Duck Dynasty's Alan Robertson featured at LBF
The 2013 Louisiana Book Festival is hosting Duck Dynasty’s Alan Robertson for a discussion of The Duck Commander Devotional.
Robertson will discuss his book at 11 a.m. in the State Capitol Senate Chamber. A book signing will follow at noon in the book sales and signings tent. Read the press release here.
Featured author: Wally Lamb
Wally Lamb is the author of New York Times and national best-seller The Hour I First Believed as well as novels She’s Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True, both No. 1 New York Times best-sellers and Oprah’s Book Club selections. Read more
Featured author: Rod Dreher
Rod Dreher has been an editorial writer and columnist for the Dallas Morning News, a film critic for the New York Post and writer for The American Conservative. The Little Way of Ruthie Leming is his second book. Read more
Celebrating foodways at LBF
The Louisiana Book Festival will offer a range of programs sure to please food-loving attendees. Along with the return of its popular cooking demonstration tent, the festival will feature food-related book presentations and programs. Learn more here.
LBF poet laureate programs
Louisiana Poet Laureate Ava Leavell Haymon will be at the festival for a conversation about her work with former Poet Laureate Julie Kane. Haymon will also participate in two "Louisiana Poet Laureate Presents" programs, which will feature readings from local poets. Read more
LBF WordShop: The Scenic Route
If readers can see it, they will believe it. T. Geronimo Johnson will teach a half-day WordShop about writing and revising successful scenes that keep readers engaged, heighten plot tensions and contribute to the overall design of your story or novel. Learn more about our WordShops and sign up here.
Beyond 12 Years: Solomon, Sue, Lou and Steve
The Louisiana Book Festival will host Frank Eakin and Louis Gossett Jr. for “Beyond 12 Years: Solomon, Sue, Lou and Steve," which will explore the significance of Twelve Years a Slave from when it was released in 1853 through today as a movie capable of reaching a global audience. Read more
The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture
Several of the 24 volumes of The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture are being featured at the festival. This updated version of the encyclopedia accounts for globalization, economic shifts and cultural changes that have affected the South in recent years. Co-editor James Thomas Jr. will be on hand for a discussion with James Wilcox, Shane Bernard and Sharon Monteith.
LBF WordShop: A Writer's Guide to Social Media
For writers, social media is a tool to connect with readers, editors, agents and publishers. Darrelyn Saloom will lead a workshop on the basics of social media with an emphasis on Twitter. You will learn how to set up a Twitter account, the best way to connect with readers, literary magazines and publishing experts. Learn more about our WordShops and sign up here.
Featured authors: Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fennelly
Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fennelly will be at the festival to discuss The Tilted World, a novel about two federal agents who must stop dynamite from reaching tiny Hobnob, Miss., during the Great Flood of 1927. On the same mission, the agents encounter an abandoned baby at a crime scene. Learn more about The Tilted World and read a Q&A with Franklin and Fennelly here.
The House on Coliseum Street featured as community read
One Book, One Festival is featuring The House on Coliseum Street by Shirley Ann Grau in 2013. This annual event encourages all festivalgoers to read the same book and participate in a discussion. Read the press release here.
LBF exhibit: The Saint John's Bible
Four of the seven volumes of the hand-illuminated Saint John's Bible will be on display at the Louisiana Book Festival. This monumental work of art and theology was completed by a team of artists coordinated by Donald Jackson in Wales and scholars in central Minnesota. Learn more here.
You're invited to the Authors Party!
The Louisiana Book Festival Authors Party is the Louisiana Library and Book Festival Foundation's way of thanking the many writers, poets, panelists and sponsors who contribute their talents and resources to make the festival possible. They have all been invited as our honored guests and we invite you to join them. Learn more here.
Featured author: Kent Wascom
Kent Wascom will be at the book festival to discuss his novel The Blood of Heaven, which follows a band of highwaymen on their journey across West Florida, held at the time by the Spanish and French. Wascom is the 2012 winner of the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival Prize for fiction. Read more
The Shoe Burnin' book, show to debut at LBF
The Shoe Burnin’ is a book of stories with a companion CD of songs about various aspects of Southern life — each contains a reference to shoes but is as different as the authors who wrote them. Learn more and meet the participants here.
Featured author: Évelyne Trouillot
The Louisiana Book Festival will host Haitian author Évelyne Trouillot, who will discuss The Infamous Rosalie. The book is set in St. Domingue — present-day Haiti — in 1750, when slaves begin rebelling against their masters. Read more
Writing nonfiction with literary style WordShop
Author, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Southern Living columnist Rick Bragg will conduct a half-day workshop on how to make true stories come alive with all the color, imagery and detail of fiction. Learn more about our WordShops and sign up here.
Hope Against Hope panel
The Louisiana Book Festival will feature a panel discussion on Hope Against Hope: Three Schools, One City, and the Struggle to Educate America’s Children, which investigates the difficulties faced by New Orleans educators, students and families following Hurricane Katrina. Read more about the book and panelists here.
Yvette Landry to perform, discuss book at 2013 LBF
Award-winning singer-songwriter Yvette Landry will be at the festival to discuss her children's book The Ghost Tree and to perform on the music stage. Read a Q&A with Landry here.
Louisiana Book Festival celebrates Year of Louisiana Music
As part of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism's celebration of the Year of Louisiana Music, the Louisiana Book Festival will feature several music-related programs. From a songwriting workshop with Mary Gauthier to books about music, we have it all! Read the press release here.
Teen WordShop available day before festival
The Louisiana Book Festival is offering five WordShops this year, including one just for teens! Manuel Gonzales will teach a workshop on writing horror, fantasy and science fiction stories based on everyday occurrences. Learn more about our WordShops and sign up here.
New Orleans, food and music — all in one book
Elsa Hahne combines two of Louisiana’s favorite things — food and music — in her book The Gravy: In the Kitchen with New Orleans Musicians. The Gravy crisscrosses New Orleans, visiting kitchens of 44 musicians and sharing their favorite stories and dishes. Read more
Grit Lit panel
The Louisiana Book Festival will feature a panel discussion on Grit Lit: A Rough South Reader. Grit Lit captures the spirit of Southerners and their stories — tall and true tales alike. The panel will include Grit Lit editors and contributors. Read more
Teen event program
This year the Louisiana Book Festival is launching Teen HQ, a space with activities and crafts just for teens! Also check out the Louisiana Teen Readers' Choice Award and YA authors who will be attending the festival. Read more
Author Ernest Gaines confirms attendance
Ernest Gaines recently confirmed he will attend the Louisiana Book Festival. He will participate in a conversation with T. Geronimo Johnson.
It's the year of music and the LBF is in full swing
As part of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism's celebration of the Year of Louisiana Music, the Louisiana Book Festival will feature several music-related programs. From a songwriting workshop with Mary Gauthier to books about music, we have it all!
William Joyce returns with two new books
William Joyce has confirmed he will attend the Louisiana Book Festival to discuss two of his new books, The Mischievians and The Sandman and the War of Dreams.
