teacher to Czechoslovakia in 1992. He enjoyed the ex-‐pat life so much that he stayed on, living and teaching in Turkey, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, India, and most recently, Japan. He holds a BA from Loyola University in New Orleans, an MFA from the University of North Carolina in Wilmington, and an MA from the School for International Training in Vermont. His stories and essays have appeared in publications such as The Oxford American, The Third Coast, Press, American Writing, The Turkish Daily News, The Caspian Business News, and Vorm (in Dutch). Letter to My Daughter is his first published novel. James H. Booksh Jr., My Life With Rita James H. Booksh Jr. was born in Morgan City but grew up in Lafayette where he graduated from Lafayette High School in 1938. After time in the army he graduated from Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now UL) and married Rita L. Larcade of Rayne in 1947. He worked as an engineer throughout the country but returned to Louisiana in 1984. He now lives in LeTriomphe near Broussard, where his occupation has changed to golfing. After his wife died in 2005 he began writing and completed My Life with Rita, which summaries their wonderful life together. Caroline Boudreaux, Sweet Caroline’s Delicious Desserts Caroline Boudreaux has written the cookbooks Caroline Boudreaux’s Cajun Comfort Food and Sweet Caroline’s Delicious Desserts. She uses favorite recipes she has served her family for 50 years and makes them simple and utilizing common ingredients. Caroline is releasing another book and her books will soon be converted to the e-‐book format. Larry Boudreaux, Dat Boudreaux Ain’t Me it’s Ma Cousin Larry Boudreaux has self-‐published three Cajun humor books, Dat Boudreaux Ain’t Me it’s Ma Cousin, Aham Gonna Tell You Again, Dat Boudreaux Ain’t Me it’s Ma Cousin and Boudreaux’s Cajun Party Guide. He is now retired and lives in Central with his wife, Caroline, where they sell their books and a line of Cousin Boudreaux’s Cajun food and dips at craft shows and on the Internet. Boudreaux is planning a fourth book that will contain 500 Boudreaux and Thibodeaux books for the digital format. Darrell Bourque, Louisiana Poet Laureate, In Ordinary Light: New and Selected Poems Louisiana Poet Laureate Darrell Bourque is Professor Emeritus in English and Interdisciplinary Humanities from UL. Previous to In Ordinary Light he authored the following books of poems: Plainsongs, The Doors between Us, Burnt Water Suite, The Blue Boat and Call and Response: Conversations in Verse, with Jack B. Bedell. In 2009 he directed the Imagining Lincoln: Louisiana Poetry Project as part of Louisiana and the nation’s observance of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial. Bourque lives in rural St. Landry Parish with his wife, Karen, who is a glass artist. Holding the Notes, a chapbook commissioned by Chicory Bloom Press, will be published in 2011. Jude Bradley, Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris and Sachets Jude Bradley is a writer, editor and designer. Originally from Boston and now living in Southern California, she has worked as a journalist, TV and theater critic, and creative writing teacher. Having experienced various parapsychological phenomena since the age of four, Jude now works as a spiritual consultant, using card readings, mediumship, and general energy guidance to help clients. Carl Brasseaux, Stir the Pot: A History of Cajun Cuisine Carl Brasseaux is a historian of French Colonial North America, and particularly of Louisiana and the Cajun people. He helped to pioneer the field of Cajun history, and was director of the Center for
Louisiana Studies at UL. He has published more than 30 books, including Acadian to Cajun: Transformation of a People, 1803-1877; Creoles of Color in the Bayou Country; The Founding of New Acadia: The Beginnings of Acadian Life in Louisiana, 1765-1803; and French, Cajun, Creole, Houma: A Primer on Francophone Louisiana. Cindy Brown, We Met on The Internet, True Stories of Online Relationships Cindy Brown is currently out of the country until December but her book, We Met on The Internet, True Stories of Online Relationships, will be on sale at the Writers’ Guild table by her publicist Linda Doucet. Her next book is Dealing with Family Roots, a book of reminiscences of childhood memories. Anne Butler, Louisiana Highway One Anne Butler is the author of more than a dozen books — crime books, children's books, travel books, cookbooks and humor books — and hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles. She lives on one of English Louisiana’s early plantations, historic Butler Greenwood Plantation near St. Francisville, where she writes, gives house tours, operates a B&B and is involved in many Louisiana preservation efforts. The mother of two, she has a bachelor’s in English from Sweet Briar College in Virginia and an MA in English from Humboldt State University in California. Don Caffery, Garment of Grace Don Caffery enjoys writing children’s books when he has time away from his family and day job. Caffery read the original Garment of Grace by an order of Catholic nuns in Ohio and adapted the book to its present form. This is his first book. He lives in Baton Rouge. Morena Johnson Caleb, The Louisiana Sharecroppers: Memories of a Sharecropper’s Daughter Morena Johnson Caleb shares her story of a devout family living through the tedious days of sharecropping, offering a saga of a family who fought to earn their independence from the back-‐breaking work on the farm. Caleb was born on a sharecropper’s plantation in Grand Prairie, graduating from J.S. Clark High School in Opelousas. She later earned a bachelor of theology degree from Boulden Seminary of Wilmington, Delaware. Henry Cancienne, Louisiana Highway One Photographer Henry Cancienne of Lockport is a U.S. Air Force Vietnam veteran, retired educator, petroleum chemist, fireman and police officer. He’s travelled extensively throughout the country, recording images of iconic locations, but his passion lies much closer to home. He has photographed his native Louisiana for decades, finding inspiration in the cypress swamps and sugar cane fields, the bald eagles of Bayou Lafourche, the butterfly shrimp trawlers, the weathered Creole and Acadian cottages and magnificent plantations, Gulf beaches and the interesting people encountered along the way. David Cheramie, Lait à mere, Julie Choufleur David Cheramie grew up in Golden Meadow on the banks of Bayou Lafourche. He was graduated from Loyola University New Orleans and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He has a Ph.D. in Francophone Studies. He edited and published Feux follets, a French-‐language literary revue while a graduate student. He translated Gabriel Desbiens’ articles about French Creole immigration to Louisiana in The Road to Louisiana. He has published two collections of poetry, Lait à mère and Julie Choufleur and edited a collection of short stories, Feux follets: Une anthologie de la nouvelle louisianaise, written in French by Louisianians, to which he also contributed. He is currently Executive Director of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana. He has received several honors, such as being named Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government, and
member of the Ordre des Francophones d’Amérique by the Conseil Supérieur de la Langue Française, a branch of the Québec Provincial Government. Cheré Dastugue Coen, Cooking in Cajun Country, Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris and Sachets Cheré Dastugue Coen is an award-‐winning journalist, instructor of writing, playwright, novelist and cookbook author. She writes a weekly column and newsletter on the books and authors of Louisiana titled “Louisiana Book News,” which is published in the Lafayette and Monroe newspapers. A native of New Orleans, Coen now makes her home in Lafayette where she teaches writing at UL’s Continuing Education, is the program chair of the Writers’ Guild of Acadiana and the organizer of the Acadiana Book Festival. Website: www.LouisianaBookNews.com. Barbara Colley, Dusted to Death Barbara Colley of Luling is an award-‐winning, best-‐selling author of 16 novels with books published in more than 17 foreign languages. In addition to her romantic suspense novels, she is the author of the Charlotte LaRue mystery series set in the New Orleans Garden District that features a maid who not only cleans Garden District mansions, but solves murders as well. Barbara has won many awards including the 1996 Distinguished Artist Award for her outstanding contributions to the literary arts in Louisiana and named “Leading Business Woman of the Week” in the metro New Orleans area by Magic 101.9 radio station. Website: www.barbaracolley.com Sheila Hebert Collins, Jolie Blond and the Three Heberts Sheila Hebert Collins of Abbeville grew up proud of her Cajun culture. Teaching the lower grades for 20 years instilled a love for children’s literature, motivating her to rewrite fairy tales with a Cajun twist. These stories, such as Jolie Blond and the Three Heberts, were designed to teach younger children French, as well as to develop a cultural pride. She has published seven fairy tales and one historical fiction on the Cajuns and visits many schools and public libraries. In 2009, she returned from Florida to Abbeville where she is an elementary school librarian. Collins continues to write about her culture and visit schools. Jack Crochet, Cajun Sunshine: The Depression Years Jack Crochet is a decorated army colonel and military lawyer and judge wrote Vietnam Stories: A Judge’s Memoir with the University Press of Colorado. Now retired from the military and living in Lafayette, Crochet returns to his roots to capture the beauty, heartache and simplicity that was the 1930s in Cajun Sunshine: The Depression Years (AuthorHouse). Poignant, highly descriptive and filled with incredible detail, the book transports readers back in time to a world struggling with similar economic problems as today, but far removed with what modern life considers economic hardship. Donald W. Davis, Washed Away? The Invisible Peoples of Louisiana’s Wetlands Donald W. Davis spent more than 40 years of research as a Nichols State and LSU professor to create this in-‐depth look at the settlement, occupations and environmental challenges of Louisiana’s coastal communities. Davis is currently administering a Louisiana Sea Grant project to develop an extensive oral history of the Louisiana Wetlands.
Mark F. DeWitt, Cajun and Zydeco Dance Music in Northern California: Modern Pleasures in a Postmodern World Mark F. DeWitt is Professor of Music at UL and in July was appointed to the Dr. Tommy Comeaux Endowed Chair in Traditional Music within the School of Music. DeWitt completed doctoral work in ethnomusicology at University of California, Berkeley and taught at Ohio State University for two years. In 2008, University Press of Mississippi published his book, Cajun and Zydeco Dance Music in Northern California: Modern Pleasures in a Postmodern World. His Popular Music and Society article on the Cajun accordion won the Society for Ethnomusicology's 2004 Klaus P. Wachsmann Prize for "innovative methods in the study of musical instruments." His work also appears in the book, Accordions, Fiddles, Two Step & Swing: A Cajun Music Reader, edited by Ryan Brasseaux and Kevin Fontenot. He is currently editing a Roots Music anthology for Ashgate Press. Website: http://markdewitt.net/ Ann B. Dobie, Civil Changes: Civil Service in Louisiana Ann B. Dobie is professor emerita of English at UL where she directed graduate studies in rhetoric and the University's writing-‐across-‐the-‐curriculum program. In 2002 she chaired the One Book, One City program “Lafayette Reads Ernest Gaines.” She is the author (or co-‐author) of 10 college textbooks, compiler and editor of three literary anthologies, and the author of numerous articles on literature and composition. Her latest books are Wide Awake in the Pelican State: Contemporary Louisiana Stories and Fifty-Eight Days in the Cajundome Shelter. The third edition of Theory into Practice: An Introduction to Literary Criticism will be released this year. For 13 years she served as founder and director of the National Writing Project of Acadiana and is currently State Coordinator of the Louisiana Writing Project and a consultant to the National Writing Project. Terri Hoover Dunham, The Legend of Papa Noel: A Cajun Christmas Story Terri Hoover Dunham has published articles, essays, book reviews and poetry in many local and national magazines and newspapers, including The Louisiana Review, Louisiana Literature, Mississippi Magazine, 2005 Jubilee Anthology, 2006 Jubilee Anthology (Nicholls University anthology), St. Anthony’s Messenger, Victoria, Backwood Homes, The Annals of St. Anne De Beaupre’, Whispering Wind, The Baton Rouge Record, Grit and Cappers. Dunham has also written book reviews for The Advocate. In addition to writing, Terri is pursuing a degree in liberal arts. Penny Meaux Edwards, Universal Flow Penny Meaux Edwards offers yoga instruction out of her home studio outside of Lafayette and her students have long been urging her to create a CD for guided meditation. Edwards produced Universal Flow, a CD featuring the music of internationally acclaimed recording artist Steven Halpern and the gentle, soft voice of Edwards, under her pen name of pennimo. Edwards first studied yoga at the University of the Americas in Mexico and has participated in holistic wellness in places such as California’s Calabasas Ashram, Germany’s Baden-‐Baden and Machu Picchu. Website: http://pennimo.com Woody Falgoust, Cajun Mariners, The Miracle of St. Genevieve Woody Falgoust writes, practices law and is the co-‐owner of Cherry Books in Thibodaux. He is the author of three narrative nonfiction books, The Miracle of St. Genevieve: Vatican II and the Victory of Faith; Rise of the Cajun Mariners: The Race for Big Oil and One Dream: The NFL. He holds a bachelor’s of journalism from the University of Missouri and a Juris Doctorate from LSU. Also an active speaker, Falgoust has spoken to historical societies, marine and oilfield trade organizations, writers’ conferences, faith-‐based groups, book clubs, women’s groups, touchdown and quarterback clubs, men’s clubs, Rotary and Kiwanis, and elementary, middle and high schools and universities. Website: www.woodyfalgoust.com
John Francois, Carrier-of-Bones John François lives in Lafayette. His writings include short fiction which have won regional as well as international acclaim. He won the Prix Litteraire de France/Louisiane in 1997, an organization based in Paris, France, for his series of Cajun short stories, “Les quatre saisons de Danté Hebert” (“The Four Seasons of Danté Hébert”). These stories were published in several magazines, including Feu Follet, an anthology of local French and Cajun works published by UL. His novels include The March, Cajun Fire, Cajun Knights and Carrier-of-Bones. He is currently completing the sequel to Carrier-of-Bones. Website: www.johnfrancois.com Mary Gehman, publisher, Margaret Media, Inc., Donaldsonville Mary Gehman is a writer and owner of Margaret Media, Inc., a publishing company which is a gateway to Louisiana’s colorful history with books on Creoles, their culture, language and CDs of their music, women’s history, movies set in New Orleans, architecture, Mississippi River lore and fiction by local authors. Titles include A History of Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana by Brian Costello; Art Blakey Cookin’ and Jammin’: Recipes and Remembrances from a Jazz Life by Sandy Warren, New Orleans Goes to the Movies by Alan Leonhard and The Free People of Color of New Orleans by Mary Gehman. Website: www.margaretmedia.com Ron Gomez, Slam Dunked Ron Gomez is a native of Baton Rouge but a long-‐time resident of Lafayette. He was a broadcaster for more than 30 years and owned three south Louisiana radio stations until 1988. Ron was president of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce in 1978 and Louisiana Broadcaster of the Year in 1979. He served in the Louisiana House of Representatives and served as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources under Gov. Buddy Roemer. He and his wife, Carol Ross, own Edge Communications, an advertising and public relations agency in Lafayette and he is the publisher of a weekly newspaper, the Acadiana Gazette. His books include My Name is Ron and I’m a Recovering Legislator, Slam Dunked, Pelican Games and Neat. D.B. Grady, Red Planet Noir D.B. Grady is a graduate of LSU and lives in Baton Rouge with his wife and family. Grady is a former paratrooper with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command and is a veteran of Afghanistan. His work has appeared everywhere from Boys’ Life to The Atlantic, where he is a regular contributor. His debut novel, Red Planet Noir, won the 2010 Indie Book Award for Science Fiction. Website: http://www.dbgrady.com. Greg Guirard Greg Guirard is a professional photographer, author and crawfisherman who lives on the western edge of the Atchafalaya Basin in St. Martin Parish. His books include The Land of Dead Giants, Cajun Families of the Atchafalaya, Seasons of Light in the Atchafalaya Basin, Psycho Therapy for Cajuns: A Traditional Culture Struggles for Survival in a Crazy World and Inherit the Atchafalaya with Dr. Ray Brasseur. His fourth book, Atchafalaya Autumn, is being extensively revised and expanded, and the new edition is scheduled for a November release. Ava Leavell Haymon, Why the House Is Made of Gingerbread Ava Leavell Haymon is a poet, playwright and teacher. Her poems have appeared in poetry journals nationwide, in five chapbooks from independent small presses and in three collections, The Strict Economy of Fire, Kitchen Heat and Why the House Is Made of Gingerbread, from LSU Press. She holds the Louisiana Literature prize for poetry in 2003 and teaches poetry in Louisiana during the
academic year and in New Mexico in the summer, where she directs a retreat center for writers and artists. Haymon has directed workshops and reads her poems widely. Her plays are written for adults to perform for children, seven of them produced by Playmakers of Baton Rouge, and one by a children’s theater workshop in Houston. She and her husband, Cordell Haymon, live in Baton Rouge with two cats and without their two grown children. Brandon Hebert, My Own Worst Enemy Brandon Hebert lives in Abbeville with his wife and two high-‐maintenance dogs. In his spare time, he enjoys being at home, relaxing with family and friends, fishing with his dad, and dissecting fake Cajun accents in movies. My Own Worst Enemy is his debut novel. “People from the South are known for their storytelling,” he said. “We’re no different here in Louisiana. Folks here love three things: their families, God, and a good story … whether it’s true or not.” Website: www.brandonhebert.com. Ernest Hill, Family Ties Ernest Hill is the critically acclaimed author of five novels. Award-‐winning novelist, Ernest Gaines, states that Hill’s work, “would fit well on the shelf next to Richard Wright and Chester Himes.” Hill’s powerful prose and pitch-‐perfect dialogue led the New York Times Book Review to declare him “a skilled storyteller.” Hill’s award winning debut novel, Satisfied With Nothin’ not only garnered comparison from South Carolina Black Media Group and Booklist to Richard Wright’s Native Son and Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, but also made its way onto required-‐reading lists at universities from UCLA to Syracuse. The renowned sociologist, Dr. Walter Allen, also declared it “one of the most accurate human portrayals of black men to be found in the literature.” Hill’s rise— from a small town boy living in the lap of poverty, to an Ivy League educated college professor, from a stereotypical “jock” to an acclaimed novelist who has become what Pulitzer Prize-‐winning writer Robert Olen Butler terms “one of our finest writers”—may help explain why New York Times bestselling author Zane says “I never miss reading a novel by Ernest Hill.” Website: http://ernesthillbooks.com Jackie Sonnier Hirshberg, Nicky the Swamp Dog Jacklyn Sonnier Hirshberg is an anthropologist who studied at the University of Houston, focusing on the culture of Native American Indians. After living in Houston for 25 years she returned to her hometown of Lafayette and was introduced to the nearby Atchafalaya River Basin, the most beautiful area she now considers the Eight Wonder of the World. A tour of the swamp with guide “Half Pint” Guillory in 1997 developed into a two-‐year course of learning about the Basin and all the wildlife that inhabits this vast semi-‐wilderness. Nicky the Swamp Dog was published in 2000 and was wildly received by Louisiana’s schoolchildren. Hirshberg is currently working on another book about her special friend, Roger, the green tree frog, to be published this year by Acadian House Publishing. Carla Hostetter, Goals for a Sinner Carla Hostetter has worked as a librarian for the Lafayette Public Library, later moving on to library director in Iberia Parish. She was awarded the mid-‐career award and the Culver Award for outstanding librarianship given by the Louisiana Library Association for her innovative work in children’s and cultural programming, computerizing the library, and building or renovating all of the branches in the system. After retiring in 2004, she finally had the leisure to both write and paint. Her novel, Goals for a Sinner, was published in April.
Pam Kaster, Molly the Pony Pam Kaster is the author of Molly the Pony and Zydeco Goes to Horse Camp, as well as an editor of the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association newsletter and a member of Equine Photographers Network. She managed an equestrian riding program for disabled riders for three years and continues to study natural horsemanship techniques. She has been a Red Cross disaster-‐preparedness volunteer for 20 years and managed a Red Cross shelter during Hurricane Katrina. Molly the Pony, a best-‐seller for the LSU Press, was reviewed on NPR’s All Things Considered and awarded the 2008 ASPCA Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award in the Nonfiction Humane Heroes category. Pam Kaster lives in Zachary with her husband, three horses, three dogs and a cat. Sudie Landry, Louisiana Heart Beats Sudie Landry is a native of Shreveport now living in Lafayette. She comes from a family of storytellers and authors and caught the bug herself in her senior year of high school when she placed honorable mention in a writing contest. Sudie writes true inspirational stories on her blog and hosts a weekly 30-‐minute talk show called Louisiana Heart Beats that features Louisiana talent, businesses and more. Website: http://louisianaheartbeats.wordpress.com Blog: http://lighthousetells.blogspot.com Mary Langford, Songs in a Strange Land Mary Langford is a licensed professional counselor who has lived and worked in Lafayette since 1990. For 26 years prior to that time, she and her physician husband were missionaries in Hong Kong where their five children grew up. She is the author of three books: Songs in a Strange Land, That Nothing Be Wasted and Call Nothing Small. Mel LeCompte Jr., Sharpened Iron In 1999, Mel LeCompte Jr. kicked off his journalism career with a part-‐time job at the Opelousas Daily World, where he split duties as a sports reporter and a political cartoonist. Mel picked up five journalism awards, including the Associated Press Best Sports Columns award (Louisiana-‐Mississippi region) and back-‐to-‐back Best Editorial Cartoon awards from the Louisiana Press Association. Most recently, Mel has released Sharpened Iron, a book that chronicles the rise of Ville Platte’s Tee Cotton Bowl into a national curiosity. He also enjoys performing music, especially as a children’s entertainer. The Ice Cream Cow, a children’s story he wrote and illustrated, is based on one of his original kiddie songs. Patrice Melnick, Turning Up the Volume Patrice Melnick taught at Xavier University in New Orleans for 13 years where she founded one of the first creative writing programs at a historically black university. She teaches a literary nonfiction workshop in the low-‐residency MFA program at UNO. Her essays and poems have appeared in a number of literary journals including Grain, The Xavier Review, Buffalo Bones and Prism International. Her memoir, Turning Up the Volume (Xavier Press), was published in 2005. Following Hurricane Katrina, Melnick opened up an international gift shop and started a literary reading and open mic series in Grand Coteau. She is founder of the annual Festival of Words, which features established and emerging artists. John Morella, Give Teens a Break! A retired psychologist and university professor, John R. Morella is currently an adjunct instructor at South Louisiana Community College. He is the author of two nonfiction books: A Guide for Effective Psychotherapy and Give Teens a Break!
Erin Osborne, Spy Recruit Erin Osborne is the Creative Director of children’s ministry at East Bayou Baptist Church in Lafayette, where she writes and directs musicals. She earned her bachelor of arts in Latin American Studies from Baylor University and has volunteered in Haiti, Honduras, Ukraine, Ghana and Guatemala. Her accolades include the Spirit of Community Award, Zonta International 2004 Young Women in Public Affairs Award and Woodmen of the World Good Neighbor Citation. Todd-Michael St. Pierre, Who Dat Cookin’ South Louisiana native Todd-‐Michael St. Pierre is author of the popular cookbooks Who Dat Cookin’ and A Streetcar Named Delicious. His children’s titles include Nola & Roux: The Creole Mouse & The Cajun Mouse, The Crawfish Family Band and Thibodeaux Turtle & Boudreaux Bunny. He has developed recipes for Cooking Light magazine and his books have been featured in The Denver Post, The San Francisco Chronicle and The Lafayette Advertiser. He now lives in Colorado. Website: www.LouisianaBoy.com Jeanette Poole, Clark Culinary Born in the “boot hill” of Missouri, Jeanette Poole now lives in Opelousas. A mother of five, Poole wrote a family cookbook called Clark Culinary. She is currently compiling a brag-‐book titled Acadian Celebrities about people from Cajun Country who have reached celebrity status. Poole is historian of the Writers’ Guild of Acadiana. Rose Anne St. Romain, Moon’s Cloud Blanket Rose Anne St. Romain of Mansura grew up surrounded by family tales of rural life and strife, Cajun stories and jokes, and many songs, poetry and books, all of which fueled her gusto for Louisiana French culture. St. Romain often told stories while working as a children’s librarian and has been a professional storyteller since 1982, including performing at the first Louisiana Book Festival, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the International Reading Association Conference and Jimmy Buffett’s Internet radio program, The Stories We Could Tell. In her first book, Moon’s Cloud Blanket, she writes of the Houma people of South Louisiana. Carolyn Shelton, Zydeco Blues N Gumbo Carolyn Shelton is a cookbook author, chef and etiquette consultant. Born in Louisiana, she learned most of her culinary skills from her mother, Angelina Zeno, and her grandmothers, all of whom were Afro Creoles. She traveled as a flight attendant, enjoying cuisine in places like Sydney, Auckland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Samoa, Fuji, The Micronesian Islands and other exotic places. Since then, she has also taught many young people how to cook. Her cookbook features short biographies of zydeco greats and recipes from her Afro Creole relatives. Website: www.chefcarolynshelton.info Theresa Newport Singleton, Grandfather Lee & The Bees Theresa Newport Singleton is a high school librarian at Northside High School in Lafayette. She has recorded music professionally, shared her children’s music with choir directors at the Gospel Music Workshop of America, and shares one of her father’s stories for children of all ages with Grandfather Lee & the Bees. Website: www.theresasingleton.net Sheila Stagg, The Big Hit Sheila Stagg of Lafayette has worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for several local publications. She recently completed a historical novel, The Big Hit, which is under consideration for publication. Before working in the newspaper business, she got her start by writing for
children’s magazines and won a prize for juvenile fiction in 1993 in the Deep South Writers’ Conference sponsored by the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Don Stanford, Southern Kingdom’s Harvest Don Stanford was born in Lance Au Paille, but lived in Opelousas, New Orleans and Mansura before enlisting in the army. He later graduated from USL (now UL) and worked at carpentry, as a truck driver, insurance salesman, at an oil refinery and as a probation officer for the child support program, which later evolved into public relations manager. Retirement finally freed the time for him to pursue his love of writing. Southern Kingdom, published by Aberdeen Bay was Stanford’s first published novel, with Southern Kingdom’s Harvest published in April. Don is the husband of his soul mate, Carol Richard Stanford, and the father of three children. Cyril Vetter, Dirtdobber Blues Over a 20-‐year career in the communications industry, Cyril E. Vetter has owned and operated newspapers, radio and television stations, a television production company and a recording and music publishing company. He is the author of Fonville Winans’ Louisiana: Politics, People, and Places and The Louisiana Houses of A. Hays Town. In 2011 LSU Press will print and distribute his latest work, Dirtdobber Blues, a novel about musician Butch Hornsby that contains a CD of Hornsby’s songs, sheet music and features color photographs by Philip Gould of Hornsby's paintings and found object art works. LSU Press will also distribute the e-‐book version of Dirtdobber Blues as a multimedia experience featuring Hornsby's music and art. Cyril Vetter lives in Baton Rouge. Website: www.dirtdobberblues.com Beverly Vidrine, Halloween Alphabet, Thanksgiving Day Alphabet Beverly Vidrine of Lafayette has placed her eight grandchildren in her series of children’s books and they are among her most cherished critics. A Louisiana native, Vidrine wrote A Mardi Gras Dictionary, a book that introduces children to the unique language of New Orleans’ Carnival season; A Christmas Dictionary, which covers both the secular and religious aspects of the holiday season and four holiday books centered around the alphabet: St. Patrick’s Day Alphabet, Easter Day Alphabet, Halloween Alphabet and Thanksgiving Day Alphabet. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators as well as the Writers’ Guild of Acadiana. Carey Weeks, Blogger, short story writer Carey Weeks lives in Shreveport with her husband and daughter. She has been a regular contributor to Louisiana Road Trips Magazine and her writing has been featured in Louisiana Cookin’. She is currently working on a compilation of historical short stories. In her spare time she enjoys painting and photography. Blog: http://unarrator.blogspot.com/ Andrea Wren, Isabella: The Belle of Ironwood Andrea Wren is a native of Patterson but currently a resident of Lafayette. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UL and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. She has published poetry in A Celebration of Poets: Showcase Edition and The Southern Consumer Times Newspaper, published short stories in The Daily Advertiser’s Atchafalaya Voices: Wisdom, Wit, and Wonder, completed a second novel and is currently working on a third. When Andrea isn’t writing, she enjoys antique shopping, historical tours, needlework, gardening, reading, and taking care of her cats. The author is married and has two adult children.
The Acadiana Book Festival came about as the result of many volunteers and support from the community. Many thanks to: The Writers’ Guild of Acadiana The Children’s Museum of Acadiana Cité des Arts Community Coffee Meche’s Donut King Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission LouisianaBookNews.com And all our wonderful volunteers…
Maps courtesy of the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission
www.lafayettetravel.com
The Writers’ Guild of Acadiana
meets every last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble,
5707 Johnston St. in Lafayette. The meetings are free
and open to the public.
For information on joining the Guild, email [email protected]
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