NEW IBERIA, La. --- The Books Along the Teche Literary Festival (March 31- April 2, 2022) is proud to announce their kickoff event to celebrate Great Southern Writer Lisa Wingate.

Come learn about the festival and this year's Great Southern Writer on Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Iberia Parish Library - Main Branch (445 E. Main St.).

Enjoy foods that were mentioned in The Book of Lost Friends such as boudin balls, cornbread, sausage, and poopero cookies. The first 25 people will receive a free copy of The Book of Lost Friends. The event will also include a display of local "Lost Friends" letters.

The Book of Lost Friends was inspired by the real-life “Lost Friends” ads, through which families separated during slavery sought to find their lost loved ones in the chaos following the Civil War.

A reader and museum volunteer from the Historic New Orleans Collection connected Wingate with HNOC’s vast database of over 2,500 "Lost Friends" ads, which chronicle the heart wrenching and hope-filled searches of separated families, and which inspired the story of eighteen-year-old Hannie Gossett in the novel.

About the Festival:

With a focus on Great Southern Writers, the Books Along the Teche Literary Festival highlights Iberia Parish authors and others who write about the unique culture of Louisiana. Events include cooking demonstrations, workshops on writing, book fair, academic symposiums, receptions, poetry, music, live oak walk, movie screenings, children's activities, readers theater and more. Participants can learn Cajun dancing or how to play bouree, and tour the areas described in the Dave Robicheaux novels.

The festival is presented by New Iberia Main Street Program and the Iberia Preservation Alliance (a coalition of Iberia Cultural Resources Association, Bayou Teche Museum and Shadows-on-the-Teche).

To purchase individual tickets or all inclusive passes, visit BonTempsTix.com.

For festival information, e-mail techefest@gmail.com or call (337) 519-9233.

Visit BooksAlongTheTecheLiteraryFestival.com or their Facebook, and sign up for festival updates on IberiaTravel.com (select Dave Robicheaux news). For travel information, visit IberiaTravel.com.