Make plans for September's Word Crawl

On Sept. 14, 2019, downtown Lafayette will once again be overrun with poets and various artists from central and south Louisiana. Word Crawl brings together a diverse group of literature lovers and creative enthusiasts, winding down Jefferson Avenue and into the many venues, from cafes to museums to bars.  

Word Crawl invites poets, fiction and nonfiction writers, spoken word artists, playwrights, storytellers and songwriters to participate, perform and help in fundraising efforts for the crawl’s beneficiary, the literary Festival of Words in November which brings established authors for public readings and writing workshops in community centers and public school classrooms. Word Crawl helps raise funds to ensure the continued expansion and success of these programs. Last year’s fundraiser rallied in more than 50 artists!

Word Crawl includes different portions: Daytime hours welcome all ages; evening hours may include adult material, and there is even a portion for Francophone writers.  

The Word Crawl fundraiser takes place from noon to midnight Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019.  

If you would like to share your own stories, poems and other creative efforts, you can pick up a packet by contacting Patrice Melnick at 337-254-9695 or by emailing festivalwords@gmail.com; Marie Touchet aziesbusiness@gmail.com. You can also download a packet at festivalofwords.org

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.

Calling all writers for annual Word Crawl

Every fall poets, spoken word artists and other literary folks take over downtown Lafayette. It's called Word Crawl and the event raises funds for the Festival of Words literary festival held annually in November. Word Crawl includes non-stop literary action from noon to midnight at various venues in the Hub City of Acadiana.

Word Crawl will be Sept. 8, 2018, and literature lovers and creative enthusiasts are invited to join. We’re talking poets, fiction and nonfiction writers, spoken word artists, storytellers and songwriters. Daytime hours welcome all ages, evening hours may include adult material — there is even a portion for Francophone writers.  

Last year’s fundraiser rallied in more than 40 artists, raising needed funds for Festival of Words’ programming that brings in established authors to give public readings, writing workshops in community centers and public schools in Acadiana.  

If you would like to share your stories, poems and other creative efforts, pick up a packet by contacting Patrice Melnick at 337-254-9695, emailing festivalwords@gmail.com or Marie Touchet at aziesbusiness@gmail.com. Download a packet and see a complete list of participating authors at festivalofwords.org.

This year's Festival of Words will be Nov. 2-3 in Grand Coteau and will include Louisiana Poet Laureate Jack Bedell, Ladee Hubbard, author of the award-winning "The Talented Ribkins" and the multiple award-winning poet Cornelius Eady.

Word Crawl of poets, spoken word artists this weekend

Time is ticking to sign up for Saturday’s Word Crawl, where every hour poets and spoken word artists will be performing along Jefferson Street in downtown Lafayette. There will be performances at the Acadiana Center for the Arts, Reve coffee shop, Cite Des Arts, Lafayette Science Museum, Steam Press Coffee and Café and The Wurst Biergarten. Daytime hours welcome all ages, evening hours may include adult material and there is a portion for Francophone and multi-cultural writers.   It’s all to raise money for Festival of Words, an annual literary event (Nov. 3-4 this year) that brings established authors to Acadiana to give public readings and writing workshops in community centers and public schools. Saturday’s Word Crawl helps raise funds to ensure the continued expansion and success of Festival of Words’ programs. If you would like to share your own stories, poems, etc., you can pick up a packet by contacting Marie Touchet at aziesbusiness@gmail.com; Alex Johnson at PoeticSoul337@gmail.com or (713) 933-4448; or Martha Garner at mgarner70506@gmail.com or (337) 804-2482. Participants may also download a packet and see a complete list of participating authors and venues at festivalofwords.org.

Coke Trail

Coca-Cola is an international sensation, and Larry Jorgensen of Lafayette has written a book documenting the many places in the United States showcasing Coke history or attractions unique to Coca-Cola.

“The Coca-Cola Trail: People and Places in the History of Coca-Cola” includes Louisiana sites such as Joseph A. Biedenharn’s Vicksburg company where Coke was served and grew popular, which led to Biedenharn bottling the concoction for the first time in history, and Biedenharn’s home in Monroe, now a historic landmark with the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum next door.

Other spots mentioned in the book include bottling companies in towns across the nation, such as the Coke plant in Paducah, Ky., the inventors of the unique design of the Coca-Cola bottle and collectors such as teenager Daniel Morris, who collected an impressive array of memorabilia and opened a museum in a former bottling plant in Cedartown, Ga., in 2016. There’s also the World of Coca-Cola attraction in Atlanta, due to Atlanta pharmacist John S. Pemberton serving the drink for the first time in his drugstore.

Jorgensen spent two years researching this book, which is also filled with historic photos and recent shots of places and people. He is also the author of “Hot Wells: A Louisiana Ghost,” a historic book on the hot spring that once flowed near Cotile Lake in central Louisiana. He works as a marketing and media relations professional in Lafayette. For more information, visit https://thecocacolatrail.com.

Book events Sept. 3-9, 2017

Louise Penny discusses and signs “Glass Houses” at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Octavia Bookstore of New Orleans.

Charlie Spillers will discuss “Confessions of an Undercover Agent” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Denham Springs-Walker branch library.

Kathryn K. Fontenot will sign copies of “The Louisiana Urban Gardener: A Beginners Guide to Growing Vegetables and Herbs” from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Crescent City Farmers Market, 750 Carondelet in New Orleans.

Alysson Foti Bourque will launch her latest children’s book, “Alycat and the Monday Blues,” at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at The Little Gym in Lafayette.

Stacey Wilson signs copies of “She Stands” from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, at The Conundrum bookstore in St. Francisville.

Cheré Coen is the author of the “Viola Valentine” Louisiana paranormal mystery series under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

Louisiana book events this week

At the Lafayette Library

Fashion historian Helene Thian discusses “Henri Bendel: Fashion Icon of the 1920 and 1930s” from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Alexandre Mouton House/Lafayette Museum in downtown Lafayette. For information, call 234-2208.

Author Dixie Poché is the guest speaker at the Friends of the Lafayette Public Library annual Author Dinner, to be held Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Petroleum Club of Lafayette. Poché is the author of “Classic Eateries of Cajun Country.” For more information and to make reservations, call Bobbie at (337) 984-8661.

Word Crawl

            This Saturday, Sept. 10, in downtown Lafayette is Word Crawl, a 12-hour literary marathon that brings together poets, spoken word artists, storytellers, songwriters and other artists. A fund-raiser for the annual Festival of Words, the Word Crawl will be from noon to midnight at six venues throughout downtown Lafayette: Carpe Diem, Cite Des Arts, Lafayette Science Museum, Steam Press Coffee & Café, Tsunami and The Wurst Biergarten. The event helps fund the annual Festival of Words which brings established authors from all over the world to Acadiana to give public readings, writing workshops in community centers and public schools. 

Queen Sugar

Queen Sugar, Ava DuVernay's 13-episode series inspired by Natalie Baszile's novel and executive produced by Oprah Winfrey, will debut as a two-night event on Tuesday, Sept. 6 and Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 10 p.m. on OWN network. The project stars Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner and Kofi Siriboe. DuVernay (Selma) directs the first two episodes, with the others helmed by "seasoned and emerging women," including Tina Mabry, Victoria Mahoney, Tanya Hamilton, So Yong Kim, Kat Candler, Salli Richardson-Whitfield and Neema Barnette.

Book events

Contributors Anne Gisleson, Anya Groner, Thomas Beller, Sarah Allison, Pia Ehrhardt, and co-editor Mark Yakich will be on hand for a discussion of their book “Airplane Reading” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Octavia Books of New Orleans.

Saul Lemerond and Patrick Donovan will read as part of the Thursday Night Reading presented by the UL-Lafayette English Department, EGSA and Sigma Tau Delta at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at Poets, 1043 Johnston St. in downtown Lafayette.

            Ken Foster will discuss the re-release and 10^th anniversary of “The Dogs Who Found Me” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at Octavia Books of New Orleans.

Author-illustrator Dan Yaccarino Dan Yaccarino discusses and signs his book, “I Am A Story” at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at Garden District Book Shop of New Orleans.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country.” She writes Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

Attention poets and spoken word artists: Word Crawl literary marathon approaches in downtown Lafayette!

            It’s that time of year, when poets, spoken word artists, storytellers, songwriters and other artists gather for a 12-hour literary marathon called the Word Crawl. A fund-raiser for the annual Festival of Words, the Word Crawl will be from noon to midnight Saturday, Sept. 10, at six venues throughout downtown Lafayette.

            Here’s how it works:

            Collect sponsors and sign up for a spot during the 12 hours of the marathon. Daytime hours welcome all ages and evening hours are reserved for more adult material. There’s even a portion of the marathon dedicated to Francophone writers!

Word Crawlers will wind down Jefferson Avenue and visit the following venues: Carpe Diem Gelato and Espresso Bar, Cité des Arts, Lafayette Science Museum, Steam Press Coffee & Café, Tsunami and The Wurst Biergarten. 

            Last year’s event featured more than 40 artists performing a wide variety of material and helped raise funds for the annual Festival of Words which brings established authors from all over the world to Acadiana to give public readings, writing workshops in community centers and public schools. 

            If you would like to share your own stories, poems, etc., pick up a packet by contacting KajynSaint@gmail.com, Alex Johnson at PoeticSoul337@gmail.com or by calling (713) 933-4448.

Writing contest

Entries are now being accepted for the inaugural South Louisiana chapter of Romance Writers of America anthology. Stories must be Mardi Gras themed, set in New Orleans and have a romantic element. The word length is 2500 to 7500 words and the deadline is Nov. 1. Entry fee is $20 with all proceeds going toward SOLA’s programming and events. Stories will be selected by judges with an eye for quality writing. For more information, please go to www.solawriters.org.

Conferences

The Magic of Books will host a day of workshops, guest speaker presentations, book signings and reception on Sept. 17 at the University of Southern Mississippi’s FEC Auditorium at Long Beach, Miss. The guest speaker will be Judge Randy Pierce, author of “Pain Forgiven” and “Mississippi Mud.” For more information, visit http://themagicofbooks.com or http://gcwriters.org/event16_magicofbooks.html.

Louisiana Ebooks

Lashonda Beauregard offers a time travel story in which musician West Barrington falls asleep on the eve of 1927 and awakens in Harlem in 2016 with “The Harlem Renaissance Time Traveler’s Diary.” The Louisiana author is a graduate of UL-Lafayette.

Arlene Messa writes suspense and intrigue under the name A.C. Mason and her latest mystery e-book is available for pre-order Monday. Both print and ebook will be released Sept 1 by Wings ePress. For more information, visit www.anneclayremason.com.

Kiara Jonai of Ville Platte has written numerous urban fiction novels. Her latest is “Unsympathetic Ways: Amira’s Way” and is available as a free download.

Josephine Templeton of Baton Rouge will release “Broken,” book two of “The Fallen Angelle Series,” an urban fantasy with romantic elements, on Monday. For more information, visit www.josephinetempleton.com.

Trudy Robideaux has published “Parish,” a novella where three Louisiana domestic violence victims narrate the horror they experienced at the hands of those they loved.

Keith Joseph Nickerson of Lafayette has seven books available on Amazon. A native of Broussard, the UL-Lafayette graduate said his writing style reflects his old school, Southern rearing and rural upbringings.

New releases

Nettye Johnson Faith operates a Christ-centered wellness organization offering education, products and coaching services to help adults grow in spiritual and physical stewardship. She has written a book titled “Put Your Faith Where Your Fork Is” on tackling health and weight management from a “science-based, faith-empowered perspective.” For information, visit http://faithwhereforkis.com

Leah McPhearson Miller, who lives in northern Louisiana and writes under Leah Rae Miller, is the author of the young adult romantic comedy “The Summer I Became a Nerd.” Her latest is “Romancing the Nerd.” Both books are published by Entangled Teen.

Southern bookstores

            Second and Charles in Bossier City is not just about books. They buy and sell a variety of items, such as CDs, comic books, vinyl records and video games. But there’s also lots and lots of books. The eclectic store also hosts events, such as last night’s Harry Potter midnight release party. The bookstore is located at 2001 Airline Drive in Bossier City with another location in Covington. You can follow them on Facebook or at http://2ndandcharles.com.

Book events

Get Pop-Cultured with Barnes & Noble, a month-long celebration of pop culture with special events, will run through Aug. 7 at the Lafayette store. On Saturday, the store celebrates Marvel Universe beginning at 7 p.m. with trivia, coloring, cosplay and exclusive samplers, including the first storyline for Mosaic.

Local author and TV show producer Sudie Landry and author and publisher Neal Bertrand have started a monthly book rally for local authors. The next rally will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Thensted Center, 268 Church St. in Grand Coteau. Authors include Terry L. Bethea, “The Ark Series;” Melissa Abraham; Charlie Leger, “The Golden Thread: A Modern Cajun Fairy Tale” (pen name C.K. Leger); Ann Warner, “The Rodney Letters: Love and Sacrifice in World War II;” Paul Marx, author and owner of KBON Radio Station; Vicky Branton, “Donkey Otie’s Forever Birthday Story;” Bob Bienvenue; Cheri Carlton, “I Am We;” Carola L. Hartley; Jeanette Poole; Carrie Simon and Bertrand, owner and publisher of Cypress Cove Publishing and author of “Dad’s War Photos: Adventures in the South Pacific” and three cookbooks.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country.” She writes Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.