Ten years before Henry Wadsworth Longfellow publishes his epic poem, “Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie,” he meets the Appleton family while touring Switzerland and begins the courtship of 19-year-old Fanny Appleton. There’s more than an age difference between the two; Longfellow is widowed and pursuing a career at Harvard College and Fanny comes from a family financially above Longfellow’s. The two share a love of literature, however, and become friends although Longfellow wishes for more. In time, however, the romance blossoms, making up “Forever and Forever: The Courtship of Henry Longfellow and Fanny Appleton” by Josi S. Kilpack.
When Ken Ilgunas worked as a camp dishwasher near the Arctic Circle, he decided to walk the length of the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline that crosses eight American states and two Canadian provinces, then write about it in “Trespassing Across America: One Man’s Epic Never-Done-Before (and Sort of Illegal) Hike Across the Heartland.”
Music writer and cultural historian Roger Hahn outlines several Louisiana musicians along with the Louisiana Hayride and Preservation Hall in “The Sounds of Louisiana: Twenty Essential Music Makers,” illustrated by Chris Osborne. There’s jazz great Louis Armstrong, songwriter and musician Allen Toussaint, the king of zydeco Clifton Chenier and newcomer Hunter Hayes. Contemporaries Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys represent Cajun and Jerry Lee Lewis spotlights rock ’n’ roll.
H.R. Sanderson of Calhoun, a retired teacher from the Ouachita Parish School System, has published several books in her career: a science fiction book for middle school readers titled “Riddles of Nifiter” and “Oh Those Chinaberries,” released by Lighthouse Christian Publishers last year. Her latest book is the novel “Habakkuk’s Triumph,” set in north Louisiana and published by Tate Publishing.
Bill Loehfelm’s “Let the Devil Out,” is the fourth book in his Maureen Coughlin mystery series. The New York Times says of Maureen, “She finds herself wrestling with ethical issues that fictional cops, especially fictional female ones, rarely talk about, leaving that stuff to real-life cops — and smart guys like Bill Loehfelm.” The author will be signing copies of the book from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Octovia Books in New Orleans.
Nguyen Van Chanh of South Louisiana has published his experiences on discovering a full life, one of peace, inner freedom and joy in “Embracing Salvation: Actualizing Inner Peace, Joy and Freedom to Have a More Abundant Life.”
Daniel H. Usner, the Holland N. McTyeire Professor of History at Vanderbilt University, has published “Weaving Alliances with Other Women: Chitimacha Indian Work in the New South,” published by the University of Georgia Press.
Book events
Richard Sexton, author of “Creole World: Photographs of New Orleans and the Latin Caribbean Sphere,” published by the Historic New Orleans Collection, will offer a slide lecture Friday at the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus. The event will be moderated by the exhibition’s curator John H. Lawrence, who also serves as director of museum programs at The Historic New Orleans Collection, and will feature panelists Dr. Lena Suk from the ULL Department of History and Dr. Jay D. Edwards, professor emeritus of anthropology at LSU. The museum's galleries will remain open throughout the event. The free event begins at 5 p.m. with a welcome reception with light refreshments provided by Café Habana City, followed by a 6 p.m. panel discussion and book signing.
Cheré Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country.” She writes Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.
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