The Louisiana/Mississippi Region of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators invites you to a variety of children’s programming during the Books along the Teche Literary Festival on Saturday, April 6 in downtown New Iberia.
- Author and Illustrator Panel Discussion (8:30 a.m.): Held in the Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St.) and moderated by Paul Schexnayder, In the Time of Shimmer and Light. Panelists include Josh Caffery, Director of Louisiana Studies/UL Press; Margaret Simon, Bayou Song; Denise Gallagher, Tip Tap Tale and Peg Bearskin; Carol Stubbs, What’s Watching Me; and Jess Butterworth, Swimming Against the Storm.
The following activities will be held in Church Alley pocket park:
- Children’s Book Authors Signing (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
- Storytelling (11 a.m. -12 p.m.): Readings by Margaret Simon, Paul Schexnayder, Denise Gallagher, Carol Stubbs and Margaret LaBorde.
- Bookmaking Workshop (12:30 -1:30 p.m.): Kids will be able to make books with Margaret Simon and Paul Schexnayder.
- Fudge It Cookie Decorating (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.): Decorate cookies with local sweet eatery, Fudge It.
About the Festival:
The Books Along the Teche Literary Festival (April 5-7, 2019) is now in its fourth year, centering around events held in downtown New Iberia. Festival goers can hear Great Southern Writer Rebecca Wells, tour Dave Robicheaux’s Iberia, attend the Louisiana Seafood Great Southern Chef Food Demo, participate in a 5K, and learn Cajun dance or the card game bourée.
The three-day event also includes panel discussions on book writing, poetry, politics and music, readers theater, and dozens of authors selling their books at an Authors Fair on Saturday.
Former Louisiana Poet Laureate Darrell Bourque will present poetry and music, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will sponsor an Academic
Symposium on James Lee Burke and Louisiana politics. The Grand Theater will also offer free movie screenings.
The weekend’s events culminate on Sunday with boat tours down the Bayou Teche and a free Acadiana Symphony Orchestra concert in City Park.
Organizers welcome visitors interested in experiencing the Louisiana described in author James Lee Burke’s Detective Dave Robicheaux novels. Burke just released his latest Dave Robicheaux book titled “The New Iberia Blues.” The book is available at the bookstore Books Along the Teche, the festival’s headquarters on Main Street in New Iberia.
Please visit BooksAlongTheTecheLiteraryFestival.com or the festival’s Facebook page for a complete listing of free and ticketed events. Tickets for individual events and all-inclusive passes are available at Eventbrite. All-inclusive passes include access to Rebecca Wells’ symposium.
For more information on the festival, please contact Barbara Gautreaux at (337) 380-4279, techefest@gmail.com or Cathy Indest at (337) 298-7964, cathy.indest@lhcgroup.com For travel information, visit IberiaTravel.com
