Louisiana book events this week

              The annual Louisiana Book Festival on Saturday, Nov. 1, brings together a wealth of literary greats, children’s activities, special events, live music and more — and it’s all free on the grounds and inside the State Capitol, State Library and the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge. Don’t miss it.

             Ernest J. Gaines will speak on his works, his life and his career 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Moody Hall, Room 103.

            Anne Rice and Christopher Rice will be signing their latest book, “Prince Lestat: The Vampire Chronicles,” at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans, a ticketed event (meaning you must have one). Tickets to the author event are provided to readers who purchase the books through the store. For details, call 504.895.2266, visit the shop's website, or email the organizers at gdkrewe@aol.com.

            Bonnie Warren, author of “New Orleans Homes at Christmas,” will be signing copies of her new book from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the Cita Denis Hubbell Branch Library, 725 Pelican Ave. in New Orleans.
            Donella Labry Hargrave, author of “History of Kaplan,” will sign books at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the Kaplan Library in Kaplan.

            Marvin J. Allen, author of “Magic in a Shaker: A Year of Spirited Libations,” and Lauren Malone Keller, author of “In a While, Crocodile: New Orleans Slow Cooker Recipes,” will be signing books from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, at Orient Expressed, 3905 Magazine St. in  New Orleans. Allen will also books from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. — and make cocktails — after hours at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans.
            The Friends of Dupré Library Used Book Sale will be Wednesday-Saturday at the Dupre Library on the UL-Lafayette Campus. A preview sale for Friends of the Library, faculty and staff will be 4-6 pm Wednesday, followed by public sales from 8-4:15 Thursday and Friday and from 10-3 Saturday.  

            Addie K. Martin and Jeremy Martin sign copies of “Southeast Louisiana Food: A Seasoned Tradition” at 5:30 p.m. (with book talk at 6:15 p.m.) Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Louisiana Old State Capitol, 100 North Blvd. in Baton Rouge.

            James Nolan signs “You Don’t Know Me: New and Selected Stories” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at Maple Street Books in New Orleans.

            Johnette Downing signs copies of her new children's book “Marooned on a Dessert Island” from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at  A Tisket a Tasket Gifts in a Basket, 910 Decatur St. and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday. Nov. 8, at Orient Expressed, 3905 Magazine St., both in New Orleans.
           The Bayou Writers Group will host its annual conference Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Safe Harbor center of the University United Methodist Church, 3501 Patrick St. in Lake Charles. Titled “A Bridge to Publication,” the conference will address topics ranging from what social media can do for writers to the author-publisher relationship. Attendees will also have the chance to pitch their works to editors and agents and attend a special Q&A panel on what writers need to know after they have been published. Poetry and fiction written by the Bayou Writers Group will be available in “Gator Bites” on site and participants will have the opportunity to compete or vote in the “Best First Page Contest.” For more information and to register, visit http://bayouwritersgroup.com.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “ExploringCajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana” and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.