NEW IBERIA, La. --- The Books Along the Teche Literary Festival (April 5 - 7, 2024) is proud to announce a ton of fun and educational panels for the 2023 festival.

Friday, April 5, 2024:

Everything You Wanted to Know About Sugarcane Farming

When: 9:30 - 10:15 a.m.

Where: Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St.)

Details: Sugar cane farming is more than a job to Eddie J. Lewis III, it’s a way of life. Ask questions from a 5th generation sugar cane farmer and hear his story.

Presentation on Creole History

When: 10:30 - 11:15 a.m.

Where: Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St.)

Details: Meet Mona Lisa Saloy, Author & Folklorist, Educator, and Scholar as she reads from her collection of poems "Black Creole Chronicles." She is an award-winning author of contemporary Creole culture in poems about Black New Orleans before and after Katrina. 

The Path to Sainthood: The Candidacies of Three Cajun Catholics

When: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Where: Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St.)

Details: Father Don is the Pastor at Saint Edward’s Catholic Church and Saint Edwards School in New Iberia LA. Father Don and a panel will delve into the lives of these Catholics and learn where they are in the process of Sainthood.

Telling Your Own Story

When: 12:45 - 1:30 p.m.

Where: Shadows-on-the-Teche Visitors Center (320 E. Main St.)

Details: What’s at the crux of telling your own story? Learn the elements required to recognize and tell your story in a way that makes other people want to listen — or read. You’ll leave with multiple writing prompts and specific instructions on telling your own stories. 

How to Publish a Book

When: 1:45 - 2:30 p.m.

Where: Shadows-on-the-Teche Visitors Center (320 E. Main St.)

Details: Author-Illustrator Paul Schexnayder leads this panel about self and traditional publishing. The panel will include authors: Juliette Cross, a multi-published author of fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary romance, and Alysson Foti Bourque who has (7) books published traditionally in the Alycat Series, but also has experience in self and hybrid publishing.

Author Like a Boss

When: 2:45 - 3:30 p.m.

Where: Shadows-on-the-Teche Visitors Center (320 E. Main St.)

Details: Lauren Tisdale (Romance Writer) discovered her love of writing through a serendipitous turn of events, which led her on a journey of self-discovery through the stories she weaves for her readers. Join in with many other readers seeking an adventure of the heart, and get lost between the pages.

Poet Laureate - Alison Pelegrin

When: 3:45 - 4:30 p.m.

Where: Iberia Parish Main Library(445 E. Main St.)

Details: The current Louisiana Poet Laureate will read from her poetry.

Bayou Teche Writing Workshop

When: 3:45 - 4:45 p.m.

Where: Shadows-on-the-Teche Visitors Center (320 E. Main St.)

Details: Join Allison Alsup and Jessica Kinnison in this generative workshop, suitable for aspiring and experienced writers alike, they’ll explore the craft of setting, finding fresh takes on this narrative essential. The second half of their session will be devoted to a custom writing exercise designed to put these principles into action on the page. Participants can expect to leave with a scene or stanzas built from the ground-up, looking closely at the sensory impressions, rhythms, and specific, shifting details of the worlds their characters inhabit. Both poets and prose writers can benefit; writers of all levels welcome.

Children's Activities

When: Friday & Saturday

Details: The Books Along the Teche Literary Festival is packed full of fun and educational activities for children of all ages. There are kids cooking demonstration, storytimes, a children's author's fair, drawing/writing workshop and story walk and more. Visit the festival's website for details and registration information.

Saturday, April 6, 2024:

Publishing Poetry with Former Poet Laureates

When: 9 - 9:45 a.m.

Where: Shadows-on-the-Teche Visitors Center (320 E. Main St.)

Details: This workshop, led by Darrell Bourque and John Warner Smith, two widely published former Poet Laureates of Louisiana, provides practical guidance and advice on getting published in literary journals, landing your first publishing agreement for a collection of poetry, and reaching a broader market of publishing prospects.

Exploring the Sugarcane Lifecycle

When: 9 - 9:45 a.m.

Where: The Harvest Room (301 W. St. Peter St.)

Details: The goal of the presentation is to educate on the sugar production process including the life cycle of cane, the planting, cultivation, harvesting, and processing of cane. Local sugarcane farmer Ronnie Gonsoulin will give the presentation.

Best Book You've Never Read Book Swap

When: 10 - 10:45 a.m.

Where: Doc Voorhies Wing of the Bayou Teche Museum (131 E. Main St.)

Details: Now is your chance to bring a book that you love and swap it with other people who also love to read. All books will be set up in the Doc Voorhies wing while Stephanie Shea leads a discussion about reader favorites. Everyone needs to bring a book with them to enter the presentation.

Creating the James Lee Burke Statue

When: 10 - 10:45 a.m.

Where: Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St.)

Details: Shirley Scarpetta is an award-winning artist, specializing in clay and bronze sculptures and has created the James Lee Burke statue that will be unveiled during the literary festival. Join her presentation where she will discuss the process of crafting the new statue.

Zoom Call with James Lee Burke

When: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Where: Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St.)

Details: Come and join the hundreds of local fans to hear stories straight from the great novelist James Lee Burke. CJ Lotz, the Senior Editor of Garden and Gun Magazine, will moderate the discussion.

Dedication of James Lee Burke Statue

When: 12:15 - 12:45 p.m.

Where: Bouligny Plaza (102 W. Main St.)

Details: Come and see history being made in the New Iberia Historic District with the dedication of a James Lee Burke statue. Unfortunately, Burke will not be present for the unveiling.

Great Southern Writer Symposium: Natalie Baszile

When: 1 - 2:45 p.m.

Where: Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St.)

Details: The 2024 Great Southern Writer is Natalie Baszile. Her novel, Queen Sugar was named one of the San Francisco Chronicles' Best Books of 2014, and nominated for an NAACP Image Award, and was featured on Oprah's Book Club. The book was made into a TV series featured on the OWN network. This novel tells the story of the trials and triumphs of a novice black female sugarcane farmer finding her way in the fields of South Louisiana. Book signing will take place after presentation.

Fleur De Lis Speaks Personal Affirmation Workshop

When: 3:45 - 4:30 p.m.

Where: Shadows-on-the-Teche Visitors Center (320 E. Main St.)

Details: Our words and thoughts have a profound effect on our life experience. Join Faith Broussard Cade, M.Ed., mental health counselor, author, and self- care expert, for this insightful workshop to learn how to create personal affirmations that empower you to take an active role in creating the life you want.

James Lee Burke Book Club

When: 3:45 - 4 :30 p.m.

Where: Doc Voorhies Wing of the Bayou Teche Museum (131 E. Main St.)

Details: Howard Kingston, local expert on all things Burke, will lead a fascinating discussion on James Lee Burke and his writings. The book that Howard has chosen to discuss is “The Glass Rainbow.”

Book Clubs and Bubbles

When: 4:45 - 5 :30 p.m.

Where: Doc Voorhies Wing of the Bayou Teche Museum (131 E. Main St.)

Details: Join Katy Shea Svenson as she hosts this tell all presentation into everything you wanted to know about book clubs. Your host has been a member of countless book clubs as she delves into the innerworkings of book clubs. Champagne and Hor Dourves will be served.

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 bike tour, 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 the 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.