Louisiana novel on Crook's Corner longlist

            The longlist for the Crook's Corner Book Prize was announced recently, a curated list of the best debut novels set in the American South published between January 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014. The books were selected from entries submitted by major publishers, independent publishers and self-publishers. The winner will be announced in January 2015, with novelist Lee Smith the judge for the third annual prize.

            The list includes “Queen Sugar,: by Natalie Baszile; “Byrd,” by Kim Church; “The Resurrectionist,” by Matthew Guinn; “Flying Shoes,” by Lisa Howorth; “Remember Me Like This,” by Bret Anthony Johnston; “I Shall Be Near To You,” by Erin Lindsay McCabe; “Heart of Palm,” by Laura Lee Smith; “In the Garden of Stone,” by Susan Tekulve; “Saint Monkey,” by Jacinda Townsend; “The Ways of the Dead,” by Neely Tucker and “Mother of Rain,” by Karen Spears Zacharias.
            Baszille will be a featured speaker at the Louisiana Book Festival Nov. 1 in Baton Rouge.

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.” Her next book is “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History.” Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.