Peculiar tales, traditions and bayou recipes happen in Louisiana

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Chere' Coen (Photo: The News-Star)

Sam Irwin writes regularly about Louisiana culture as a freelance writer — blogging at www.LaNote.org and www.CrawfishReport.com, in addition to print publications — and as author of several books, including "Crawfish: A Succulent History of the Cajun Crustacean." A native of Acadiana, his latest book looks at the weird and wonderful side of our state in "It Happens in Louisiana: Peculiar Tales, Traditions and Recipes from the Bayou."

Stories are more cultural than strange, more pride-inspiring than freakish, making each one a wonderful yet entertaining read. There's unique nicknames, the tragic end of Bonnie and Clyde, medieval jousting in Ville Platte, the Easter tradition of egg pocking, Acadiana's music and much more.

The stories are accented by 100 photos from Irwin's travels around Louisiana plus from established Louisiana photographers like Greg Guirard, Ron Berard, Philip Gould and David Gallent. National columnist Rheta Grimsley Johnson, author of "Poor Man's Provence; Finding Myself in Cajun Louisiana," writes the foreword and sprinkled throughout are recipes for everything from Marcelle Bienvenu's gumbo to Uncle Earl's Pea Patch Peas.

American Slave Coast

In 1808 the importation of slaves ceased in America, cutting off the supply of slave labor from Africa to the U.S. agricultural industry. From that time to slavery's abolishment during the Civil War, captive African American women were used as breeders to continue the slave trade, the sale of their children bringing profits to their owners and feeding the southern economy based on slavery.

This despicable practice of using human beings for reproduction is the subject of a massive new work by Ned and Constance Sublette of New Orleans, published by Lawrence Hill Books, an imprint of Chicago Review Press. "The American Slave Coast: A History of the Slave-Breeding Industry" looks at the interstate trade of slaves, mainly from Virginia, what the authors call "the great slave breeder."

Ned Sublette is the author of "The World That Made New Orleans," "Cuba and its Music" and "The Year Before the Flood." Constance Sublette has published, as Constance Ash, three novels and edited the anthology "Not of Woman Born." The two began working on the book in 2010 when Ned Sublette was in residence at Washington College's C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience in Chestertown, Maryland.

"That fellowship was an absolutely transformative experience for us," he said. "The Starr Center has been the laboratory for some of the most dynamic work being done about the history of the early republic."

Constance Sublette's interest in biography influenced the way historical figures enter and exit the narrative, according to the publisher's press release.

"For me it was for the women — those millions of nameless women who were mandated to be constantly pregnant, even if it killed them, yet had no legal right to their own children," she said. "This book is for them."

New releases

Alys Arden of New Orleans launches her New Orleans-based young adult series, "The Casquette Girls," at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Boutique du Vampyre, 709 St Ann St. in New Orleans. Set in a storm-ravaged New Orleans, 16-year-old Adele Le Moyne unravels an intricate web of 18th century magic, myths and monsters that links her ancestors to an assemblage of murders. Publishers Weekly wrote of the book, "In this Southern Gothic love letter to the spookier side of New Orleans's storied past, Arden spins out a moody tale of magic and mystery . . . A thoroughly satisfying page-turner and a strong debut." For more information, visit www.alysarden.com. To view a trailer of the book, visit www.thecasquettegirls.com.

At the Library

TV personality Leo Honeycutt, author of "Edwin Edwards: Governor of Louisiana, An Authorized Biography," will discuss his books at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Ouachita Valley Branch Library.

New bookstore

We're always really excited about a new bookstore opening, gives us faith that people still love reading and resting among stacks of books. The Conundrum, owned by Missy Couhig, will open at 11917 Ferdinand St. in St. Francisville this month, offering special events between now and Christmas. Children's authors J. Steven Spires, author of "Three Little Shrimp," will perform an interactive storytime and book signing on Saturday and Leif N. Pederson, author of "The Swamp Kids" series, will visit on Sunday, Dec. 20. Jeffrey Marx will sign his LSU sports book, "Walking with Tigers" on Dec. 4, part of the town's Christmas in the Country celebration. Learn more at https://Facebook.com/conundrumbooks.

Book events

On Tuesday: Doug Villien signs "Between the Crossroads: A Centennial History of Maurice, Louisiana" from 4-6 p.m. at the fall book and bake sale of the Vermilion Parish Library, Abbeville Branch, and Leonard Pitts Jr. reads from and signs his novel "Grant Park," about race relations through the story of two Chicago journalists, at 6 p.m. at Octavia Books in New Orleans.

On Wednesday: Eberhard "Lo" Faber launches "Building the Land of Dreams — New Orleans and the Transformation of Early America" at 6 p.m. at Octavia Books; Alex Mar signs "Witches of America" at 7 p.m. at Antenna Gallery; and Miki Pfeffer reads and discusses "Southern Ladies and Suffragists — Julia Ward Howe and Women's Rights at the 1884 New Orleans World's Fair" at 7 p.m. at the Alvar Library, all in New Orleans; and Sybil Morial signs "Witness to Change — From Jim Crow to Political Empowerment" at 7 p.m. at the East Bank Regional Library in Metairie.

On Thursday: Scott M. Deitche signs "Cocktail Noir — From Gangsters and Gin Joints to Gumshoes and Gimlets" at 6 p.m. at Octavia Books; Tanwi Nandini Islam reads and signs her debut novel "Bright Lines" at 6 p.m. at Garden District Book Shop; and Bonnie Warren signs "New Orleans Homes at Christmas" at 7 p.m. at Nix Library, all in New Orleans. Dixie Poché will sign copies of "Classic Eateries of Cajun Country" from 5-7 p.m. during the Artists' Galleries de Juneau in Slidell.

Todd Mouton signs "Way Down in Louisiana: Clifton Chenier, Cajun, Zydeco, and Swamp Pop Music" from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Live @ Bayou Teche with the BeauSoleil Trio at Bayou Teche Brewing's LA-31 Brewery in Arnaudville. Mouton will also be on the KRVS show "Dirty Rice" from 8:30-10 p.m. Saturday on 88.7 FM.

The Historic New Orleans Collection will offer a lecture and book signing titled "New Orleans Hurricanes from the Start" with Nicholas J. Meis, coauthor, from 2-4 p.m. Saturday at 533 Royal St. in New Orleans.

Cheré Coen is the author of "Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History," "Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana" and "Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana" and co-author of "Magic's in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets." Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

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