'Generating Hope' examines BeauSoleil solar home at UL-Lafayette

            The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press and UL-Lafayette Architecture Professor W. Geoff Gjertson and Dege Legg, along with architects and guest writers Pliny Fisk III and Edward J. Cazayoux, will release “Generating Hope: Stories of the BeauSoleil Louisiana Solar Home” at a special book launch during this week’s Festivals Acadiens et Créoles.

            From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, Oct. 9-12, the public is invited to visit the BeauSoleil Home located at 140 Girard Park Circle in Lafayette and purchase signed copies of the book. At 2 p.m. Friday, Michael Doucet of BeauSoleil will give a special performance in celebration of the book’s release and the fifth anniversary of the home and its first place win in Market Viability and People’s Choice in the 2009 Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C.

            “Generating Hope” tells stories of hope through personal interviews with the students, faculty and community partners — the team that designed and built the home and those that supported the effort — plus showcases the significance of the project, producing affordable, energy-efficient and hurricane-resistant housing. The book includes more than 180 photographs and sidebars that provide a guide for implementing solar and sustainable practices.

            Gjertson is a UL architect and professor and served as the faculty adviser for the BeauSoleil Home as well as subsequent Building Institute Projects. Legg is an award-winning writer and Grammy-nominated musician.

            Cazayoux will receive the 2015 SPARK Lifetime Achievement Award Oct. 24 at the College of the Arts’ Beaux Arts Ball.

New releases

            William Joyce of Shreveport and artist Kenny Callicutt have released a new children’s book about a smallish boy and a smallish pea who have to come up with a giant plan to save the kingdom in “A Bean, a Stalk and a Boy Named Jack.” The fairy tale with a twist is the latest book from Moonbot Books, an imprint of Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Simon & Schuster. The story concerns a kingdom where it hasn’t rained in days and the king has dictated that something must be done. With a little magic from a wizard young Jack, paired with his pea pod pal, will find a giant reason as to why there’s no water left in the kingdom.

            Judy Christie follows up her “Magnolia Market (Trumpet & Vine)” novel, set in Samford, Louisiana, with “Sweet Olive (Trumpet & Vine),” where fresh starts aren’t nearly as glamorous as they appear and love isn’t any easier the second time around. Publishers Weekly compares Christie’s “Sweet Olive” books to Jan Karon’s Mitford series, and Library Journal and Romantic Times praise it as a story that will draw readers into the ambience of the small-town South and the people who live there.

            Melissa Abraham of Lafayette, member of the Writers’ Guild of Acadiana, has published an essay on a German Shepherd mix who assisted her Labrador in birthing puppies titled “Doggy-Nanny” in “The Dog Did What?: 101 Amazing Stories of Magical Moments, Miracles and…Mayhem,” a Chicken Soup for the Soul book. The anthology of canine tales benefits the American Human Association and includes a foreword by Miranda Lambert.

            In the 1950s, Barbara Barnes Sims found herself in a male-dominated world as publicist and sales promotion coordinator at Sun Records in Memphis. She recalls her years in “The Next Elvis: Searching For Stardom at SUN Records” and signs copies at 6 p.m. Thursday at Garden District Bookstore in New Orleans.

            Born with Asperger's Syndrome and a love of Japanese films and art, writing came natural to Justin Wilson. At 20 and studying literature in college, Wilson has penned “The Boy in the Skull Mask,” where Detective Renee Chavez deals with a murder investigation involving supernatural creatures. The situation grows more complicated by the arrival of a teenaged, eccentric, supernatural hunter, the enigmatic Zero Ozawa. The two must combine their knowledge and work together.

            Award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Amy Schwartz pens a delightful tale for young readers titled “100 Things That Make Me Happy.” Naturally, Schwartz lists 100 things that bring smiles to young children’s faces, from riding a bike to catching fireflies, all composed in a lilting rhythmic cadence and accented by adorable artwork. Children will love perusing this collection of happiness.

            Born in New Orleans and now residing in Chattanooga Poppy Jackson releases the second book of her “Imaginary!” trilogy, a series full of romance, vampires, intrigue and hope. The new book is titled “Rapture.” For more information, visit http://www.write2grow.org/PoppyJackson/rapture.php

Newcomb Pottery

            Pelican Publishing of New Orleans has compiled a handy resource book for pottery collectors titled “Newcomb Pottery: A Visual Treasury.” Chock full of photographs gleaned from the Louisiana State Museum, Tulane University and private collections, the book catalogues items hailing from Newcomb College’s art department in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

            You can view these gorgeous pieces at the State Museum or travel to the Stark Museum in Orange, Texas, for “Women, Art, & Social Change: The Newcomb Pottery Enterprise.” The loaned exhibition features significant examples of iconic pottery, textiles, jewelry, bookbinding and more, organized by the Newcomb Art Gallery and Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.

Book events

            Become Money Smart, a free two-session workshop sponsored by United Way of Acadiana, will be 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, Oct. 7 and 9, at North Regional Library. Preregistration required.  

            A film series honoring Ernest Gaines will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the South Regional Library; this week’s film is “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.”

            The Center for Louisiana Studies’ Bayou State Book Talks presents Marcia Gaudet and Reggie Young, authors of “This Louisiana Thing That Drives Me: The Legacy of Ernest J. Gaines” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, at the South Regional Branch Library, 6101 Johnston St. The event is free and open to the public.

            Barbara Barnes Sims signs her latest “The Next Elvis: Searching for Stardom at Sun Records,” from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, at Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans.

            Celebrate National Star Wars Reads Day with an intergalactic party from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at North Regional Library. Costumes are welcome for the event geared toward ages 6-12. Preregistration required.

            Bonnie Warner and Cheryl Gerber sign copies of “New Orleans Homes — Christmas” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans.

Cheré 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.” Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

Cyril Vetter, ALA Convention

Cyril E, Vetter, author of “Fonville Winans’ Louisiana: Politics, People and Places” and “The Louisiana Houses of A. Hays Town,” has published a novel about Louisiana singer-songwriter Charles “Butch” Hornsby titled “Dirtdobber Blues” (LSU Press). Upon entering my house, “Dirtdobber Blues” was snatched up by my husband, Bruce Coen, the music manager at Barnes & Noble and a blues aficionada. Here is his review of Vetter’s book:

            “In the latest release of a fairly new genre called creative non-fiction, author Cyril E. Vetter’s account of Charles ‘Butch’ Hornsby in his book ‘Dirtdobber Blues’ depicts one of the most versatile, creative and musical icons to come out of South Louisiana. Vetter got to know Hornsby by producing most of his music and acting as a friend when Hornsby needed one during his many alcoholic and drug periods of which there were many during the early and middle years.

“Vetter chooses to create dialogue and add certain elements to Hornsby’s life that certainly makes for good reading whether they actually happened or not. The book is fast paced and flows quickly in line with the life Hornsby chose for himself attributed to his sometimes erratic but always colorful personality. Even though Hornsby comes across as a tortured genius at times he’s virtually unknown in most creative circles, which is a shame. Vetter takes care of that by including a 14-song CD of Hornsby’s inspired South Louisiana version of country flavored, swamp pop blues along with sheet music. There are also full-page photographs of Hornsby’s paintings and sculptures taken by local favorite Philip Gould.

“This is a good read and should be in anyone’s collection with an interest in the great but not forgotten spiritual folk who have and always will contribute to the real South Louisiana.”

Librarians unite!

            The massive American Library Association national conference was held in New Orleans this past week. I ran into humor author Christee Atwood (“In Celebration of Elastic Waistbands”) and her equally funny husband, David, who makes a living as a voice author (movies trailers, ads, you name it). We toured the convention, running into Louisiana authors Ciji Ware, Johnette Downing and Dianne de Las Casas, in addition to Louisiana librarians. Other state authors at the convention were Judy Christie, Joyce Magnin, Christa Allan and Mo Willems, to name a few.

            Ware was promoting her latest book, “Midnight on Julia Street,” to be published in August by Sourcebooks. Ware once lived on Ursulines Street in the French Quarter but now makes her home in San Francisco, but you could tell she was glad to be back in New Orleans, especially since she continues to write about the city. An Emmy award-winning TV producer and journalist, Ware’s latest novel concerns a reporter who comes to New Orleans and discovers a great story.

            Ocean Tree Books introduced me to “Anna Christiana’s ‘Un-a-fancii’ New Orleans Cookbook,” by Deborah J. Lindsey and Anna Christiana, the latter of which lives in New Orleans and once owned a seafood shop on Oak Street. The cookbook is filled with interesting recipes and history of the Carrollton Street area.

            Russell Freedman signed his award-winning “Lafayette and the American Revolution,” a beautifully illustrated chapter book of the American hero who helped the American colonists win independence. And, of course, I had to tell him I hailed from one of the many Lafayette towns in America.

            Deborah Heiligman signed her nod to July 4, a “Holidays Around the World” book from National Geographic titled “Celebrate Independence Day” and a great book to have on hand this weekend.

            At the Pelican Publishing booth, the New Orleans publisher touted De Las Casas and Downing’s numerous titles, plus Rickey Pittman, Sheila Hebert Collins, Cecilia Casrill Dartez, Denise McConduit and Holly Stone-Barker, among others.     

Ebook news

New Orleans playwright Rosary O’Neill has just published an ebook titled “Tropical Depression” (Smashwords). The romantic woman’s novel tells the story of a wealthy student and housewife who runs off with a college professor only to be caught by a hurricane in a Louisiana swamp. The book cost $2.99 and can be downloaded at www.smashwords.com.

Also at Smashwords is “A Darker Shade of Midnight” by Baton Rouge author Lynn Emery. The paranormal murder mystery takes place in Louisiana. 

Seminars, contests

The Writers’ Guild of Acadiana will host a one-day seminar titled “Scare ’Em and Sell ’Em: How to Write a Paranormal Novel” with author Deborah LeBlanc, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, in the annex building attached to the Rice Theater in Crowley. The cost is $45 for non-members, $35 for members. To register, mail your check or money order to Writers’ Guild of Acadiana, P.O. Box 51532, Lafayette, LA 70505-1532.

            Entrants are now being accepted for the Sixth Annual Dixie Kane Memorial Contest, sponsored by Southern Louisiana Romance Writers of America. Submission fee is $15 with cash prizes offered to the winners. The deadline to enter is July 15. For more information, visit http://solawriters.org or email contest coordinator Nick Genovese at ngenovese@gmail.com.