Lineup for Jambalaya Writers Conference announced

The Jambalaya Writers Conference will be Saturday, March 4, at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library, 151 Library Drive in Houma. Participants include young adult author Ashley Elston, romance writers Alexandrea Weis and Farrah Rochon, Roland Paris of Marvel Comics, “My Sunshine Away” author M.O. Walsh of Baton Rouge, Nicholas Maineri, Ashley Elston, Alys Arden, Kim Vaz-Deville and more. The keynote presenter will be New York Times best-selling author Lisa Unger. The fees are $35 if paid in advance and $40 at the door.  

For more information as well as to download the registration form, visit http://mytpl.org/jwc/. 

Book events

Brian Costello signs “Carnival in Louisiana: Celebrating Mardi Gras from the French Quarter to the Red River” at 2 p.m. today at Garden District Book Shop of New Orleans.

Jude Southerland Kessler, author of the John Lennon series, will discuss the history of The Beatles at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Main Branch of the Ouachita Parish Library.

Shane Bernard will discuss his latest book “Teche: A History of Louisiana’s Most Famous Bayou” from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Main Lafayette Library, part of the Bayou State Book Talks series.

Stephanie Garber discusses and signs “Caraval” at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Octavia Books of New Orleans.

Lafayette author Sherry Broussard discusses her book “Louisiana Zydeco” and shares stories of zydeco musicians with photos and music at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Main Lafayette Library.

Ed Ward discusses and signs “The History of Rock & Roll, Volume 1” at 6 p.m.

Thursday at Octavia Books of New Orleans.

Learn how to celebrate Mardi Gras in Cajun Country from author and storyteller Cheri Armentor at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at East Regional Library in Lafayette. For ages 5–12. Register online.

I’ll be speaking on ebook publishing at the South Louisiana chapter of Romance Writers of America at 10 a.m. Saturday at the East Bank Regional Branch Library in Metairie. You can read more here.

The inaugural Bella NOLA Author Signing will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans. There will be romance authors signing books, swag giveaways, photos and Carnival festivities. For information, visit www.bellanolaauthorevent.com.

The 10th annual Writers & Readers Symposium will be 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Heminbough in St. Francisville, along with a Writers Retreat Saturday and Sunday. Featured authors include Rheta Grimsley Johnson, award-winning nationally syndicated columnist and author of “Poor Man's Provence: Finding Myself in Cajun Louisiana” and the more recent “The Dogs Buried Over The Bridge: A Memoir in Dog Years.” The symposium costs $55, $65 at the door, and includes lunch. The retreat with Rheta Grimsley Johnson, which includes a wine and cheese reception Saturday and an all-day workshop on Sunday, costs $275. Rooms at a reduced rate are available at Heminbough. For more information, visit www.literatureandart.org.

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.