Book events the week of April 25-May 2

“Protect Your Children from Scams” with Jo Ann Deal from the Better Business Bureau begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at the Anna Meyer Branch Library in Monroe. Other events at the library this week include Ralph Calhoun of the Biedenham Museum offering a program of what’s happening at the museum at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at the Sterlington Branch and Brenda Johnson from Iberia Bank speaking on “An Overview of the House Buying Process” at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Anna Meyer Branch. For more events, visit www.ouachita.lib.la.us.

Charles H. Lawler will sign copies of his “The Saints of Lost Things” at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at Agora Borealis in Shreveport. Set in the 60s, the story is a romance between two unlikely people, and the landfall of Hurricane Betsy that sets it in motion. This will be a free event that will include the Mother’s Nest Trunk Show promoting other local artisans and their designs. Local refreshments will be available.

            Kimberly Willis Holt, author of “Dear Hank Williams,” will be signing books at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at Barnes & Noble in Shreveport and at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at Books-A-Million in Alexandria. For more information, visit http://www.kimberlywillisholt.com/.

Lafayette poet James Blanchard and Sunset native Cornelius James will read from their works of poetry and stories beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 29,  at the Grand Coteau Ballroom. Blanchard is a spoken word artist, a member of the 2012 Lafayette National Slam Team and a teaching artist with the Festival of Words. He has work forthcoming in Deep Water Literary Journal and The Decades Review. James attended both St. Peter Claver school in Grand Coteau and George Washington Carver in Sunset, continuing his education at Bay St. Louis Augustin Seminary, Merriment seminary and Xavier University where he earned a B.A. in English. After a range of careers that included teaching, and court reporting, he eventually held managerial positions in the food industry, climbing in status as he transferred to different companies. He is an avid reader and holds the values of his parents who emphasized education.

Book sales

Boy, do my ears perk up when I hear about book sales — and this one is fantastic. The University of Louisiana atLafayette Press is having a “Warehouse Clearance Tent Sale” from 8:30 a.m. to noon Friday, May 1, at 400 E. St. Mary St., in front of the Dupre Library on the UL campus. There will be overstock books and damaged books, all sold for up to 90 percent off and, dare I mention it, some offered for free!
          The Vermilion Parish Library is hosting its Spring Book Sale beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 28, at the Abbeville Library.

Louisiana Book News is written by Cheré Coen, 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.