Book events Nov. 18-22

            I (your humble blogger Chere Dastugue Coen) will be speaking as part of “An Evening with Author Cheré Dastugue Coen” from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Nix Library in New Orleans. I will be discussing my latest books, “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana,” along with my book “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets” which I coauthored with Jude Bradley.
             Lyrically Inclined Poetry Slam and Open Mic will feature poet Micaela Simpson at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Black Cafe in downtown Lafayette. Doors open at 6 p.m. There is a $5 cover. To sign up for the open mic, contact PoeticSoul337@gmail.com or sign up at the door.

            Andi Eaton signs “New Orleans Style” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Maple Street Bookshop in New Orleans.

            Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Rick Bragg speaks of his latest book, “Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story,” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans. Bragg is the best-selling author of “Ava’s Man” and “All Over But the Shoutin.’” He spent two years interviewing Lewis, who hails from Ferriday, Louisiana.

            The second annual Ernest J. Gaines Lecture begins at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21. at the Ernest J. Gaines Center, Edith Garland Dupré Library on the UL-Lafayette campus. Dr. John Lowe of the University of Georgia, a member of the Gaines Center’s Advisory Board of Gaines Scholars, will speak about Gaines’ first published novel, “Catherine Carmier.”

UL Press Author Signings 

            The following University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press authors will be signing books:

            Tina Freeman and Morgan Molthrop will sign “Artist Spaces, New Orleans” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Maple Street Books, 7529 Maple St. in New Orleans and at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at Words and Music Festival in New Orleans and at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at the New Orleans Athletic Club.

            James Nolan signs “You Don't Know Me: New and Selected Stories” at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at Words and Music Festival, New Orleans.

            W. Geoff Gjertson and Dege Legg sign “Generating Hope: Stories of the BeauSoleil Louisiana Solar Home” from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at UL’s Fletcher Hall Room 134.

LSU Season’s Readings

            LSU Press and The Southern Review present Season's Readings, an annual holiday sale and multi-author book signing from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at the Club at LSU Union Square on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. Books and journals will be sold at discounted prices, and there will be free gift wrapping and refreshments. The following authors will be present: Nolde Alexius, Jinx Broussard, Vincent Caire. Alex V.Cook, Michael Desmond, Ronald Drez, Ava Leavell Haymon, Judy Kahn, Kelli Scott Kelley, Laura Lindsay, C C Lockwood, Mary Manhein, Ryan Orgera, Wayne Parent, Michael Rubin, Barbara Barnes Sims and John Wirt.

One Book, One South

            The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance selected “Citizens Creek” by Lalita Tademy, author of the Louisiana-based “Cane River,” as its One Book, One South read, “a Southern-wide book club discussion taking place at independent bookstores across the South and online at ReaderMeetWriter.com.” During November, independent booksellers and ReaderMeetWriter.com will sponsor discussions about the novel, culminating in a live Q and A with the author on Thursday, Nov. 20, on the ReaderMeetWriter Facebook page. “Citizens Creek” follows a former slave and his family during the 19th century.

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.