Books to get you in the Halloween mood

It’s that time of year, when the days shorten and shadows grow, when a nip in the air sends a chill up our spines. (Or at least we hope there’s a nip.) And books about ghosts and other things that go bump in the night appear on bookstore shelves.

Cheryl H. White and W. Ryan Smith, two academics from northern Louisiana, examine the tales of those left behind in “A Haunted History of Louisiana Plantations,” published by The History Press. Most people will recognize the Myrtles among their pages, with its story of a disgruntled slave who haunts the property, but there are also wonderful stories that may be new to readers. There’s the duelists of the Natchez (Louisiana) Cherokee Plantation, the strange oak trees of Houmas House that appear to suffer through grief and the haunts of mansions along the Cane River. White is also the author of “Historic Haunts of Shreveport.”

Also by The History Press, as part of their Haunted America series, is Marita Woywod Crandle’s “New Orleans Vampires: History and Legend,” which examines several local myths surrounding Big Easy creatures who do not die. There’s the story spun on city ghost tours about the Caskette Girls turning into vampires on the ship over from France, the mysterious Comte St. Germain who supposedly spent time in the city and the notorious Carter Brothers who in the 1930s apparently kidnapped, bled and killed victims, only to escape. Crandle runs the Boutique du Vampyre in the French Quarter and the private vampire nightclub Potions. Although she loves all things vampire, she writes the book with a skeptical slant because, as she admits in the afterword, “Are vampires real? Nobody loves vampires more than I do, but reason and common sense tells me no, they are not.”

Other books to consider:

 

Last year, Laura Roach Dragon compiled 13 scary campfire stories with Louisiana settings in “The Bayou Bogeyman Presents Hoodoo and Voodoo,” published by Pelican Publishing of New Orleans.

And there’s my own History Press book, “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana,” full of ghost stories ranging from university dorm rooms to dramatic opera houses and everything in between. There’s also those unique but creepy Cajun folktales such as Madame Grand Doight who uses her long fingernails to open doors that might keep you up at night. And if you want to add a little mystery, my Viola Valentine paranormal mystery series featuring a New Orleans ghost sleuth-travel writer is now available in paperback at Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com and as an ebook at all online bookstores.

Sweet Louisiana

Author Dixie Poché will host a cooking demonstration and book signing from 1 pm to 2 pm Saturday at the Southern Food & Beverage Museum in New Orleans. Poché is the author of “Louisiana Sweets: King Cakes, Bread Pudding and Sweet Dough Pie” and “Classic Eateries of Cajun Country.” SophiP Cakes from Lafayette will be demonstrating their techniques for baking cupcakes and Leah’s Pralines of New Orleans will have samples of their pralines to showcase the traditional sweet.

  

Book events the week of Oct. 15-21

Marita Gentry launches her latest children’s book, “The Cajun Cornbread Boy and the Buttermilk Biscuit Girl” at 10:30 a.m. today at Octavia Books of New Orleans. She wil be joined by Dianne de Las Casas, the illustrator. Also at Octavia this week is Christopher Schaberg signing “Airoportness at 6 p.m. Wednesday and John Magill’s signs “The Incomparable Magazine Street” at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Former U.S. representative and Louisiana Gov. Charles “Buddy” Roemer signs copies of his new book, “Scopena: A Memoir of Home,” at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Barnes and Noble, Shreveport.

C. Morgan Babst discusses and signs her book “The Floating World” at 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thom Gilbert discusses and signs his book, "Blue Suede Shoes: The Culture of Elvis" at 6 p.m. Thursday at Garden District Book Shop of New Orleans.

Feng Shui Master and author Denise DuBos will discuss Feng Shui at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Jones Creek Regional Library of Baton Rouge. DuBos is author of the book “Feng Shui: The Invisible Art of Communication.”

O’Neil de Noux will teach “How to Write & Enjoy Reading Novels in a Series” from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Covington Library, 310 W. 21st Ave. in Covington. Register online at www.bit.ly/stplregister.

Paige Bowers, author of “The General’s Niece: The Little-Known de Gaulle Who Fought to Free Occupied France,” will speak about her book at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Jones Creek Regional Library of Baton Rouge. A reception and book signing will follow the author’s presentation.

Errol Laborde, Peggy Laborde and Lawrence Powell will speak about their book, “New Orleans: The First 300 Years” at 7 p.m. Thursday at the East Bank Regional Library, Metairie. Books will be available for sale through the Friends of the Jefferson Public Library. The event is part of the 2017 season of Coffee and Conversation, a literary initiative sponsored by the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival and the Jefferson Parish Library.

The Friends of the Jefferson Public Library will conduct its semi-annual Big Book Sale from Thursday to Sunday, Oct. 22, at the Pontchartrain Center of Kenner.

Author Tom Franklin will speak about his book, “Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter,” at 10 a.m. Friday at the Tangipahoa Parish Library. He will also read from and autograph his book. The following day, Saturday, the Hammond Regional Arts Center will host Franklin at its Gallery on Thomas Street.

Kathryn K. Fontenot will sign “The Louisiana Urban Gardener” from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at The Conundrum of St. Francisville, part of the opening afternoon of The Southern Garden Symposium.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country.” She writes Louisiana romances and the Viola Valentine paranormal mystery series under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

October book events in Louisiana

Bridge to Publication

The annual Bridge to Publication Conference, sponsored by the Bayou Writers Group, will be Saturday at the historic Central School in Lake Charles. There will be workshops such as “Researching Historical Facts for Fiction” by author Elizabeth Ludwig and “Building Believable Worlds” by fantasy romance and paranormal author Juliette Cross. A complete list of speakers and visiting agents, as well as the registration form, are at http://bayouwritersgroup.com/a-bridge-to-publication-2017/. Registration is $51 for current Bayou Writers Group members and $56 for non-members. Tickets will also be available at the door for $60. Following the conference is Pelican Tales, a multi-genre, multi-author book signing event from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Writing Contest

Acadiana-area students in grades 3-12 are invited to submit their literary work for the Festival of Words Student Creative Writing Contest. The final deadline for online submissions is Tuesday so get cracking! Students can enter their original writing pieces into three writing categories including poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. Writings should be submitted through a supervising teacher or school facilitator online by sending them to kayla_webb@saintmartinschools.org. Parental permission must be granted by filling out the student writing contest entry form. Awards will be given for first-, second- and third-place winners and winners will receive an anthology publication of winning entries. For information, contact Kayla Webb, director of youth programming for the Acadiana Writing Project, at 332-1821, Ext. 3872.

Indie Author Day
Indie Author Day, featuring local authors signing and talking about their books, will be from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library. Authors include Emily Cogburn, author of "Ava's Place" and "Louisiana Saves the Library;" Christee Gabour Atwood, author of "In Praise of Elastic Waistbands" and "Journal of a Midlife Crisis;" and yours truly Cherie Claire (otherwise known as Cheré Coen) signing copies of “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and my new Viola Valentine paranormal mysteries series, "A Ghost of a Chance" and "Ghost Town."

Book events the week of Oct. 8-14

Leslie Leonpacher will discuss her grandfather, Dr. Lippi Leonpacher in “Dr. Lippi Leonpacher – The Flying Vet” at 2 p.m. today at the Alexandre Mouton House in Lafayette. Lippi Leonpacher was a German immigrant who settled in Lafayette and was one of the first licensed veterinarians in the area. He specialized in large animals and would fly his 1939 model Piper Cub Coupe airplane to reach remote areas in Acadiana to treat his animal patients. There is limited seating and admission is free. Refreshments will be served.

Jesmyn Ward signs “Sing, Unburied, Sing” at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Octavia Books of New Orleans. She will also be in conversation with Nathaniel Rich at 6 p.m. Thursday at Garden District Book Shop. Rich is the author of “Mayor’s Tongue,” “Odds Against Tomorrow” and his forthcoming novel “King Zeno: A Novel.”

Christopher Swann signs “Shadow of the Lions” at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Garden District Book Shop of New Orleans.

Bayou State Book Talks presents Buddy Roemer speaking about his book, “Scopena: A Memoir of Home” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Main Lafayette Library.  

Former Gov. Kathleen Blanco will speak on “Senator Edgar G. Mouton: Legislator, Humanitarian, Philanthropist, Orator” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the James Oliver Hall auditorium in Room 112 on the UL-Lafayette campus. The free lecture is sponsored by the George Rodrigue Lectureship and the Flora Plonsky Levy Endowment in the Humanities.

           

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I, the Jeanerette Museum is hosting a presentation titled “The First World War” with Paul Wilson and Kurt Stiegler at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the museum. Stiegler serves as assistant professor at Nicholls’ Department of History and Geography. For more information and to download the First World War Flyer, visit JeaneretteMuseum.com.

           

Author Brian Costello will discuss “Carnival in Louisiana,” at 7 p.m. Thursday at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. The literary initiative is sponsored by the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival and the Jefferson Parish Library.

The Tangipahoa Parish Library will host its annual Free Book Festival with free books, free food and fun from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hammond Branch Library. The festival will have an “Autumn Adventure” theme featuring a canned and non-perishable food drive benefiting the Tangi Food Pantry. There will also be a pumpkin decoration station for kids, games and crafts. In addition to receiving a free book, several organizations will be on-site to provide information and offer giveaways.

Louisiana Book News is written by journalist Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes Louisiana romances and paranormal mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. The first books in her award-winning series are FREE as ebooks! For more information and to sign up for her newsletter visit www.cherieclaire.net.

Tuesday's ebook spotlight - Cauchemars!

Today’s spotlight is close to my heart because when I was writing my collection of ghost tales  “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana,” I learned more about the creepy legend of cauchemars. In Cajun Country, a cauchemar is a spirit that rides on your chest or back during the night.

“In a 1985 article in The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, the late folklorist Dr. Patricia Rickles of Southwestern Louisiana University (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette), described cauchemar as ‘a nightmare spirit that chokes and suffocates people in their beds,’” I wrote in the book. “Rickles claimed that numerous people she had interviewed over the years believed in them, including one who felt its presence in the university dorms.”

I mentioned cauchemars because a dorm resident at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette had experienced just an occurrence. Talk about scary.

Recently I discovered that Alexandra Grigorescu has written a novel titled “Cauchemar” which intrigued me. I have not yet read this book but wanted to pass along the information because 1. It’s close to Halloween and 2. It’s available for download for $4.99.

Here’s the book description: “Gripping, fast-paced, gorgeously written, and with unforgettable characters, Cauchemar tells the story of 20-year-old Hannah, who finds herself living alone on the edge of a Louisiana swamp after her adopted mother and protector dies. Hannah falls in love with Callum, an easy-going boat captain and part-time musician, but after her mysterious birth mother, outcast as a witch and rumored to commune with the dead, comes back into Hannah’s life, she must confront what she’s been hiding from — the deadly spirits that haunt the swamp, the dark secrets of her past, and the nascent gift she possesses. Like the nightmares that plague Hannah, Cauchemar lingers and haunts.”

If you read the book, please comment on your thoughts. I’m dying (not a good word to use) to know.

And if you’re interested in why I included this creepy legend into “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana,” my book is available as a download for $9.99 (and is in print, published by The History Press) at bookstores everywhere.

Louisiana Book News is written by journalist Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. The first two books in her award-winning series are free as ebooks! For more information and to sign up for her newsletter visit www.cherieclaire.net.

Plenty of spooky new books in time for Halloween

There’s a Facebook page that goes with this column and I use it to announce book events and promote great new books. Through Facebook, I also had the pleasure of meeting Ellen Byron of Los Angeles, who loves Louisiana (the love affair started when she was a student at Tulane) and uses our state as the setting for her cozy mystery, “Plantation Shudders: A Cajun Country Mystery.” Library Journal named it the “debut mystery of the month” and Publisher’s Weekly said, “ Byron’s debut brings energy and verve to the cozy.” I’m so looking forward to reading it and you should too and help Byron’s dream come true. Her hope is to someday retire and spend a month a year in Lafayette and “just tootle around the state.”

Byron is a native New Yorker who lives in Los Angeles and spends lots of time writing about Louisiana, including the second book in the series, “Crawdeaddy.” Her TV credits include “Wings” and “Just Shoot Me” and she’s written more than 200 magazine articles and published plays include the award-winning “Graceland” and “Asleep on the Wind.”

For more information, visit http://www.ellenbyron.com/.

Michael Murphy, author of “Eat Dat New Orleans,” returns with paranormal tales in “Fear Dat New Orleans: A Guide to the Voodoo, Vampires, Graveyards and Ghosts of the Crescent City.” Murphy, a native of Ohio who has lived in New Orleans since 2009, explains the city’s aboveground cemeteries, its love affair with vampires, its over-achieving status as haunted city and its voodoo heritage. There’s also a handy listing of mediums, tarot readers and haunted hotels and bars, plus personality profiles of the some of the city’s paranormal experts and a foreword by Anne Rice.

I (your blogger Chere Dastugue Coen) will sign “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana,” a collection of Acadiana ghost stories, along with my other books — “Exploring Cajun Country,” “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History” and “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets” — from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble Lafayette.

Literary Week

It’s a great week for book lovers.

On Wednesday, Oct. 28, the Festival of Words Cultural Arts Collective hosts an evening of oral history, songs and poetry featuring poet/songstress Angie Joelle and Donald Milton who will share personal stories. The program begins at 7 p.m. at Chicory’s Coffee & Café in Grand Coteau.

            Words and Music, A Literary Feast in New Orleans opens Thursday, Oct. 29, and runs through Nov. 2. For information on the festival that includes paranormal fun this year, visit http://wordsandmusic.org/2015-words-music-schedule.

            The 12th Louisiana Book Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, on the grounds of and inside the Louisiana State Capitol, Louisiana State Library and the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge. They still need volunteers; call (225) 342-4996. For information, visit www.louisianabookfestival.org.

            The Heart of Louisiana’s annual Fall in Love with Romance Readers’ Luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, and feature keynote speaker Diana Rowland at Juban’s restaurant in Baton Rouge. Author Lori Leger will emcee.

Book events Oct. 25-31

Writers’ Guild of Acadiana meets at 7 p.m. the last Tuesday of the month at Barnes & Noble Lafayette. The meetings are free and open to the public.

Richard Campanella discusses his book about the work of Del Hall, “The Photojournalism of Del Hall, 1950s-2000 — New Orleans and Beyond” at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Octavia Books of New Orleans. Also at Octavia this week, Kaija Parssinen reads from and signs “The Unraveling of Mercy Louis” at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Ellen Gilchrist signs “Acts of God” at 6 p.m. Thursday at Garden District Book Shop of New Orleans.

Photographer Judi Bottoni and Carnival expert Peggy Scott Laborde discuss their latest book, a collection of photographs and essays titled “New Orleans Mardi Gras Moments,” as part of the Coffee and Conversation series, at 7 p.m. Thursday at the East Bank Regional Library in Metairie.
            Dr. Camesha Hill-Carter of Shreveport, author of “I Dare You: 31 Days To Fire Up Your Potential And Live Your Destiny Now,” will be recognized by Distinguished Readers Book Club at 1 p.m. Saturday at the West Shreveport location of Shreve Memorial Library.
            Friends of the Ouachita Public Library Book Sale will be 9-3 Friday and Saturday at the West Ouachita Library, 188 Hwy 546 in West Monroe. This is the last book sale for 2015.

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, “A Cajun Dream” and “The Letter.” Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.