Louisiana books make for great summer reading

Releasing this Tuesday is Suzanne Palmieri’s “The Witch of Bourbon Street,” a novel set in the formerly opulent Sorrow Estate, once home to a magical family but now in ruins since a series of murders in 1902. Part ghost story, part mystery, the story follows Bronwyn Whalen as she returns home after 14 years to solve the family mystery and face the demons of her past.

Palmieri lives in Connecticut with her husband and three daughters but has roots along the Florida and Alabama coast. Her former books include “The Witch of Belladonna Bay” and “The Witch of Little Italy.” 

She will sign copies of her books, including the latest, her New Orleans title, at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Octavia Books in New Orleans.

            Also coming out this week is “Scotlandville” by Rachel L. Emanuel, Ruby Jean Simms and Charles Vincent, who will read from and sign copies of their new book at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Maple Street Book Shop in New Orleans. A rural village that was once the entry point for the slave trade and home to a cotton plantation, Scotlandville became the largest majority African American town in Louisiana. Located in the northern part of East Baton Rouge Parish, Scotlandville’s history is intricately tied to Southern University and A&M College System, the only historically black university system in the United States.

Vic Hummert of Lafayette worked for many years as a chaplain to the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center but his heart lies in environmental activism. He has published several books that combine information on global warming and other environmental issues with his love of haiku. Hummert’s latest book, “Our Sacred Ocean is Suffering Now,” tackles the strain occurring on our oceans and the effect of pollution on its ecosystems. Well documented and produced, Hummert offers great arguments for change before our waters are irreparably harmed. Hummert’s books are available at Amazon.com. For more information, visit www.vichummert.org.

Louisiana storyteller, inventor and master turkey hunter Kenny Morgan published his first book, “Turkey Hunting: A One Man Game,” in 1987. He and his wife, Sally Stuart Morgan, then began a cottage business titled Morgan’s Turkey Callers that sold turkey callers, videos and books. Sally Morgan just published Kenny Morgan’s latest book posthumously, “America, Wild Turkeys and Mongrel Dogs: Life Lessons from a Hunting Master,” a collection of essays centered around hunting and growing up in Jackson, Louisiana, in the mid-20th century. Sally Morgan also created

Morgan’s Americana, an umbrella company that includes Morgan’s Turkey Callers as well as a publishing arm for the wildlife, hunting, and conservation community. For more information, visit http://www.wildturkeys.com/.

  

Book events this week

            I’ll be teaching “So You Want to Get Published” for those wanting to learn more about the publishing world, both traditional and self publishing, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at UL’s Continuing Education. For information, call 482-6386 or visit www.ce.louisiana.edu.

            Neal Bertrand signs copies of his latest book, “Dad’s War Photos,” from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble Lafayette.

            Kent Wascom of New Orleans will be signing copies of his book, “Secessia,” at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Octavia Books in New Orleans. Wascom was awarded the 2012 Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival Prize for Fiction. “The Blood ofHeaven” was his first novel.

            Katy Simpson Smith, author of “The Story of Land and Sea,” will interview Laura Lane McNeal, author of “Dollbaby,” at 6 p.m. Thursday at Octavia Books of New Orleans.

Secondary students hailing from across the United States participating in the Putney Student Travel program, “Writing in the American South”, will celebrate the work they’ve done over two weeks of exploring New Orleans and the Mississippi Delta with a final reading from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Maple Street Book Shop of New Orleans. Refreshments will be served.

            Big Freedia, ambassador of the Bounce movement and a visitor to this year’s Festival International, will sign and read from her memoir, “Big Freedia: GodSave the Queen Diva,” at 6 p.m. Friday at Octavia Books of New Orleans. Big Freedia was born Freddie Ross in New Orleans and is a hip hop musician known for bringing “bounce” from the underground music scene to the forefront. She is also the star of “Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce” reality show on the Fuse network.
           Ronald F. Borne will discuss and sign copies of “Troutmouth: The Two Careers of HughClegg” at 6 p.m. Thursday at Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans. Clegg was a member of the FBI from 1926 to 1954, during which time he rose to the top leadership and worked directly under Director J. Edgar Hoover. In his second career, as executive assistant to Chancellor J. D. Williams at the University of Mississippi from 1954 to 1969, he was in a top leadership position before and during the civil rights crises.

Louisiana Book News is written by Cheré Coen, the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “ExploringCajun 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.

'Hagridden' innovative tale of historic fiction

            As the Civil War concludes, two women — a mother and her daughter-in-law — living in poverty near the Cameron coastline of Louisiana do anything possible to survive, including murdering soldiers on both sides in order to trade their wares for food. But when an old friend named Buford, a deserter of the Confederacy arrives, a thorn is thrown into the mix. Lust brings the younger woman and Buford together, much to the chagrin of the older woman.

            This unlikely threesome makes up the story of “Hagridden,” featuring the fascinating new voice of Samuel Snoek-Brown. Buford is the best friend of the older woman’s son and when he brings news of the son’s death, he also casts his eyes upon the son’s widow. The younger woman finds solace in Buford’s bed but the older woman will have none of it.

            Meanwhile, a battle-happy Confederate lieutenant is determined to bring Buford to justice, despite the war’s ending. Embracing the lure of the wolf he performs battle with an animalistic bent and chases Buford dressed in wolf clothing.

            Throughout the tale, the older woman insists the rougarou will hunt down those who lust, trying to scare the younger woman into staying.

            “What we do we do to survive and they ain’t no sin in that,” the older woman tells her. “But lust? Whoo girl, you got to look out for that they lust.  Worst sin they is. Sinners what lusted after the flesh in this world, they turn to animals in the next. Crawl around on all fours rutting like dogs and the brimstone burning off they knees, the skin of they palms. Some say the rougarous is lusters coughed up from Hell to walk the earth.”

            The book mirrors war’s effects that turn humans into animals, either on the battlefield and through starvation and want, and showcases what people will do in order to survive.

            “Samuel Snoek-Brown writes the kind of prose I like best — muscular but spare, lovely but harsh,” wrote Tom Franklin, New York Times bestselling author of “Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter.” “This is a novel to read, a writer to watch. Highly, highly recommended.”

            Snoek-Brown grew up in Texas and now lives in Portland, Ore., but visited relatives in southwest Louisiana, according to his bio. This book resulted in his receiving a 2013 Oregon Literary Fellowship.

Haiku as teacher

            Vic Hummert has spent his life as a chaplain, starting with Maryknoll, a Catholic missionary society, and most recently as chaplain of the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center. Throughout his lifetime he has advocated for peace and environmental justice.

            Hummert is also a lover of haiku, a three-line form of poetry that originated in Japan that honors the natural world. It’s the ideal form of expression for a man concerned over the fate of the earth. In that vein, Hummert has published numerous books of haiku, complemented by his political beliefs and photographs.

            His last book was “Earth is Our Teacher,” a softly spoken but powerful voice against fossil fuels, which Hummert believes is adding to global warming. It’s not the most popular stance for a state built on oil and gas, he explained.

            “A good friend recently told me, ‘Vic, you have enemies in this city,’” Hummert related about living in Lafayette. “I responded, ‘The hatred is in their hearts; I do not have one enemy in the world.’”

            Hummert has just published “Our Sacred Ocean,” combining scientific data with anecdotes about how plastics are killing the oceans.

            Hummert’s books are available at Amazon.com. For more information, visit www.vichummert.org.

Book events

            Louisiana author and historian Carola Lillie Hartley has published two books on historic Opelousas, “Opelousas Firsts” and “Opelousas Tales.” Opelousas is the third oldest town in Louisiana and both books feature history and stories. Hartley is a Louisiana native and has worked in community and tourism development. She will be signing books from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at the book’s printer, Bodemuller’s, at 123 S. Main St. in downtown Opelousas. For more information, contact Bodemuller’s at 942-5712, 234-5002 or email carolahartley@aol.com or visit the author’s website at www.opelousastales.com.

            Tim Federle will discuss and sign two cocktail books, “Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twists” and “Hickory Daiquiri Dock: Cocktails with a Nursery Rhyme Twist,” at 6 p.m. Saturday at Octavia Books in New Orleans.

What’s at the Library?

            The New Year starts new programming at the Lafayette Public Library. Pick up a copy of “Book Talk” at any library branch or visit LafayettePublicLibrary.org for details.

            Here are two events to whet your appetite.

            Local health enthusiast Elle Veg with offer an introduction to vegetarian cooking, eating and meal planning with “Eat Vegetarian with Elle Veg!” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at South Regional Library. Registration required.
            For those looking to read and talk about books, join the organizational meetings at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday for the North Regional Library Organizational Book Club at the North Regional Library.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “ExploringCajun 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.