Lafayette Reads Together: Finding Gobi

Lafayette Reads Together, a community read that involves the Lafayette Public Library, the Lafayette Parish School System and many other local organizations, chose “Finding Gobi” by Dion Leonard as the 2019 pick. The event begins Monday, Jan. 14, and free copies of the book are available at library branches throughout Lafayette.

Here's the book description: 

In 2016, Dion Leonard, a seasoned ultramarathon runner, unexpectedly stumbled across a little stray dog while competing in a grueling 155-mile race across the Gobi Desert. The lovable pup, who earned the name "Gobi," proved that what she lacked in size, she more than made up for in heart, as she went step for step with Dion over the treacherous Tian Shan Mountains, managing to keep pace with him for nearly 80 miles.

As Dion witnessed the incredible determination of this small animal, he felt something change within himself. In the past he had always focused on winning and being the best, but his goal now was simply to make sure that his new friend was safe, nourished and hydrated. Although Dion did not finish first, he felt he had won something far greater and promised to bring Gobi back to the UK for good to become a new addition to his family. This was the start of a journey neither of them would ever forget with a roller coaster ride of drama, grief, heartbreak, joy and love that changed their lives forever.

Here are some of the events scheduled for this year at the Lafayette Library:

An Evening with Dion Leonard

Author Dion Leonard will talk about his journey in “Finding Gobi” while running an ultramarathon in the Gobi Desert. Along the way, he discovered many things about himself and China. For ages 9 and up, book signing to follow. Tuesday, Jan. 29, 6:15 – 7:30 pm, Main Library. (337) 261-5787.

Talk to a Dog Expert! 

Join dog expert Ally Lockin from Zendog Training and her dog to learn about canine body language, how to greet a dog properly, and much more! All Ages. Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2–3 pm, South Regional Library, (337) 981-1028.

Finding Gobi: Book Discussion 

Take part in a discussion of “Finding Gobi” with special guest Christine Duay, LPSS Director of Early Childhood. She will bring along the public schools’ service dog, Willow. For Ages 14 and up. Monday, Feb. 11, 6:30 – 7:30 pm, Main Library and Monday, Feb. 18, 6:30 – 7:30 pm, South Regional Library.

And there’s lots more! Visit the Lafayette Public Library website for more information.

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.

Reading the universe, Cajun crime novels and more new Louisiana releases this week plus book events

Monroe teacher of mathematics James Robert Rogers tackles the universe in a new book, one he expanded from an article in the “Mensa Bulletin,” titled “How to Read the Universe: A Little Book About Everything.” Rogers hopes through his book and theories that readers will find the meaning of the universe that leads to enlightenment and absolute love. Much of the message is based in mathematics and, I must admit since I stopped my math education in high school, a bit over my head.

“As a young man, I once asked God to make me know — not just believe — whether He exists; even as rationally as mathematics exist,” he said. “For many years, I have been receiving the message of this little book by observing the details of the universe. Now, as an old man, I am at peace.”

Rogers is a frequent contributor of mathematics-based articles and the author of “A Uniform Approach to Rate and Ratio Problems: The Introduction of the Universal Rate Formula.”

Michael Verrett is a multi-talented prolific writer, producing a dozen books and contributing art for two dozen more! Some of the children’s books he’s completed in 2017 include “Beyond the Wall,” “No Hug For A Kaylea Bug” and “The Dinosaur Tree.” He also writes chapter books with black and white illustrations. You can find his books online at Barnes and Noble, Amazon and other distributors. 

Verrett is a board member with Creative Minds and a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Another writer hard at work is Karen Yochim of Arnaudville, who has written several Cajun crime novels, all available on Amazon. “Swamp” is a historical novel and the rest take place in fictional St. Beatrice Parish. Her latest is book seven in the St. Beatrice Parish crime series, “The Devil Takes Care of Its Own.”

“I have dedicated the last 20 years to living immersed in Cajun culture so I can write authentically about their great independent spirit and their resourcefulness,” Yochim wrote me.

At the Lafayette Library

Lafayette Reads Together (LRT), a community-wide reading experience from the Lafayette Public Library, the Lafayette Parish School System and many local organizations, has chosen “The Crossover” by Kwame Alexander. There will be free copies of the book at city libraries starting Wednesday and several corresponding programs. “An Evening With Kwame Alexander,” in which Alexander will share a bit of conversation, a dash of storytelling and a splash of performance from his recent children’s books, will begin at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Main Lafayette Library. A book signing will follow.

Here are a few related events:
Spoken word artist, author and poetry educator Alex “PoeticSoul” Johnson will offer a workshop on the art of self-expression for ages 9 and up at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Main Lafayette Library and at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, at the East Regional Library.

Homeschool Hangout, an afternoon of learning stations for homeschooling families revolving around different themes, will be held in January and February for ages 5–12. January’s poetry theme will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday at North Regional Library and 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, at the Main Library.

Faulkner Society

The Faulkner Society of New Orleans is divesting itself of Words & Music, Inc., a non-profit festival created 20 years on what would have been William Faulkner’s 100^th birthday. The festival will be transferred this month to One Book One New Orleans.

In other society news, the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition will begin accepting submissions on Jan. 15, with the deadline for all submissions May 1. The competition is open to anyone, anywhere writing in English, offering significant cash prizes in eight categories. For more information, visit faulknersociety.org.

The Society also plans to host multi-author free literary events featuring the new work of both established and debut authors. The first such event will be March 25 in New Orleans and will feature Dr. Martha Boone, author of the debut novel, “The Big Free,” based on her experiences as a resident at the old Charity Hospital. 

ULL Humanities

UL-Lafayette professor Mary Ann Wilson will be teaching her annual Friends of the Humanities class and this year the theme is “A Cannoli is Worth a Thousand Words: Fiction, Food and Film.” Films to be shown include “Babette’s Feast” and “Heartburn,” along with food scenes from famous movies. Books will include Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Interpreter of Maladies” and Shirley Jackson’s “We Have Always Lived in the Castle.”The classes will be Jan. 17, 24, 31, Feb. 7 and 21 on the ULL campus with a dinner out possibly on Feb. 22. The cost is $75 for Friends members and $100 for non-members. For more information, call Wilson at 298-0406 or email maw0383@louisiana.edu.

Book events the week of Jan. 7-14

Nathaniel Rich, author of “King Zeno,” will discuss his novel with Katy Simpson Smith, author of “The Story of Land and Sea,” at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Garden District Book Shop of New Orleans. Also at the store this week is Martha B. Boone discussing and signing her book, The Big Free,” at 6 p.m. Friday.

Peter J. Marina presents and signs his new book, “Down and Out in New Orleans,” with photographer Todd Norman at 6 p.m. Thursday at Octavia Books of New Orleans. Marina is associate professor of sociology at University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and the author of “Chasing Religion in the Caribbean: Ethnographic Journeys from Antigua to Trinidad.”

Just in time for the Oscars is Linda Thurman speaking of her new book “Hollywood South: Glamour, Gumbo and Greed” at 7 p.m. Thursday at the East Bank Regional Library in Metairie. Thurman will discuss the film industry, movies made in Louisiana, and the corruption scandal that occurred in 2009.

The North Louisiana Storytellers and Authors of Romance meets Saturday at the Bossier Library History Center, 2206 Beckett St., in Bossier City. Kimberly Lang will speak on the writing process. For information, visit http://nolastars.com/.

Mary Webber signs “Miracles Still Happen…Trust Me,” a story about a young African American woman overcoming life tragedies, at noon Sunday, Jan. 14, at Barnes & Noble Citiplace in Baton Rouge.

Chere Coen is the author of several Louisiana non-fiction books and the “Viola Valentine” Louisiana paranormal mystery series under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

Literary happenings this week (Feb. 15-21) in Louisiana — so much going on, where to start?

            A group of free people of color emerged in New Orleans, the products of white French citizens and their mulatto mistresses. Many were educated in Europe but scorned in Louisiana, so they stuck together, calling themselves “Les Cenelles,” or the Hollyberries. In 1845, under the direction of Armand Lanusse, 17 Louisiana poets, all French-speaking free men of color of Les Cenelles, contributed to the first anthology of African American poetry in the United States. An original copy, one of five remaining, will be on exhibit at South Regional library for a limited time (don’t miss it!). And to complement the exhibit, a special event celebrating Louisiana’s French language poetry past and present will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, at South Regional. French immersion students will read original poems as well as selections from “Les Cenelles,” accompanied by Zachary Richard, Louisiana’s first French language poet laureate. 

New releases

Beverly Vidrine of Lafayette is an author of numerous children’s books that spotlight holidays using the alphabet. A good example — and one to get for the upcoming holiday — is “St. Patrick’s Day Alphabet.” I interviewed her a few years and she had told me how much she loved fly fishing and that one day she wanted to do a similar children’s book on the sport. I’m happy to report that Vidrine’s latest is “Hooked on Fly Fishing from A to Z,” a clever book that marries information about the sport with fun fishing facts and corresponding lures on each page. Beautifully illustrated by Matthew Tabbert, with art direction by Wayne Parmley, it’s a must for fishing enthusiasts. Vidrine will be selling her books at the Acadiana Fly Rodders Conclave from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at Grace Presbyterian Church of Lafayette, where she’ll be tying flies as well.

University of Louisiana at Monroe

The ULM English program in the School of Humanities presents the series “Equality Across the Disciplines: Am I a Feminist?” There will be several free events including lectures, panel forums and multiple social activities, to discuss major issues, while outlining sexual health and promoting activism. English instructor Jaleesa Harris believes that “this series will allow students, who like me, share many feminist beliefs, but lacked the exposure and the creativity to explore what feminism truly means to them.”

In addition, English faculty and students have combined forces and coined the term “Fem-Hawks” to allow students to identify with one another without setting a base standard with gender, race and history. English instructor Meredith McKinnie said that “the goal is to break trends and bring awareness on societal norms that have altered our ways of thinking.”

This week, Dr. Mary Adams will discuss “Problems Faced by Women in the Developing World” at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, in Walker Hall, Room 3-53. The screening of “Miss Representation” documentary will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday in Stubbs, Room 100.

On Feb. 23, Cyndi Rogers will present “It’s A Man’s World, Really? Advancement of Women in Leadership Roles” at 6 p.m. in the Library, Room 3-A.

The series concludes with performances of the “Vagina Monologues” at 7 p.m.  Feb. 25 in Stubbs, Room 100 and 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at Off-Campus (Upstairs Gallery).

Students, faculty, and the community are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Meredith McKinnie at mckinnie@ulm.edu or at 342-1552 or Arely Castillo at castillo@ulm.edu or at 342-1296.

Center for the Book

The Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library of Louisiana hosts Dr. Everett D. Gibson at noon Tuesday in the State Library’s Seminar Center as part of Black History Month. He will discuss his book, “A Portrait of Southern University: History, Achievements, and Great Football Traditions,” which provides a history of Southern University, profiles of graduates and their families, and a description of the football program from its inception to present day. Also highlighted are the Bayou Classic and the Jaguar Nation including the Human Jukebox Marching 235 and the Dancing Dolls. Registration is not required for this free event. Attendees are invited to bring brown bag lunches and come and go as their schedules allow. Books will be available for purchase from the author.

Lafayette Reads

Lafayette Reads Together is exploring the book “Spare Parts: Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot,and the Battle for the American Dream” by Joshua Davis. Davis is the author of several books, with “Spare Parts” being adapted into a documentary, “Underwater Dreams,” and then a 2015 movie, “Spare Parts,” starring George Lopez, Carlos Pena, Marisa Tomei and Jamie Lee Curtis. “Underwater Dreams” will be shown at 6 p.m. Thursday at East Regional Library in Lafayette, followed by a talk on the book at 6:45 p.m. For more information and to see a schedule of events and obtain a copy of the book, visit http://lafayettepubliclibrary.org.

Writes of Spring

The annual Writes of Spring contest is gearing up for K-12 students who reside in Lafayette Parish or in the surrounding parishes: St. Landry, Acadia, St. Martin, Vermilion, and Iberia. Students may submit original pieces of short fiction, nonfiction, drama (high school only) or poetry in English or French. The deadline is March 24. For full contest and submission details, visit lafayettepubliclibrary.org.

Book events

Robert S. Brantley, architectural photographer and author of “Henry Howard: Louisiana’s Architect” will discuss and sign copies of his book at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Thibodaux. The event is free and open to the public.

            Local writer Ruth Foote will explain how what’s now known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette became the first state-funded college in the South to accept African-American students at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, at South Regional Library in Lafayette.

David Plater will speak about and sign his book “The Butlers of Iberville Parish, Louisiana” from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at the Lafourche Parish Library in Thibodaux.

RELATE to Origin, an open mic venue, will feature Kataalyst Alcindor at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, in the Plantation Suite in the Bollinger Memorial Student Union at Nicholl’s. RELATE is an open-mic for students, faculty and the public to share poetry, monologue, music or dance performances based on the evening’s chosen theme: Origin. Alcindor is a New Orleans poet whose work focuses on the people, culture and history of his native city. He’s a three-time National Poetry Slam Champion and has performed his work at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. as part of the NAACP Image Award-nominated show Lexus Verses & Flow.
            Benjamin F. Jones discusses “Eisenhower’s Guerrillas: The Jedburghs, the Maquis, and the Liberation of France” Wednesday, Feb. 17, at the World War II Museum in New Orleans. There will be a reception at 5 p.m., followed by the 6 p.m. presentation and the 7 p.m. booksigning. To RSVP for the free event, call (504) 528-1944, Ext. 412.

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.