Three Louisiana mystery writers to discuss the craft

Three Louisiana mystery writers – Robert Hecker, Susan Fleet and John Frady – will talk about their latest mystery novels at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

Robert Hecker, “The Accidental Vigilante.”

Being the son-in-law of a rich businessman doesn't do Jeremy Porter any favors when he gets a job as a police officer. In fact, the demoted, struggling officer is just about fed up with his department’s lackadaisical attitude toward the law. Jeremy soon takes the law into his own hands, sneaking the files of extremely dangerous child molesters and pursuing them on his own. While not intentional, his vigilante quest results in the deaths of three molesters—all classified as homicides. He also discovers something else, ties between the three men and a sex syndicate with Russian connections that the police aren't investigating. How can the cops claim to be keeping the streets safe when they’re manipulating data and ignoring crimes?

Robert Hecker began his career in law enforcement with the New Orleans Police Department. Currently, he is the police chief for the New Orleans Harbor Police and oversees the security operations for the Port of New Orleans. For his efforts during the Katrina Disaster in 2005, Hecker received the honor of being named “New Orleanian of the Year” by Gambit Magazine and the Hero of the Storm award by both WDSU television station and Southern Woman Magazine.

Susan Fleet, "Missing"

Donna and Hunter Gates appear to be the perfect power couple. He's a wealthy city councilman, she's a popular news anchor for a local TV station. One night when Hunter comes home, Donna and their two small children are gone. He asks New Orleans Police Detective Frank Renzi to find them and Renzi uncovers a tangled web of lies.

For many years, novelist Susan Fleet was a freelance trumpeter, college professor and music historian in Boston. While teaching at Brown University and Berklee College of Music, she began writing crime thrillers. In 2001, she moved to New Orleans, the setting for her Frank Renzi crime thriller series. Her first novel, "Absolution," was named Best Mystery-Thriller of 2009. Her third, "Natalie's Revenge," was Feathered Quill Book Awards Best Mystery-Thriller, 2014.

John Frady, “Bad Preacher”

When Brad Johnson finds a $100 bill on the floor of his office, he never intends to steal from his own struggling church, but only a few hours later he finds himself needing to spend the money in an emergency at a gas station—a move that will set off Earl and the town’s gossip mill. By the end of a single day, the whole town believes that Brad has been driving through New Orleans with women passed out in the back of his car, doing drugs in his front yard, gambling with church money, and cheating on his wife with gas station clerk Sally Mae Watson—only some of which is true.

John Frady is executive pastor of spiritual development/Metairie campus pastor at Celebration Church, a multi-site church with six campuses in the New Orleans Region. He is also co-author of “Staccato: A devotional for worship leaders, worship artists, and worshipers."

Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.

Havilah Malone to offer motivational talk, and other Louisiana literary events happening this week

In celebration of Black History Month and the achievements and wisdom from members of the African American community, the Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library of Louisiana welcomes author, speaker, and reigning Ms. Louisiana Universal, Havilah Malone, who will present her motivational seminar, “Take The Leap: Turning Pain Into Purpose," at noon Wednesday, Feb. 21, in the State Library’s Seminar Center, 701 North 4th St. in Baton Rouge. 

During the interactive presentation, attendees will learn tools and strategies to make the most of their new year and will discover:

·      The price of perfection that leads to one of the top five regrets in the world.

·      How limiting beliefs and unconscious pain manifests in our lives.

·      Five steps to win in life and how to overcome whatever is blocking your success.

Malone is the co-author of “The Amazing Adventures of Oliver Hill: 17 Short Stories Based on the Principles of Success by Think and Grow Rich Author Napoleon Hill” and author of “How to Become a Publicity Magnet in Any Market via TV, Radio & Print” and the soon to be released book series “Xena’s Tales: 21 Pillars of Self-Mastery and Success.” The Louisiana native has been featured on FOX, CBS, NBC, the Huffington Post, and more. Malone recently guest starred on CBS’s hit TV show “NCIS: New Orleans.”

The presentation is free and open to the public, and attendees are welcome to bring a “brown bag” lunch. Registration is not required. Books will be available for purchase from the author.

Other literary happenings this week include:

Author Discussion

Clay Delery, author of “Out for Queer Blood: The Murder of Fernando Rios and the Failure of New Orleans Justice,” will discuss the book at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 22, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie. This event is free and open to the public.

On a September night in 1958, three New Orleans college students went looking for a gay man to assault. They chose Fernando Rios, who died from the beating. In perhaps the earliest example of the "gay panic" defense, the three defendants argued that they had no choice but to beat Rios because he had made an "improper advance." When the jury acquitted the three, the courtroom cheered. The author offers a detailed examination of the murder and the trial.

Delery, a retired teacher from the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, previously published “The Up Stairs Lounge Arson,” which was named Book of the Year by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities in 2015. He lives in New Orleans.

Lafayette Reads Together

The Crossover: Book Discussion examines Kwame Alexander’s “The Crossover” which won the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award for children’s literature at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at South Regional Library, and at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at the Main Library in downtown Lafayette.

The Lafayette Library presents the film “More Than a Game” (PG, 2008, 105 minutes), which follows future NBA superstar LeBron James and four of his teammates as they dominate youth basketball in Ohio. The screening begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at the North Regional Library and at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, at East Regional Library, both in Lafayette.

Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.

Robicheaux returns in James Lee Burke's latest

Detective Dave Robicheaux, the ongoing character in James Lee Burke’s novels set mostly in Louisiana, remains a man no one can kill, not even from his own hand when his dormant alcoholism rears its ugly head. I’ve been reading Burke’s novels for years now and am always wondering if Robicheaux has met his fate and will be gone to us forever.

To our relief, he always returns.

Burke’s latest in the series, aptly titled “Robicheaux,” has our New Iberia native struggling after the death of his beloved wife, Molly, in a car accident. He confronts the man who slammed into her and, after a blackout following a drunken relapse, that man is found murdered. While Robicheaux wonders if he committed the act and works to clear his name, there are other pressing matters, including a psychopath named Tony Squid who wants to get into the business of making movies; a novelist whose wife cheats on him and accuses the other man of rape; and an abusive father who's horribly killed. Add to the mix Robicheaux’s best friend Clete, who’s got troubles of his own, and his daughter Alafair, who wants to adapt one of the novelist’s books and you’ve got prime Burke storytelling.

Read the Dave Robicheaux novels for the dark and intriguing plotlines but savor the incredible descriptions that pour from Burke’s pen. For instance:

“I love the rain, whether it’s a tropical one or one that falls on you in the dead of winter. For me, rain is the natural world’s absolution, like the story of the Flood and new beginnings and loading the animals two by two onto the Ark. I love the mist hanging in the trees, a hint of wraiths that would not let heavy stones weigh them down in their graves, the raindrops clicking on the lily pads, the fish rising as though in celebration.”

I don’t know how many more Robicheaux stories are in my future, but let’s hope the detective who has danger constantly nipping at his heels stays alive for a few more years.

Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.

Tuesday Ebook Spotlight: Mardi Gras, Mississippi Ghosts

Happy Mardi Gras everyone!

If you're in Louisiana, you probably won't be spending much time reading today. But if you want to get in the Mardi Gras spirit without heading out to the crowds, or you live in some sad place where Mardi Gras doesn't occur (my sympathies), check out my "Carnival Confessions" novella.

Click here for links to the novella at all online bookstores.

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, publication day for my latest Viola Valentine paranormal mystery, "Trace of a Ghost."

The third book in the series, "Trace of a Ghost" has travel writer and ghost sleuth Viola Valentine treking down the historic Natchez Trace of Mississippi. Traveling with her is an adventurous heiress who’s been dead since 1860 and a living fellow travel writer who’s not what he seems. 

In the end, it’s a showdown between good and evil, and a bargain made with the devil at the crossroads may be Viola’s final undoing.

Want to buy the book? Click here for links to "Trace of a Ghost" at all online bookstores. 

For my day job, I'm a travel writer so I visited the places that Viola visits in my series. Want to see where I got the inspiration for this book and others? Check out my Pinterest board here. You can also read more about the stories behind my stories on my website's blog at https://www.cherieclaire.net/my-louisiana-home.

Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.