Thinking ahead to future adventures could set the stage for Christmas

Mystery still surrounds the concept of a literary festival with free and ticketed events. Anyone who has attended or been involved with the past three festivals, two as the Dave Robicheaux Hometown Literary Festival and last year’s renamed, Books Along the Teche Literary Festival, know why the event has pulled together so many facets of the community — fans of James Lee Burke’s Detective Dave Robicheaux series, are fascinated by the world his characters and actual residents share in the Teche Area.

Only advance copies have been seen so far, but Howard Kingston at Books Along the Teche Bookstore said ever since they sent out notices to fans about the upcoming release, he’s been taking orders for signed copies. It happens every year Burke comes out with a new book — Robicheaux or other. This year, fans will have “The New Iberia Blues,” to capture their attention.

“We’ll have signed copies in the bookstore on the release date, Jan. 8,” Kingston said.

It was Kingston’s bookstore and other tourist locations like Bayou Teche Museum and Shadows-on-the-Teche who regularly saw visitors from around the world coming specifically to New Iberia because of the characters and descriptions of the Bayou Teche area in Burke’s books. The newest title is no different, although Kingston said more takes place at Cypremort Point than in times past. It also brings into the mix an element expanded this year for the festival — Hollywood. The cover reads, “Detective Dave Robicheaux’s world isn’t filled with happy stories, but Desmond Cormier’s rags-to-riches tale is one of them. Robicheaux first met Cormier on the streets of New Orleans, when the young boy had foolish dreams of becoming a Hollywood director.”

Murder takes Robicheaux, along with his buddy Clete Purcell and Robicheaux’s daughter Alafair, into romance and intrigue as they learn the truth behind a woman’s death and the dark ghosts that have kept Robicheaux on edge for years.

Purchasing books as Christmas gifts has long been a practice for parents of young children as well as avid adult readers who eagerly await the next edition of their favorite authors.

Combo Gifts Are Waiting

What goes better than Louisiana and Politics? Books, educators and authors taking about books. Anthony and Matthew Wilson will share the podium in New Iberia at the fourth annual University of Louisiana at Lafayette James Lee Burke Academic Symposium, “James Lee Burke and Louisiana Politics.” The two scholars and brothers will speak from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Iberia Parish Library’s Main Branch, 445 E. Main St. in New Iberia.

Sponsored by the ULL College of Liberal Arts, the free symposium is part of the Books Along the Teche Literary Festival April 5 to 7.

“Both Anthony and Matthew Wilson bring to their presentations strong credentials as well as their knowledge of Louisiana’s culture, politics and literature,” said coordinator Claire Manes. “Mary Ann Wilson, literary scholar, professor emerita at UL Lafayette, and mother of Anthony and Matthew, will moderate the discussion. At the college she was a fellow of the Center for Louisiana Studies and held the James D. Wilson Endowed Professorship in Southern Studies. After retiring from UL Lafayette in May 2018, she moved to LaGrange, Georgia, where the town square boasts a statue of the Marquis de Lafayette. She is presently working on a personal essay titled, ‘A Tale of Two Lafayettes,’ chronicling the French revolutionary hero’s role in American and southern history.”

Although the event is free and open to the public, preregistration is encouraged as space will be limited as at other events including the annual Great Southern Writer event.

The Books Along the Teche Literary Festival announced earlier this fall that celebrated author Rebecca Wells, Louisiana-born writer of “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” will be the 2019 Great Southern Writer at this year’s festival.

“Wells will be forever known for her novel ‘Divine Secrets’ a bestseller that created a movement for women, prompting Ya-Ya girlfriend groups to be formed nationwide,” said Cathy Indest in a prepared statement sent out by the Iberia Parish Convention and Tourist Bureau. “In addition to being a top-selling book, ‘Divine Secrets’ was made into a film of the same name. Wells earned the American Booksellers Award and the Western States Book Award for the book.”

In addition to being an author, Wells is a playwright and an accomplished actress who will be bringing her stories of female friendship and mother-daughter relationships to audience members during a special presentation at 3 p.m. April 6 at the Sliman Theater. Tickets to the Great Southern Writer program is included in the all-access ticket package or $15, if purchased separately. For additional information, contact Barbara Gautreaux at 380-4279, techefest@gmail.com, or visit the website for the festival for complete description of events and features. Visit Eventbrite.com and look up Books Along The Teche Literary Festival to register for the symposium, and for other free and ticketed events.

In-Town or Out-of-Town

Festival fans who have visited multiple years agree it is the hospitality of local residents that makes this literary festival more than a traditional literature event or “festival” popularized by Louisiana events across the state. Sure there’s Cajun music, jazz and other themes but the experience is more than can be described, it has to be experienced.

Some of the longest running festivals have been supported for years by corporate donations, something not often understood when the word “literary” is added to the festival name. Tours by bus and on the Bayou Teche are intended to capture everyday life along the banks and in the communities serving the Teche Area. Side trips to Avery Island to tour Tabasco, Rip Van Winkle Gardens, and staying through the weekend until Monday to be able to attend the Acadiana Symphony Concert in the Park, makes for a long weekend of fun for readers of Burke books, plus family or friends who haven’t yet visited the area.

New this year are group purchases of the advance all-inclusive tickets. At least three groups have committed to coming into New Iberia for the activities including Friday’s Tastes Along the Teche Food Demo featuring two outstanding Louisiana Chefs, Jazz It Up Opening Reception, Dave’s Haunts & Jaunts Tour, Friday or Saturday, then Center Stage Readers’ Theater, Authors Book Fair, Allons Mangez Food Truck & Music Event with lunch available for purchase, University of Louisiana at Lafayette Academic Symposium, Boogie on Down Evening Party Saturday night, a free screening (optional times) of “In The Electric Mist” movie and Books Into Movies, a discussion on Louisiana movie and book projects. Symphony Sunday in the Park includes reserved seating and a box lunch as well as a festival T-shirt and Sunday T-Boy’s Bayou Adventure Boat Tour.

Is it any wonder now is the best time to think of friends and family who love coming to New Iberia, and even more so for a festival of fun. Make plans early and make sure they stay later or they could miss a fantastic Sunday in City Park. Competition among the locals makes the music extra sweet. Get your group ready this Christmas as you practice singing carols around the tree.