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.