Cherie Claire is the pen name for Cheré Dastugue Coen, a freelance travel and food journalist.

Cherie Claire is the award-winning author of several Louisiana romances and a paranormal mystery series. She will be the guest speaker at the Bayou Teche Writer’s Group meeting from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 14 at the Parkview Branch of the Iberia Parish Library. Her topics will include information on e-book publishing as well as other ways authors can promote their work.

In 2017, Claire launched a paranormal mystery series featuring New Orleans travel writer and ghost sleuth Viola Valentine. The Viola Valentine Mystery Series includes “A Ghost of a Chance,” “Ghost Town,” and “Trace of a Ghost.”

Originally published with Kensington, her “Cajun Series” of historical romance follows a family of Acadians (Cajuns) who travel to South Louisiana and start anew after being exiled from their Nova Scotia home. The first three books, “Emilie,” “Rose,” and “Gabrielle,” follow the Gallant sisters as they attempt to reunite with their father — and find love — in the wilds of Louisiana. “Delphine,” book four, takes place during Louisiana’s role in the American Revolution. The Dugas family saga continues into the 19th century with “A Cajun Dream,” book five and “The Letter,” book six.

Claire is also the author of “The Cajun Embassy” series of contemporary romances – “Ticket to Paradise,” “Damn Yankees” and “Gone Pecan.” What happens when several Columbia journalism coeds homesick for Louisiana find comfort in a bowl of Cajun gumbo? They become lifelong friends. Because love — and a good gumbo — changes everything.

Cherie lives in South Louisiana where she works as a travel and food writer when not indulging in Cajun culture. Visit her website at www.cherieclaire.net and write to her at CajunRomances@Yahoo.com.

Her online presence includes the Louisiana Book News review and book commentary louisianabooknews.blogspot.com as well as weirdsouth.blogspot.com — the Weird, Wacky and Wild South. She is a food and travel writer by the name Cheré Dastugue Coen but writes novels under the pen name Cherie Claire.