Books make excellent gifts so visit these signings!

            You’ve heard the expression “the gift that gives on giving.” Nothing exemplifies this more than a book. Why not buy that special someone a book for the holidays – and have it personalized! Here are some author signings happening this Saturday and next week:   

            Terri Hoover Dunham will be signing her picture book, “The Legend of Papa Noel: A Cajun Christmas Story” on the following dates and times: From 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 29, at The Quilt Corner in Central (Greenwell Springs); from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at Pieces of Eight in Lafayette; and from noon to 2 p.m. then Saturday, Dec. 6, at Victoria's Toy Station on Government Street. in Baton Rouge.

            Lafayette author Cheré Coen will sign copies of her latest book, “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at Wild Birds Unlimited in Lafayette.

            Authors Stacey Judice, Kathy Higginbotham and Donna Latiolais will discuss and sign their new book “Images of America: Carencro” from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 29, at North Regional Library in Carencro.

            Authors Kid Chef Eliana, Dianne de las Casas, Carolyn Shelton, Regina Charboneau, Poppy Tooker, Ann Benoit, Kit Wohl, Liz Williams, Addie and Jeremy Martin, Deborah Burst, Argyle Wolf-Knapp, Marvin Allen, Nancy Wilson, and more will be signing and giving book talks from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans. Free with museum admission and museum members get a 10 percent discount on purchases. From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. there will be snacks.

            Warren and Mary Perrin, editors of “Acadie Then and Now: A People’s History,” will speak about their new book at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, to Concerned Citizens for Good Government at Alesi’s Pizza House, 4110 Johnston St. in Lafayette. For information, call (337) 233-5832, or email perrin@plddo.com.

            New Orleans award-winning author, journalist, and lecturer George Gurtner will discuss his most recent book, “Cast of Characters,” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Nix Library in New Orleans. The book is titled after Gurtner’s column that he wrote for New Orleans magazine for 35 years.

            Christmas at North Regional Library will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 6, in association with the Carencro Country Christmas celebration at the Carencro Community Center next door and the Children’s Christmas Parade. There will be a Jolly Holiday Magnet Craft for ages 5-12 and a holiday card swap for adults.

            Andi Eaton signs “New Orleans Style” from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at The Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans.

            Author’s Alley book sale and signings by area authors will be 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at South Regional Library in Lafayette.

            Addie K. Martin and Jeremy Martin sign copies of “Southeast Louisiana Food: A Seasoned Tradition” from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the West Baton Rouge Museum Holiday Open House, 845 N Jefferson Ave. in Port Allen.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “ExploringCajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana” and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.