C.S. Harris and Michael Allen Zell discuss their latest novels Wednesday at the East Bank Regional Library

Mystery writers Candice Proctor and Michael Allen Zell will discuss their latest novels at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

Candice Proctor, “Who Slays the Wicked” (Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery Book 14)

When the handsome but dissolute young gentleman Lord Ashworth is found murdered, Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, is called in by Bow Street Magistrate Sir Henry Lovejoy to help catch the killer. Just seven months before, Sebastian had suspected Ashworth of aiding one of his longtime friends and companions in the kidnapping and murder of a string of vulnerable street children. But Sebastian was never able to prove Ashworth's complicity. Nor was he able to prevent his troubled, headstrong young niece Stephanie from entering into a disastrous marriage with the dangerous nobleman.

Candice Proctor worked as an archaeologist and earned a doctoral degree in European history. She writes the Sebastian St. Cyr historical mystery series as C.S. Harris and historical novels under her own name, Candice Proctor. Married to retired Army Colonel Steve Harris, she lives in New Orleans.

Michael Allen Zell, “City Krystal Soulman”

Musician Rodney "Soulman" Mercadel sets up a pyramid scheme with three pastors to sell seats on a non-existent ark for hurricane season. Vonetta (nicknamed Krystal), the sister of Ellis Smith, Bobby Delery's girlfriend, has gone missing. And New Orleans is a character in its own right. From the Ninth Ward to New Orleans East, from the French Quarter to Frenchmen Street, Delery figures out how it all fits together.

Michael Allen Zell is a New Orleans-based novelist, essayist, and playwright. Zell's work has been published in The Los Angeles Review of Booksand elsewhere. "Errata," his first novel, was named a Top 10 Book of 2012 by The New Orleans Times-Picayune. His first play, "What Do You Say To A Shadow?," was named a Top 10 Play of the Year in 2013 by The New Orleans Times-Picayune.

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

Festival of Words presents poet Darrell Bourque and Sister Theresa Sue Joseph May 29 in Grand Coteau

The Festival of Words hosts a performance with poet Darrell Bourque who will read poetry from his new book “From the Other Side: Henriette Delille” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, at Chicory’s Coffee and Café of Grand Coteau.  Also featured will be Sister Theresa Sue Joseph who will discuss her path to joining the Sisters of the Holy Family.

Bourque

Guests are welcome to bring their own poems, songs or stories for the open mic. This free, community event is suitable for all ages. 

Bourque is professor emeritus in English (University of Louisiana Lafayette) and former Louisiana Poet Laureate. His latest books include “In Ordinary Light, Conversations in Verse” (with Jack B. Bedell), “Where I Waited” and “Megan’s Guitar and Other Poems from Acadie.” “From the Other Side: Henriette Delille” (Yellow Flag Press) is a series of sonnets set to paintings by Shreveport abstract expressionist painter Bill Gingles. It is a portrait of poems of Venerable Mother Henriette Delille told from her disembodied voice from “the other side” telling of her life and times as a social activist and spiritual leader and guide to the underserved and underprivileged in 19th century New Orleans. Migrare, a sequence of ghazals on the theme of immigration, will be released later this year by UL Press at the Center of Louisiana Studies. Bourque is the recipient of the 2019 Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities 2019 Humanist of the Year Award.

Joseph has lived a consecrated life for the past 50 years. Born in Opelousas, and growing up on a farm, she was the eighth of 12 children. She attended Christ the King Elementary School in Bellevue and St. Peter Claver High School in Grand Coteau, both run by the Sisters of the Holy Family. After moving to Houston and becoming a member of Our Mercy of Mercy Catholic Church, Sister Joseph entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family. Having served God mostly in elementary education for more than 35 years, she has worked in pastoral and prison ministries, serving as vocation director. Presently, Sister Joseph is Secretary-General for her community.

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

Beverly Jenkins' latest heads to New Orleans

USA Today best-selling author Beverly Jenkins heads to New Orleans in a new series that follows northern African American women living in the South in the chaotic aftermath of the Civil War. 

In her latest novel "Rebel," part of the series "Women Who Dare," Valinda Lacey teaches the newly emancipated people of New Orleans only to face thugs wanting to destroy her school — and her. 

Captain Drake Leveq, an architect from an old New Orleans family, wishes to help rebuild the city. He admires Lacey’s determination. When Lacey’s father demands she return home to marry a man she doesn’t love, her rebellion draws LeVeq into an irresistible intrigue.

The book goes on sale May 28.

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