Agnes Courville performs Wednesday at Festival of Words

The Festival of Words hosts an evening of songs featuring Agnes Courville at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Chicory’s Coffee and Café in Grand Coteau.

Originally from Lyon, France, Courville is a writer and singer. She has taught in French immersion programs in Louisiana for 18 years, presently at Park Vista. She is an advocate for animal rights, nature and civil rights. You may see Agnes at local zydeco performances kicking up her cowgirl heels, celebrating the local culture that she adores. Courville lives in Opelousas and on Wednesday evening, she will sing songs in French and English, always with style.

Guests are welcome to bring their own poems, songs or stories for the open mic that follows Courville’s presentation. This free, community event is suitable for all ages and is sponsored by The Festival of Words Cultural Arts Collective. For more information call Olan at (337) 280-5517 or othibodeaux@gmail.com. 

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.

True Stories and Poetry Wednesday in Grand Coteau

The Festival of Words presents “True Stories and Poetry” by Calletta Lewis and original works by The Baton Rouge Slam Team from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, at Chicory’s Coffee and Café, 219 E. Martin Luther King Drive in Grand Coteau. 

Lewis, a native of Grand Coteau, will discuss her late father, Floyd Lewis, a former police officer of Grand Coteau.

The Baton Rouge Slam Team (Eclectic Truth) consists of four spoken word poets who competed for spots on the team. The group includes Brittany Marshall, Alekandro, Chelsea Lynn Murray and Shannon Kathleen. At their annual Grand Coteau performance, Eclectic Truth will hone their spoken word skills in preparation for a national poetry slam championship tournament, which takes place in August, in Denver, Colo. It is also a “friend-raiser” for the team. The performers appreciate the public’s encouragement and support; if visitors have a little spare change to help them in their travels, that is appreciated also.

The oral history presentation will be videotaped and placed in the Cajun and Creole Archives at the Center for Louisiana Studies in the “Grand Coteau Voices” collection. 

The public is welcome to bring their own poems, songs or stories for the open mic.  This free, community event is suitable for all ages and is sponsored by The Festival of Words Cultural Arts Collective with support from the Center for Louisiana Studies at UL. The venue is made available through the generosity of Chicory’s Coffee & Cafe.  For more information call Patrice (337) 254-9695 or festivalwords@gmail.com. 

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.

Festival of Words hosts Nickname Open Mic tonight

            Do you have a fun or unusual nickname? The Festival of Words will host a “Nickname Open Mic” from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight at Chicory Coffee and Café in Grand Coteau. The time limit is five minutes in which participants can explain whether they love or hate their nickname, describe where it came from and tell of their experiences carrying this name.
            Mine is Pixie. What's yours?
            For more information, contact festivalwords@gmail.com or call (337) 254-9695.

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.