Hello there! 

Jori here with Alexander Books, where we foster community and education through a shared love of stories! 

Alexander Books Owners from Left to Right:
Alexis Romero Premeaux, Will Premeaux, Camille Carloss Simon, Jori Bercier, and Dylan Simon

We are grateful to Chere and her generosity in sharing her blog space with us. We hope we can live up to her legacy!

At Alexander Books, we hope to use this space as a platform to discuss great stories, essential community efforts, and Alexander Book's happenings. 

These efforts can take many forms, but we can't wait for this new adventure. Have a topic you want to see discussed, a book you want to know more about? Please email us at alexanderbookstore@gmail.com. 

In the meantime, if you have read a recent book that you want to share your thoughts on, click the link below to tell us about it!

https://forms.gle/tNCcaRvjFxUW4srv8

Want to know more about Alexander Books? Since 1989, Alexander Books has been a cornerstone in Lafayette, La. We are driven to building education and community in Lafayette for generations to come.

Don't forget to check out our brand new website at http://alexanderbookstore.com

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.