Changing of the Guard

Dear Readers,

It’s been 15 years since I started Louisiana Book News and I’ve loved every minute writing about the state’s amazing authors, books and literary events.

But, it’s time to pass the torch and the folks at Alexander Books in Lafayette have asked to take over the blog.

This literary landmark in Lafayette was owned by Gary and Barbara Alexander since 1989, but Jori Bercier, Dylan and Camille Simon and Alexis and Will Premeaux have purchased Alexander Books and moved the adorable bookshop to Johnston Street where they’re offering a literary hub. It’s an exciting advancement for Lafayette’s literary community, not to mention those who love books.

And their new venture will now include the Louisiana Book News blog.

Please send review copies, book news and literary event announcements to Jori at joribercier@gmail.com. You can keep me on the list but Jori will the contact person from now on.

Thank you for 15 wonderful years.

Sincerely,

Cheré Coen

Words & Music Festival looks at 'Mapping Change'

Words and Music: A Literary Feast in New Orleans will offer four days of celebrating the arts in New Orleans Nov. 21-24, 2019. This year's theme, "Mapping Change," encourages writers to explore how the arts can serve as vehicles for social justice. Through presentations on literature, music, film, and history, the festival will examine past and present changes in New Orleans.

Festival highlights include:

·      A Keynote presentation by Joshua Jelly-Shapiro

·      A Keynote presentation by DaMaris Hill in conversation with Maurice Carlos Ruffin

·      A historical tour by Malik Bartholomew of Know NOLA Tours

·      A performance by the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra

·      A late-night literature session, "Poets Respond to Gentrification"

·      A panel on black community theater in New Orleans

·      A literature and lunch session at Dooky Chase Restaurant

·      The second annual Poets & Po'Boys

Proceeds from the festival benefit One Book One New Orleans, a nonprofit organization dedicated to adult literacy in the Greater New Orleans area. For more information, visit http://wordsandmusic.org/.

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.

Next year's Louisiana literary festivals

New Orleans Book Festival

March 19-21, 2020

Tulane University, New Orleans

https://www.facebook.com/nolabookfest/

The Festival will include both fiction and non-fiction authors in readings, panel discussions, symposia and keynote speeches, plus serve as an outlet for authors and readers to interact with each other in one of the most vibrant and culturally diverse cities in the world.

Festival events will take place on Tulane’s uptown campus, and there will be multiple activities throughout the weekend: panel discussions, keynote lectures, book fairs and workshops. Each day will have at least one major plenary session at which a leading author will be featured. Additionally, there will be Festival social events and sponsor activation opportunities at Tulane and other locations across the city.

Under the leadership of Cheryl Landrieu and Walter Isaacson, Tulane will host the Festival, and engage its community of scholars and students to participate in its events. Proceeds from the Festival will support the academic mission of Tulane.

For more information, including an updated schedule and list of authors and vendors as they become available, visit bookfest.tulane.edu.

Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival

March 25-29

New Orleans

http://tennesseewilliams.net/

The five-day literary arts festival is always held around March 26, the birthday of Tennessee Williams. Events include writing workshops and master classes by acclaimed writers, enlightening and entertaining literary panel discussions, theater events,  book fair, Tennessee Williams Tribute Reading, Tennessee Williams scholars conference,  literary walking tours, music events, Books & Beignets book club, culinary and cocktail events, interviews with legendary writers and actors, and much more.

Now in our 34th year, TWFest brings together over 100 contemporary writers, scholars, actors, musicians, and other artists for five days of literary revelry in the lush Bohemian world of New Orleans.

Books Along the Teche Literary Festival

April 3-5, 2020

New Iberia

https://booksalongthetecheliteraryfestival.com/

The Festival celebrates the literary talents of Acadiana with this year’s Great Southern Writer to be Osha Gray Davidson, a non-fiction storyteller using words, images and sounds online, in books and magazines or in theaters. Davidson creates podcasts, photography, blogs, lectures, and research to tell the stories he thinks are important. He’s also the author of eight books, and been honored by the New York Times Book Review, New York Public Library, Scripps Howard Institute on the Environment, Heinrich Bὄll Foundation of Berlin and his book, The Best of Enemies, was chosen as the selected book by both NCCU and Durham Reads. His movie by the same name will be featured at the Grand Theater, New Iberia, throughout the Festival.

Davidson will speak at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 4, and the presentation will include a question and answer session with the audience.

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.