Get ready for a Mardi Gras literary party

I love it when Mardi Gras happens late in the year — this year it's Tuesday, March 5, can you believe it? Nothing like a long stretch of king cakes, balls and parades to move a person from the festivities of Christmas all the way to spring. (I always tell people we don't stop partying here in Louisiana.)

But it's also a chance to get a lot of reading in. And I have plenty of great suggestions for you this Carnival season.

First, let me tell you about some amazing cozy mysteries to choose from and a party to boot. 

Cozy authors Ellen Byron, Laura Childs and Terrie Farley Moran, and Colleen Mooney will celebrate Mardi Gras night beginning with a Mardi Gras Party at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central with fun posts and giveaways. There will also be a special guest appearance by yours truly, talking about my romance novella, "Carnival Confessions" under the pen name of Cherie Claire.

Click here to join the party.

So here’s some info on us Carnival gals.

The fourth book in the Cajun Country Mystery series falls on the Big Day with “Mardi Gras Murder” by USA Today bestselling author Ellen Byron. Southern charm meets the dark mystery of the bayou as a 100-year flood, a malicious murder and a most unusual Mardi Gras converge at the Crozat Plantation BnB.

New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs with Terrie Farley Moran offer “Glitter Bomb,” the 15th book in the Scrapbooking Mystery series. An exploding Mardi Gras float has got to be the strangest murder weapon scrappy sleuth Carmela Bertrand has ever encountered.

Colleen Mooney of New Orleans is the author of the popular Go Cup Chronicles and it's the most fun involving Mardi Gras that doesn't include a hangover! “Rescued By a Kiss” is the first novel, where a New Orleans girl receives a mysterious kiss at a Mardi Gras parade which gets her in a whole lot of trouble. The book was the winner of two Southern Louisiana Romance Writers awards and proceeds from the book will benefit animal shelter rescue. 

And then there’s my "Carnival Confessions," a short romantic novella of mistaken identities at a Carnival ball that results in some fun confessions. The book's only 99 cents to download at all online bookstores. You can access their links on my website here.

Other Mardi Gras-related books:

“Behind the Mask” by Louisiana author Linda Joyce follows former model Chalise Boudreau who returns to Louisiana after 10 years and must face entrepreneur Chaz Riboucheaux who, years ago, stood Chalise up and left her brokenhearted. The two come face to face at a Twelfth Night party.

Lynn Shurr of New Iberia has published romances “Courir de Mardi Gras,” “Mardi Gras Madness” and “Queen of the Mardi Gras Ball.” Check out her books at www.lynnshurr.com.

One of Allemand Parish’s wealthiest men staggers and falls following a Mardi Gras parade, only to be found murdered with a gris gris bag tied to the knife in his chest in A.C. Mason’s “Mardi Gras Gris Gris.” The Baton Rouge author’s full name is Anne Clayre Mason and you can visit her website at www.anneclayremason.com.

Other novels include: “Fat Tuesday” by Sandra Brown, “Cake on a Hot Tin Roof” (A Piece of Cake Mystery Book 2) by Jacklyn Brady and “New Orleans Mourning” (Skip Langdon Book 1) by Julie Smith.

Lafayette artist Vergie Banks has one for ages 3 and up titled “The Journey of the Little Red Tricycle, Zoe Meets Gumbo.” The book centers around a young girl named Zoe who can speak three languages, English, French and Spanish. Zoe dresses in costumes and enjoys a country Mardi Gras with zydeco music, chasing chickens and a gumbo at day’s end, even though the chicken she brings home becomes a pet.

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.

New Louisiana releases to be read, given as gifts

We get a lot of emails from readers and writers and many let us know about new books on the market. Here are a few to mention, the first two you need to mark on your calendar as good Carnival stories.

Gerry Schmitt, writing as bestselling author Laura Childs, has a new mystery out titled “Glitter Bomb” that involves a murder at a Mardi Gras parade. The novel is part of the New Orleans Scrapbooking Mysteries and scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand is excited to be attending the Pluvius Parade along with her best friend Ava. Carmela's ex-husband Shamus rides by the duo on his float at the head of the parade, when suddenly the revelry turns to disaster. Shamus' float crashes and explodes, and although Shamus escapes unhurt, a member of his krewe is killed. Carmela and Ava plunge into an investigation of the krewe-member's death, but as they dig deeper it starts to look less like an accident and more like a murder....and Shamus seems less like a victim, and more like a suspect.

Childs is also the author of the Tea Shop Mysteries and the Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO of her own marketing firm, authored several screenplays, and produced a reality TV show.

Stayed tuned for we will write more about this mystery after the holidays, when Carnival rolls around.

Sally Asher imagines mermaids living inside the Mississippi River and, with illustrations by Melissa Vandiver, has published “The Mermaids of New Orleans” with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press. These mermaids are citizens of the sea much like their land counterparts, culturally and ethnically. Many New Orleans mermaids play in brass bands, eat snowballs in the summer, live in narrow trident houses and have their own parades (with floats that really float). And true to mermaid lore, the mermaids are allowed on land one day a year. New Orleans mermaids, of course, choose Mardi Gras, where they can blend in with the vibrant and decorative costumes.

Robin Caroll has published “Strategem,” a Christian adult novel with Shiloh Run Press. Here’s the book description: “Deep in the gritty underbelly of New Orleans, psychologist Grayson Thibodeaux loses everything when his wife leaves him to climb her company’s corporate ladder. He buries himself in his job of creating mind-bending adventure games for businesses as team-building explorations. When his ex-wife’s company hires Grayson’s to create an elaborate game, he doesn’t see how things can get worse. Until she dies during the course of the game he created…making him the prime suspect for murder.”

Charles Gramlich teaches at Xavier University in New Orleans and has had a number of books published in science fiction and fantasy under his own name. His latest book, however, is a western novel under the pen name Tyler Boone, published by Sundown Press. Here is the official blurb for the book:

“Scarred by a mysterious fire that killed his parents when he was seven, Trenton Banning grew up in a San Francisco orphanage. Ten years later he fled to the freedom of the Rocky Mountains. Now, he’s come to the town of Sun Falls, Wyoming, where a silver strike has triggered a boom. He isn’t after riches, though. He’s there for Jonathan Hunsinger, a ruthless businessman who may know something about the fire that orphaned Banning.”

You can read more about Gramlich at his blog is at http://charlesgramlich.blogspot.com

Lana Downing of Franklin has published a new book perfect for ages 12 and up titled “T-Garçon of Grand Isle,” set on the barrier island of the 1920s when the community was accessible only by boat. Signed copies are available in the shops on Main Street in Franklin and on Lulu.com, Amazon, and other online platforms. Want to read more about the author? There's a wonderful story of Lana Downing at StMaryNow.com.

Stephen Estopinal grew up in the swamps and bayous of Louisiana in an area settled by Canary Islanders in 1778. Calling upon family oral history and research he was woven a tale of adventure and intrigue in South Louisiana with “Solitario: Bootlegging on the Bayou.” Other books include “El Tigre de Nueva Orleáns,” “Anna,” “Incident at Blood River,” “Escape to New Orleans,” “Mobile Must Fall” and “Pensacola Burning.”

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.

Opelousas's Ken Wheaton enjoys Cajun family dynamics in 'Sweet as Cane, Salty as Tears'

             Ken Wheaton of Opelousas, author of “The First Annual Grand Prairie Rabbit Festival” set in St. Landry Parish, has published a new novel with Louisiana ties, “Sweet as Cane, Salty as Tears,” where a freak accident forces a New Yorker to return to Louisiana and confront her Cajun past. The novel centers on Katie-Lee Fontenot, who goes by Katherine Fontenot in her new New York life. She’s one of several sisters with equally hyphenated names and two brothers hailing from St Landry Parish, a place no doubt where Wheaton mines his colorful characters. Katie-Lee’s upbringing around strong family members and a tragic incident in her youth forces her north and she’s not happy about heading home again years later. Her trip back to Acadiana forces her to confront old truths and a few misunderstandings, not to mention those crazy Cajuns she calls family. It’s a fun book with a few laugh out loud moments, not to mention heartfelt touches that invariably lie beneath tough sibling behavior. Many Louisianans will recognize family members. Wheaton, who now lives in Brooklyn, is the managing editor of the trade publication Advertising Age.

New releases

            Emmy Award-winning documentary film producer Sally Rosenthal pens a fun tale about a group of frogs who assist Minnie Feinsilver when she drops her pot of matzo ball soup in “Matzo Frogs.” Since Minnie had to help a friend with a broken leg, she losses her Shabbat meal and her cousins are due that evening. The neighborhood frogs hear of her predicament and decide to help out, putting together matzo ball soup following Minnie’s kosher recipe. They even throw in some matzo in the shape of a frog, which tips Minnie off on who made the soup. In payment , Minnie leaves a bowl on the window that night. David Sheldon illustrates the charming book about Jewish traditions told in an unusual way.

            Best-selling author Laura Childs travels to New Orleans during Halloween for No. 12 in her Scrapbook Mystery series. Scrapbook maven Carmela Bertrand discovers the owner of Oddities Antiques murdered and a Napoleon death mask stolen in “GossamerGhost.” In addition to a good mystery, there are scrapbooking tips and New Orleans-style recipes.

            New Iberia librarian and romance author Lynn Shur has published several new romances, the latest “Always Yellow Roses,” released this week. The book concerns a feud between the Courville and Niles families in the 19th century. More than 100 years later, reincarnated lovers are destined to end the feud with their marriage but hatred still flares between the two families.  

            Carol McMichael Reese has authored “New Orleans Under Reconstruction: The Crisis of Planning” with contributors, looking at the variety of responses from politicians, writers, architects and planners in the restoration of New Orleans and examining how to plan for the future. She and several contributors will discuss and sign the book at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans.

Lafayette Gazette

            The Lafayette Gazette newspaper was established in 1893, representing a faction of the Democratic Party opposed to the Democractic Party view of the Lafayette Advertiser. The weekly paper was published on Saturdays and existed until 1908, when it merged with the Advertiser. The original bound papers were kept intact by Jeanne Mouton Jeanmard and William H. Mouton and will be donated to the Special Collections Archives of UL’s Edith Garland Dupre Library at 10 a.m. Friday in the Jefferson Caffery Reading Room. Digital scans of the Gazette can viewed online here.

Author Dinner

            The Friends of the Lafayette Library have chosen award-winning newspaper columnist Rheta Grimsley Johnson to the Friends’ annual Author Dinner. Johnson is the author of “Poor Man’s Provence: Finding Myself in Cajun Louisiana” and “Enchanted Evening Barbie and the Second Coming.” The dinner will be from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Petroleum Club. For information or to order tickets, call 984-8661.

Fearless Voices

            “Fearless Voices of the Struggle: A Spoken Word Stage Play,” directed by Tony Wilson, features a cast of spoken word artists, writers and performers collaborating on this exhibit of activism through art that tackles themes such as sexual assault, relationships, religion and racism. The performance begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at UL’s Burke Hall. Tickets are $15.

Library cards

            September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, a time to remind people that enjoying your local library is the best value imaginable. Library cards are free and are the gateway to wonderful services, such as computer usage, study rooms, videos, music, downloadable materials and so much more. Of course, it’s also filled with wonderful books. All you need is a form of ID and this magical kingdom is yours. What are you waiting for?

Book events

            Katy Simpson Smith of Jackson, Miss., will sign copies of her debut novel, “TheStory of Land and Sea,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, at Maple Street Book Shops in New Orleans and at 6 p.m. Thursday at Octavia Books in New Orleans. Smith has been working as an adjunct professor at Tulane University and is the author of “We Have Raised All of You: Motherhood in the South, 1750-1835.”

            Author Johnette Downing will perform a concert at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Visitor’s Center from 11 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 5, with a booksigning to follow at noon at A Tisket a Tasket on Decatur Street in New Orleans.

            Gary Stewart and Susan Mustafa sign “The Most Dangerous Animal of All: Searching for My Father... and Finding the Zodiac Killer” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Barnes & Noble, 5705 Johnston St, in Lafayette.

            The Bayouland Storytellers Guild of Southwest Louisiana present folktales and fairy tales for ages 4-12 at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at the South Regional Library. Donations of canned fruit and vegetables will be accepted, to benefit the Council on Aging-Meals on Wheels Program.

            The Free Expressions Seminars and Literary Services will offer a “Writing the Breakout Novel Intensive Seminar” Sept. 15-21 at the Whispering Woods Hotel and Conference Center in Olive Branch, Miss. Literary agent Donald Maass, author of the “Writing the Breakout Novel,” will teach daily classes. Registration is limited to 35 students. For information, visit http://www.free-expressions.com.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana,” and “Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana” and “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History” from The History Press, and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.