Vella chosen for 2016 Louisiana Writer Award

The State Library of Louisiana through its Louisiana Center for the Book has chosen New Orleans native Christina Vella as the 2016 recipient of the Louisiana Writer Award, an honor bestowed annually to recognize outstanding contributions to Louisiana’s literary and intellectual life.

Vella is the author of “Intimate Enemies: The Two Worlds of the Baroness de Pontalba,” “The Hitler Kiss” written with Radomir Luza, “Indecent Secrets: The Infamous Murri Murder Affair,” “George Washington Carver: A Life” and “Ataturk and the Unveiling of Turkey,” in publication.

In addition to her full-length works, Vella has written a number of book chapters, including “The Country for Men with Nerve” in “Degas and New Orleans,” “New Orleans at the Time of the Battle,” in “The Battle of New Orleans Reconsidered,” “Dorothy Dix” and “The Baroness Pontalba” in “Louisiana Women: Their Lives and Times” and “El Corazon de España,” in “Permanencia Cultural de España en Nueva Orleans.” She has also contributed several articles to the online encyclopedia Louisiana History and taught for many years taught at Tulane University, most recently in the Master of Liberal Arts program

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton will present Vella with the 17th Louisiana Writer Award on Saturday, Oct. 29, in an opening ceremony of the 2016 Louisiana Book Festival. Vella will also discuss her work and career with fellow historian and professor Curtis Manning, executive director of the Louisiana Institute for Higher Education, at the festival.
            For more information about the festival and Vella, visit LouisianaBookFestival.org.

Cheré Dastugue Coen is the author of several Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. She is also the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun 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.