Sunday, May 25, 2014

First installment in Louisiana Cajun and Creole Poetry series focuses on Amede Ardoin

             Former Poet Laureate of Louisiana and 2014 Louisiana Writer Award winner Darrell Bourque has just published a collection of inverted sonnets titled “If You Abandon Me, Comment Je Vas Faire: An Amédé Ardoin Songbook,” the first installment of The Louisiana Series of Cajun and Creole Poetry (La Série de Louisiane de Poésie des Acadiens et Créoles) with Yellow Flag Press.
            In this chapbook Bourque explores the life of Creole musician Amédé Ardoin, born in 1898 in St. Landry Parish and who pioneered Creole music. Ardoin was incarcerated at the mental institution in Pineville after being beaten in a racial assault sometime late in his life. He died on Nov. 3, 1942. Legendary Cajun fiddler Dennis McGee, his friend with whom he played and recorded, called Amédé Ardoin une chanson vivant, a living song.
            A portion of Bourque’s book will go toward creating a public commemorative marker placed in Ardoin’s community to honor his life and contribution to the Cajun and Creole culture.
            Bourque is professor emeritus of English at UL-Lafayette and is the author of several books including “Megan’s Guitar and Other Poems from Acadie.”

New releases
            Gary L. Stewart of Baton Rouge, vice president of Delta Tech Service of Louisiana, details searching for his father after being contacted by his birth mother and discovering startling news in “The Most Dangerous Animal of All: Searching For My Father ... And Finding The Zodiac Killer.” Writing with Susan Mustafa, Stewart alleges that his father is the Zodiac Killer, believed to have killed at least five people in Northern California in 1968 and 1969, murders that were never solved.
            John Gery, a  Research Professor of English and Seraphia D. Leyda Teaching Fellow at UNO, has published a collection of poems titled “Have At You Now!” Gery directs the Ezra Pound Center for Literature in Brunnenburg, Italy, and lives in New Orleans with his wife, poet Biljana Obradović, and their son, Petar. "The poems in John Gery's ‘Have at You Now!’ are acted upon with the same verve and wit and parry and heart as that scene from Hamlet from which the title is taken,” said Lafayette poet Darrell Bourque. “These are the poems of a huge imagination and a huge intellect whose observations are at once as capable of being as fully engaged in the philosophical as in the familial. John Gery is a powerful traveler poet who counters experience with thought, form with idea, technique with delivery. Gery is one of the best poets writing today and I go to him repeatedly for guidance and direction. Have at You Now! is nothing short of a master class in how to make poems that matter."
            “Cast of Characters,” a selection of George Gurtner's New Orleans magazine columns of the same name, is expected to be released this month by Louisiana publisher Margaret Media. Dubbed “local color in and around the Big Easy,” it features more than 60 people — with photos — who make New Orleans home.
            Young Adult novelist Ruta Sepetys sets her latest novel, “Out of the Easy,” in 1950 New Orleans. Seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, which makes her want to flee the city. A mysterious death in the Quarter, however, leaves her tangled in an investigation.
            Michael Patrick Welch offers a look into New Orleans non-traditional side in “New Orleans: The Underground Guide.” Contents include where to get naked, how to make the most of Mardi Gras according to banjo player Geoff Douville, what to order from the Slavic menu at Siberia and where to find the New Orleans Giant Puppet Festival, among much more. Welch is the author of several books and has contributed to New Orleans publications as well as Salon, Columbia Journalism Review, McSweeney's, Oxford American, and Vice magazine.

Book events
            Ronlyn Domingue will read from and sign “The Chronicle of Secret Riven,” the Keeper of Tales Trilogy Book Two, at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 31 at Barnes & Noble Lafayette. Domingue is the author of “The Mercyof Thin Air” and “The Mapmaker’s War.”


Cheré Coen is the author of “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana,” both from The History Press, and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” She teaches writing at UL-Lafayette’s Continuing Education. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Aspiring writers and photographers, take notice!

            The 9th Annual Dixie Kane Memorial Contest is now underway through the South Louisiana Romance Writers of America chapter in New Orleans. There are eight categories with winners receiving critiques by four trained judges and published authors, the highest overall score in all categories receives $50 cash and a certificate and first place winning entries will be sent to an editor/reader at The Wild Rose Press with the prospect that the editor/reader may request a full or partial manuscript and possible publication of the completed manuscript.
            Last year, the contest awarded 39 entries with certificates and nine first place entries were submitted to the editors of The Wild Rose Press with more than 50 percent of them receiving requests to see more of the manuscript for possible publication, said contest coordinator Nicholas Genovese. For more information, visit solawriters.org or email Genovese at ngenovese@gmail.com.
            Cypress Island Preserve at Lake Martin is hosting its annual Spring Photo Contest. Participants may submit up to three photographs (no larger than 800 ppi at the longer end to photojoet@charter.net) that showcase the plants, wildlife and culture of the Cypress Island Preserve. The deadline for submission is June 14. Voting will be conducted by volunteers and staff of The Nature Conservancy and the top 10 winners will be asked to submit a framed photo to be shown in the Visitor’s Center. For more information, contact Kacy King at kking@tnc.org or Joe Todd at fotojoet@charter.net.

This week's book events
            Sam Irwin will sign “Louisiana Crawfish: A Succulent History of the Cajun Crustacean” from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 22, at Louisiana’s Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge.
            “Staging Matters:
 How Home Staging Can Help You Sell Your Home Faster and for a Higher Price” will be offered by realtor Chantal Saucier and home staging expert Michelle Molinari at 6 p.m.
Wednesday, May 21, 
at South Regional Library in Lafayette. For information, call 981-1028.


Cheré Coen is the author of “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana,” both from The History Press, and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” She teaches writing at UL-Lafayette’s Continuing Education. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Karen Brown's novel leaves you longing for more

            Sadie is on the verge of adolescence in 1979, living in an idyllic New England suburb at the start of “The Longings of Wayward Girls” by Karen Brown. She’s both curious and imaginative and the summer before high school she and her best friend Betty are thrown together with Francie, an awkward girl whose family is shunned by the neighborhood.
            Not wanting to be associated with a geeky girl, Sadie and Betty play a prank on Francie, first making up a farm boy that’s supposedly interested in Sadie, then writing letters from the imagined farm boy to Francie, who replies in turn.
            But Sadie’s imaginary farm boy is actually Ray FIlley, a boy from the neighboring farm she’s secretly attracted to. Only a few years before, in 1974, nine-year-old Laura Loomis had disappeared from the same neighborhood, a girl who looks remarkably like Sadie. Laura was never found. When Sadie and Betty write (as the farm boy) to Francie that he wishes to run away with her, Francie disappears as well.
            The girls believe Francie has run away, but as the years pass and neither child is seen from again, they learn to live with their guilty secret. As an adult, Sadie marries and has two children of her own. One day, Ray Filley returns to town and an attraction develops between them. Sadie must come to grips with her feelings for her family, Ray, her mother and the past that continues to haunt her.
            The book bounces back and forth between Sadie's youth and as an adult, and I found that style really developed the suspense. Sadie is flawed, selfish and egotistical at times and when she makes grave mistakes you want to reach into the book and slap her, which develops the suspense even more. My only complaint was developments so obvious to Sadie and readers are ignored until the end, which lessened both the character and the plot in my eyes.
            Overall the book is well written and the story keeps you hanging, wanting for more. A great summer read!

Monday, May 12, 2014

Lafayette teens create winning library video

            A group of Lafayette teens have won the State Library of Louisiana’s Spark a Reaction Teen Video Challenge 2014 held by the Collaborative Summer Library Program. Teens Ian MacFadyen, John Warner Leblanc, Garrett Bueche, James Holland, Stewart MacFadyen, Sophie Salopek and Karl Welch, all representing the Lafayette Public Library, created the winning Louisiana video, “Chain of Reactions,” in which the main character experiences excitement after reading a good book and sparks a chain reaction inspiring those around him to read, too. (You can watch the video at http://youtu.be/g45X29sQ32c.)
             The annual, national competition aims to get teens involved with reading and their public libraries’ summer reading programs, which kicks soon. Winners are selected in the 26 participating states and are recognized as official Teen Video Challenge winners. Each winner receives $275 from the CSLP. The winning videos are used to promote summer reading programs in public libraries nationwide.
             To view this year’s winning videos, visit www.cslpreads.org. For more information about Louisiana summer reading programs and the State Library visit www.state.lib.la.us.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Grammy-winning producer and musician Delfeayo Marsalis tackles cell phone use

             New Orleans musician and Grammy award-winning producer Delfeayo Marsalis has written a book on putting down technology and enjoying life without it in the children’s picture book “No Cell Phone Day.” The book is illustrated by award-winning Harlem artist Reginald W. Butler and playfully addresses the idea of imposing cell phone technology and how it affects our relationships with loved ones. In the book, Delfeayo and his daughter decide to ignore cell phones for a day to explore their hometown of New Orleans, enjoying both the city’s sites and each other. To view a video made in connection with the book, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV4Vw4S8ndw&feature=youtu.be

New children’s releases
            Connie Collins Morgan of Lafayette (now of West Virginia) has penned a Louisiana take on the classic “Gingerbread Man” titled “The Runaway Beignet,” published by Pelican Publishing of New Orleans. Illustrated by Herb Leonhard, who has done several Pelican children’s books, Morgan’s tale follows a trouble-making beignet who pops off the pastry table and takes to the New Orleans streets. The book offers an exploration of New Orleans, as well as a handy glossary in the back defining typical New Orleans words and sayings.
            Also following in the revising of nursery tales is prolific Dianne de Las Casas of New Orleans, who uses an elephant character in the role of Cinderella in “Cinderellaphant.” All the other characters are animals as well, including the fairy godmouse. “Cinderellaphant” is illustrated by Stefan Jolet of New Iberia.
            I used to have a T-shirt that exclaimed, “A Woman’s Place is in the House –and the Senate.” I was pleased to discover a book for young readers showcasing women in Congress in “A Woman in the House (and Senate): How Women Came to the United States Congress, Broke Down Barriers, and Changed the Country” by Ilene Cooper, with illustrations by Elizabeth Baddeley. Mary Landrieu, Lindy Boggs, Rose Long and Elaine Edwards are among those represented in this informative book on women in Congress, starting with the right to vote in 1920 and continuing until today.
            New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray is a pseudonym for Amy Vincent, a young adult paranormal romance author who lives in New Orleans. She is best known for her Evernight series, which takes place in the Gothic Evernight Academy, and the Spellcaster series, the latest of which, “Steadfast,” came out last month. “Steadfast” is set in Captive’s Sound in Rhode Island and revolves around Nadia, descended from witches. Booklist said of “Steadfast,” “Just as smoothly written and appealing as the first entry. The ending will provide terrific fodder for book discussions, so make sure you have enough copies to go around.”
            I somehow missed the latest book from Kimberly Griffiths Little, author of “The Healing Spell” and other books set in South Louisiana. Last year she set another young chapter novel in the bayou region. “When the Butterflies Came” involves Tara Doucet who finds butterflies following her around after the death of her grandmother. Doucet discovers a mystery concerning her Grammy Claire, one that could change her life. And this July she will release “The Time of the Fireflies,” centered around young Larissa Renaud who starts receiving eerie phone calls on a disconnected old phone in her family's antique shop and soon realizes she’s in for a strange summer. Both books are appropriate for ages 8-12.
            Cokie Roberts details the lives of the women behind the American Revolution in “FoundingMothers: Remembering the Ladies,” discussing the accomplishments of heroic, patriotic women such as Abigail Adams, Martha Washington, Phillis Wheatley, Mercy Otis Warren, Sarah Livingston Jay, and others. Details are gleaned from their letters, private journals, lists, and ledgers. The book supports the Common Core State Standards with a timeline, biographies and web resources. 
            A dog with a nose for trouble, a cat under attack, two wild burros, a determined bear and a talking bird are a few of the animals that live on the pages of “What’s Watching Me? And Other Animal Stories” by Nancy Rust and Carol Stubbs of Lafayette. The middle grade reader combines fictional stories with bits of trivia and facts, the first in the Twixt and Tween series published by Copper Iris Books of Lafayette. Each story begins with a quote from literature that sets the tone for the story. There are fun facts about the featured character in the story (in the first book of the series it’s all about animals), a “Discover and Discuss” section in the back of the book and a curriculum guide available for teachers that includes reading, writing and art activities. For information, visit www.copperirisbooks.com.
            Whitney Stewart of New Orleans, the author of many books for children including “Marshall: A Nantucket Sea Rescue,” “Who Was Walt Disney?,” “Becoming Buddha: The Story of Siddhartha” and “Jammin’ on the Avenue,” has published a new book closer to home, “A Catfish Tale: A Bayou Story of the Fisherman and His Wife.” A Cajun fisherman named Jack catches a magic fish that offers to grant wishes in exchange for being set free. Jack doesn’t have a lot of wishes, but his wife Jolie sure does. When Jolie wants to be crowned Mardi Gras queen, have things gone too far?
            Mo Willems of New Orleans continues his popular pigeon series with “The PigeonNeeds a Bath,” a picture book for ages 3-6. Per the usual routine, the bus driver (clad in shower cap and bathrobe) opens the story by asking readers to help convince the pigeon to take a bath. Though he’s covered in grime, the stubborn bird predictably resists. 
            Rick Atkinson, author of “An Army at Dawn” (winner of the Pulitzer Prize for history), “The Day of Battle” and “The Guns at Last Light,” has adapted “Guns” as a book for young readers. “D-DAY: The Invasion of Normandy,1944” examines the liberation of the French coastline that led to the end of World War II.

Book events
            Two films by independent local filmmakers Pat Mire and Connie Castille will be shown for the final session of the film series, “Images of South Louisiana on Film,” at 3 p.m. today in Room 112 of Oliver Hall on the UL-Lafayette campus. The series is sponsored by the Friends of the Humanities and the College of Liberal Arts. Mire’s 1990 film “Anything I Catch: The Handfishing Story” explores the tradition of handfishing and Castille explores a disappearing practice in “I Always Do My Collars First,” her 2007 documentary about ironing. Both artists will be present along with discussion leader Dr. Barry Ancelet. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 278-7166.
            Bestselling author and star of  “Chelsea Lately,” Chelsea Handler, will sign copies of her book, “Uganda Be Kidding Me,” at 2 p.m. Friday at Garden District Book in New Orleans. Tickets are $29.43 and will include admittance for two adults as well as one book. For information, visit http://www.gardendistrictbookshop.com/.


Cheré Coen is the author of “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana,” both from The History Press, and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” She teaches writing at UL-Lafayette’s Continuing Education. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Cookbook Thursday: Cajun comedy, food trucks and beer

            Tyler Chacon of Baton Rouge thinks good Cajun food should be paired with Boudreaux and Thibodeaux jokes and he offers both in “Boudreaux and Thibodeaux’s Cajun Comedy Cookbook.” It’s fun stuff, but the recipes are nothing to laugh about. The book would make a fun gift for tourists and relatives and friends living in places without B&T jokes and great Cajun and Creole cooking.
            Food trucks are the rage these days and Lafayette has more than its fair share. Naturally, a foodie town such as ours would never be left behind in a culinary craze. It’s disappointing that our fab food trucks were not included in the fun little book, “The Southern Food Truck Cookbook” by Heather Donahoe, although Baton Rouge and New Orleans got nods. One food truck that originated in Lafayette but moved to the Capital City is Bon Repas, and they get mentioned, with the author recommending the Blue Pig empanada stuffed with homemade chorizo, Maytag blue cheese and cilantro — might be worth a road trip!
            Another followup is beer expert Roger Protz’s “300 More Beers to Try Before you Die!,” coming on the heels of his “300 Beers to Try Before You Die!” And if you think 600 is a bit too much, Protz will convince you otherwise. The book offers a handy reference guide with photos accompanying every beer review. There’s also a handy guide to beer types at the back of the book, plus a directory of brewery museums and online beer retailers.


Cheré Coen is the author of “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana,” both from The History Press, and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” She teaches writing at UL-Lafayette’s Continuing Education. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Charlaine Harris moves to Texas in latest mystery, 'Midnight Crossroad'

             In 2013 Charlaine Harris concluded her widely successful Sookie Stackhouse novels, a paranormal mystery series set in the fictional north Louisiana town of Bon Temps. Switching back to a new point of view — that of the residents of small-town Midnight, Texas, and their unusual backstories — she begins a new series. The first book out, “Midnight Crossroad,” doesn’t tell the story first person from a main character, like that of Sookie Stackhouse. Instead, the book begins with the arrival to Midnight of Manfred Bernardo, a psuedo telephone psychic, as he empties his U-haul and a few neighbors lend a helping hand.
            That first chapter sums up the book — and probably those to come. It’s not about Bernardo; he’s the least interesting character in town. “Midnight, Crossing” is an ensemble piece, as if a camera floats above the town, looking in on residents and their strange personalities and careers.
            The story begins with Bernardo becoming acclimated to town and its residents. There’s Bobo his landlord and his two supernatural tenants; Fiji Cavanaugh who operates “The Inquiring Mind” that offers “classes for the curious;” the reserved Rev. Emilio Sheehan who runs the Wedding Chapel and Pet Cemetery; plus several other important characters. All of the residents — Bernardo included — have their secrets and everyone respects that. One is the sudden disappearance of Bobo’s girlfriend, Aubrey, a few weeks back. When Aubrey’s body is discovered by the river, buried truths start rising to the surface.
            Like Harris’s other mysteries, there’s plenty of character set-up, then the mystery begins and concludes at the book’s end. And like her other series, this inaugural “Midnight, Texas” series has lots of loose ends that tease readers to continue on. I know I will. I thought of these colorful characters, particularly Fiji, long after closing the book.
            The murderer and the mystery’s conclusion was a bit startling, totally unexpected and I’m still grimacing. I enjoyed the book, despite that unfortunate plot twist I could have lived without. I also kept wishing for Bernardo’s talents to be utilized (not to mention I wished he had a better name and a personality!), instead of hearing how he sort-of helps people online; he served no more than being a moderate voice of reason. Some threads, such as Fiji’s short flirtation with a bar bouncer, went absolutely nowhere. Overall, I left puzzled at the concept and yet, I will likely read more.
            “Midnight Crossroad” is both a departure from Bon Temps and more of the same, and here’s hoping that plot threads hinted at will develop and Bernardo will come into his own.

            Harris will sign copies of “Midnight Crossroad at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention May 14-17 in New Orleans.

Book events
            Poet Laureate Ava Leavell Haymon
will read and discuss her works following the Writes of Spring High School Awards ceremony at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, at the South Regional Library Meeting Room. This program is funded under a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
            New Orleans author Bill Loehfelm discusses and signs “The Devil in Her Way” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, at Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans.
            Two films by independent local filmmakers Pat Mire and Connie Castille will be shown for the final session of the film series, “Images of South Louisiana on Film,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 11, in Room 112 of Oliver Hall on the UL campus. The series is sponsored by the Friends of the Humanities and the College of Liberal Arts. Mire’s 1990 film “Anything I Catch: The Handfishing Story” explores the tradition of handfishing and Castille explores a disappearing practice in “I Always Do My Collars First,” her 2007 documentary about ironing. Both artists will be present along with discussion leader Dr. Barry Ancelet. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 278-7166.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana,” both from The History Press, and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” She teaches writing at UL-Lafayette’s Continuing Education. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Cookbook Thursday: Calas, a throwback to another age

            Here’s a fun recipe for “Calas,” almost a forgotten New Orleans specialty made from leftover rice from the cookbook, “New Orleans Classic Brunches” by Kit Wohl, published by Pelican Publishing of New Orleans.

Calas
From "New Orleans Classic Brunches"
6 tablespoons  flour
3 heaping tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch of nutmeg
2 cups  cooked rice
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Vegetable oil for frying
 Confectioners’ sugar, honey, or
 Steen’s Cane Syrup for topping
            Directions: Heat oil to 350 degrees. A thermometer is a handy gauge unless you are Poppy Tooker, who successfully intuits when they are done. Teaspoon-size calas use 350°F oil. Tablespoon-size calas may brown too quickly. Lower the oil's temperature by 10°F and they will cook through.
             In a medium size bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Using a separate bowl, thoroughly mix the rice, beaten eggs, and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and combine. In a heavy bottomed skillet or fryer, bring the oil to 360 degrees. 
            Carefully drop teaspoons of batter into the hot oil without crowding and fry until brown on one side, 1 to 2 minutes. Using tongs or a spatula, turn and brown the second side. When frying several batches, let the oil cool back to the proper temperature. Using a slotted spoon or sieve, scoop out the loose browned bits. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or drizzle with syrup or honey, and serve hot, immediately.

Cheré Coen is a Lafayette freelance travel and food writer. She is the author of “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country: A Tour of Historic Acadiana,” both from The History Press.