Two ULL Press titles look at French Louisiana traditions

            The University of Louisiana Press will release two works of children’s/adolescent literature this Wednesday at Pop’s Poboys in downtown Lafayette. They are “Madame Grand Doigt” by Yvette Landry with illustrations by Cullen Anthony Bernard and “Jean-le-Chasseur et ses chiens” by Barry Ancelet with illustrations by Denise Gallagher.

            Landry is an award-winning singer, songwriter, musician and educator. Her first children’s book, “The Ghost Tree,” received a nomination for the Louisiana’s Young Readers Choice Award and represented Louisiana at the National Book Fair in Washington, D.C. Bernard is a visual artist and illustrator from Lafayette and the owner and operator of Folklore Goods and Supply, a local business that focuses on unique functional art and apparel.

            The book follows the old Cajun folktale of a creepy old woman with long fingernails who grabs little kids who don’t fall asleep, no doubt told by parents over the years to get their children to go to bed. In Landry’s tale, two adolescent girls find the real Madame Grand Doigt in the woods near their camp, along with some terrifying discoveries.

Ancelet is a retired professor of modern languages and folklore at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Gallagher is a designer and illustrator based in Lafayette. They’ve collaborated on an adaptation of a Louisiana French folktale in which Jean-le-Chasseur finds a beautiful young woman while hunting in the woods with his dogs. What the dogs see, however, is something different and they rescue their master from what is really an old witch with a hatred for love.

The main text of “Jean-le-Chasseur et ses chiens” is written in a style of Louisiana French meant to mirror its oral origins. In the back is an English translation.

Both books will be available for purchase at Wednesday’s event along with autographing by the authors and illustrators. Light refreshments will be served.

Landry will also be offering a workshop on songwriting and storytelling at the Festival of Words literary event Nov. 4-5 in Grand Coteau.

Cavanaugh Lecture

Ashley Weaver, author of “Death Wears a Mask,” will discuss the “delicate art of murder,” getting published and editing at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Alexandria Museum of Art in Alexandria. Weaver, who has a masters in library science from LSU, is also the author of “Murder at the Brightwell.” Her next novel, “A Most Novel Revenge,” hits bookstores in October.

LSU library

To kick off Homecoming Week at LSU, the LSU Libraries Special Collections will host Faye Phillips, author of “The Golden Band from Tigerland: A History of LSU’s Marching Band” (LSU Press, September 2016), co-authored with Tom Continé, at 6 p.m. Tuesday (informal pre-talk reception to begin at 5:30 p.m.) in the lecture hall of Hill Memorial Library on the LSU campus.  Director of Bands Emeritus Frank Wickes, who wrote a foreword for the history, will also be on hand to sign copies. Books will be sold onsite by the LSU Barnes & Noble.

Book events

            Camille Pavy Claibourne will speak on “Finding Faith in Caring for Others” at 10:30 a.m. today at Grace Presbyterian Church in Lafayette. Claibourne is the author of “Purses & Shoes for Sale: The joys and challenges of caring for your elderly parents” and “Dying in God’s Hands.”

            New Orleans author Whitney Stewart will discuss and sign her new book, “Feldpost: The War Letters, Friedrich Reiner Niemann” at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Octavia Books of New Orleans. The book documents the life and frontline experiences of a German soldier from the 6th Infantry Division from 1941-1945. Niemann was sent to the Russian Front four times and wrote his final two letters home from Poland on Jan. 12, 1945, before he disappeared during the Soviet Vistula-Oder Offensive. After the war, the Niemann family preserved Reiner's letters and photographs, and shipped them to New Orleans where Reiner’s sister, Liselotte Andersson, had emigrated. The documents surfaced after Hurricane Katrina flooded the family house. Stewart is Andersson’s daughter-in-law, and with Denis Havel has translated the letters. Stewart grew up in New England and is the author of numerous children’s books, adult nonfiction, and travel writing.

            The Rotary Club of Abbeville will host a book drive from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Azul Tequila in Abbeville. Cost is $10.95 per person plus a book donation. All books will be donated to Light House Christian Preparatory School to help them get a library started. Other book drop-off locations are Abbeville Electric, Facts-5, Abbeville Chiropractic Clinic, Melancon Jewelers and Gulf Coast Bank.

            New Orleans Storycom will be Sept. 29 to Oct. 2 at the Wyndam Garden Baronne Plaza, New Orleans

Josh Capps and Toby Daspit will read as part of the Thursday Night Reading presented by the UL-Lafayette English Department, EGSA and Sigma Tau Delta at 7 p.m. Thursday at Poets, 1043 Johnston St.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country.” She writes Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

Hearne's latest an authentic collection of Delta life

Dixon Hearne hails from the Delta so it’s natural that his stories delve into the emotions plaguing the region — heartache, prejudice, income disparity, love of family, crime. His recent book, “Delta Flats: Stories in the Key of Blues and Hope” compile some of his best, stories that range from the piney hills of northern Louisiana to the streets of New Orleans.

We follow two young girls sneaking a smoke behind an evangelical tent meeting, a young black man yearning to attend college while his brother fights in Korea and a mother and disfigured child kidnapped that ends with a sliver of hope for them both.

According to a previous story in the News Star, Hearne picked up fodder for his rich stories while accompanying his traveling salesman father along the north Louisiana backroads. Many of the stories in “Delta Flats” revolve around those country stores, their sometimes narrow-minded owners and the lives of the people who shopped there. His stories contain such authentically spoken dialogue and pinpoint details that readers imagine themselves standing in the characters’ shoes.

Hearne spent a good part of his life teaching in Southern California, but recently moved back to Monroe, specifically Sterlington. He is the author of several books, including “Native Voices, Native Lands” and “Plantatia: High-toned and Lowdown Stories of the South,” which was nominated for the Hemingway Foundation/PEN award and won the Creative Spirit Award-Platinum for best general fiction book. His most recent book, “From Tickfaw to Shongaloo,” was runner-up for novella in the 2014 William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition. His work has been twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize and has received numerous other awards.
            For more information on Hearne and his books, including several anthologies and articles, visit www.dixonhearne.com.

Purses and Shoes

Camille Pavy Claiborne hopes to create conversations about aging with her new book “Purses & Shoes for Sale: The Joys and Challenges of Caring for Elder Parents,” published by Acadian House. “Purses & Shoes For Sale” is a hardcover book about the author’s journey as a caregiver to her elderly parents, packed with suggestions on how to deal with issues encountered by adult children of the elderly. The book includes a section with answers to frequently asked questions, plus a resources section with practical advice, websites and a glossary of terms.

The formal book release party is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the UL-Lafayette Alumni House. For more information, visit www.acadianhouse.com

Claibourne will also speak on “The Joys of Aging” at a special dinner Tuesday, April 5, at the Petroleum Club. Sponsored by Our Lady of Lourdes Foundation, the event will discuss caring for parents, planning for the future and exploring the sacred in caregiving. Doors open at 6 p.m., followed by buffet service, a 7 p.m. speech by Claibourne and an 8 p.m. booksigning. Cost is $30; call the Lourdes Foundation at (337) 470-4610, Ext. 2, or email LourdesFoundation@lourdesrmc.com.

New releases

            Ashley Weaver of Oakdale is the technical services coordinator for the Allen Parish Libraries and the author of the Amory and Milo Ames mystery series. Her latest novel is “Death Wears a Mask,” a sequel to “Murder at the Brightwell.” Booklist said of her latest novel: “Weaver has followed up her debut novel with another engaging closed-house mystery sure to appeal to Agatha Christie devotees.”

            An innovative book series on American history is “Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales,” which relates important aspect of U.S. history through a graphic novel for young readers. Nathan Hale is the author (yes, that’s his name) and “Alamo All-Stars,” which comes out Tuesday, is the sixth installment in the New York Times bestselling series. The book relates the story of Texas’ fight for independence, spotlighting Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett and other settlers who defended the Alamo.

            Another excellent book to teach children about America without them thinking they’re being taught is the “Junior Ranger Activity Book” by National Geographic Kids. Its choke full of fun facts, photos, games, puzzles, trivia tests, jokes and so much more, all revolving around our national parks. My adult son and I poured over this book, which means you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy it. Since the national parks turns 100 this year, I highly recommend taking this fun-filled book along for the ride and checking out one of our country’s greatest treasures. I guarantee the whole family will be involved.

            Dr. Bill Ebarb presents a chronological history of Natchitoches’ Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts from its inception until the 2013-14 school year, as well as chapters devoted to various aspects of the school’s operation in “Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts — The First 30 Years,” published by Authorhouse. The book also contains short stories about students and events, comments from alumni and a chapter on the Natchitoches High School which serves as the classroom and laboratory home of the Louisiana School. The book is available from Authorhouse and other book retailers. Autographed copies are available through the author who can be contacted at bill.ebarb@yahoo.com.

Cheré Dastugue Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana” and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” She also writes Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.