“The Roads We Travel”
by David Armand
Author David Armand takes readers and aspiring writers on a heartfelt road trip through his life and creative process in the latest University of Lafayette Press release “The Roads We Travel.” Armand, a state native and the recipient of the 2022 Louisiana Writer Award, is currently an associate professor of creative writing at the Southeastern Louisiana University and uses his teaching skills to show, not so much tell, “ to pass on what he’s learned over the years about what makes good writing work (as well as what makes some writing unsuccessful),” as noted in a description of the book. Praise has come from fellow writers who have compared this work by other notable books on writing such as Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird,” Stephen King’s “On Writing” and Ellen Gilchrist’s “The Writing Life.”
The Write Stuff
Shop local and pick up one (or more) of these small journals to start your own writing journey:
- Thrive Notebook by Goods That Matter, handmade in New Orleans by John Fitzgerald, from Dirty Coast. dirtycoast.com
- Refillable leather-bound notebook, made in Italy, at Scriptura. scriptura.com
- Endless Recorder notebook from Papier Plume. papierplume.com
- Royal Peacock pocket journal created and designed in New Orleans by Alex Pulitzer, alexapulitzer.com
- NOLATONE Notebook in K&B purple, from Dirty Coast, dirtycoast.com
- LAGNIAPPE: A great writing pen Kaweco AL Sport Pen in silver ballpoint, from Lionheart Prints, lionheartprints.com
Book Fest
The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University (March 12-16) announced its line-up of writers, speakers and literary figures. The list includes more than 100 local, regional and national names, plus a Family Day at the Fest specifically designed with young readers and families in mind. Highlights of the line-up includes: Jami Attenberg, Tarriona “Tank” Ball, Ken Burns, Walter Isaacson, Emeril and E.J. Lagasse, Michael Pollen, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Salman Rushdie, Dax Shepard and Kara Swisher, just to name a few. Bookfest.tulane.edu
Events
Thursday, Feb. 5
A “Virtual Author Talk, Swashbuckling Heroines and High Seas Adventures,” 6 to 7 p.m., hosted by the New Orleans Public Library will feature a conversation with writer Vanessa Riley. Riley will discuss her latest novel, “Fire Sword and Sea.” Register in advance to submit questions and receive a link to the event. nolalibrary.org/events
Sunday, Feb. 8
Blue Cypress Books hosts the monthly Working Title: A Writing Group meet-up for writers, poets, journal keepers looking to perfect their skills, get feedback and connect with fellow writers. bluecypressbooks.com
Wednesday, Feb. 11
The Garden District Book Shop Book Club discusses “The Refugees” by Viet Thanh Nguyen at its monthly get-together, Uptown at the Rink at 6 p.m. gardendistrictbookshop.com
Thursday, Feb. 12
The New Orleans Library hosts Dr. Lindsey Stewart for a “Virtual Author Talk, The Conjuring of America,” 1 to 2 p.m. Feminist philosopher Stewart will discuss her book “The Conjuring of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women’s Magic,” and take questions from participants. Register in advance to submit questions and receive a link to the event. nolalibrary.org/events
Saturday, Feb. 14
Lovers of sci-fi can get together to discuss selected works with the Octavia Books Science Fiction Book Club (each second Saturday of the month), 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. octaviabooks.com
