The Festival of Words will take place Nov. 5-7 in Grand Coteau and surrounding areas. The festival features literary readings by nationally recognized authors, creative writing workshops in local public schools and community centers, a community stage for open mics, drive-by poetry and many opportunities for people to interact with featured authors.
This year’s festival authors include Jericho Brown, Kirby Jambon, Fabienne Kanor, Corey Ledet and Kevin Waltman. Students from throughout Acadiana will participate in the annual “Drive-by Poetry” readings, where poetry will be read impromptu in places such as grocery stores, boutiques and restaurants.
Jericho Brown is the recipient of the Whiting Writers Award and fellowships from the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University and the National Endowment for the Arts. His first book, Please (New Issues, 2008), won the American Book Award, and his second book, The New Testament (Copper Canyon, 2014), was named one of the best poetry books of the year by Library Journal. His poems have appeared in The Nation, The New Republic, The New Yorker, and The Best American Poetry. Brown earned a Ph.D. from the University of Houston, an MFA from the University of New Orleans, and a BA from Dillard University. He is an assistant professor in the creative writing program at Emory University in Atlanta.
Kirby Jambon of Lafayette, Louisiana was recently named as recipient of the Henri de Régnier prize from the Académie Française, in support of literary creation in poetry. Jambon received the award for his poetry collection Petites Communions published in 2013 by the only francophone publisher in US, Tintamarre, based in Shreveport. L’Académie Française, in Paris, is the pre-eminent French body on matter pertaining to the French language, and consists of major French and francophone authors. This prize is the highest and most prestigious award in the category of Prix de soutien à la création littéraire (Prize in support of literary creation). This is the first time a Louisiana author has received literary recognition from this institution.
Corey Ledet was born and raised in Houston, Texas, but spent his summers with family in small-town Parks, Louisiana. He is able to infuse old and new styles of Zydeco into his own unique sound from all of the people he studied and was influenced by. He also appreciates the other traditional sound indigenous to Louisiana in Cajun music and has been able to expand his repertoire to include these influences as well. Corey’s versatile sound enables him to please any audience.
Kevin Waltman was born in Bedford, Pennsylvania, and spent his teens and twenties in Indiana--time spent mostly around basketball courts and political events. He moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 2001 to get his MFA in fiction at The University of Alabama. There, he met his wife, Jessica Kidd. He now lives in Coker, Alabama, with Jessica, their daughter Calla, their son Holling, and their dog Henry. He teaches. He writes. He gardens. He cuts kudzu from their woods. His books include Slump (Cinco Puntos Press); Next (Cinco Puntos Press); Learning the Game; (Scholastic Books) and Nowhere Fast (Scholastic Paperbacks.)
To learn more about featured authors and the Festival of Words events, visit festivalofwords.org or contact Patrice Melnick at (337) 254-9695 or [email protected].
PUBLIC SCHEDULE
Festival of Words
2015
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5
Performers: Youth, Adults & Kevin Waltman
Event: Open Mic, Festival of Words Warmup, Kickoff—featuring Kevin Waltman
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: The South St. Landry Community Library, 235 Marie Street,
Sunset, LA 70584
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
POTLUCK DINNER
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 6:50 p.m.
Location: KPC Hall, 252 Church St., Grand Coteau, 70541
Welcome/Intro/History of KPC Hall
Artists: Corey Ledet & Jericho Brown
Event: Poetry & Musical performance and + Q & A
Time: 7:00 — 9:00 p.m.
Location: KPC Hall, 252 Church St., Grand Coteau, 70541
FESTIVAL SHINDIG!
Artists: Corey Ledet and his Zydeco Band
Event: A chance for visitors and residents to party together!
Time: 9:30 — 1:00 a.m.
Location: KPC Hall, 252 Church St., Grand Coteau, 70541
Requested Donation: $10—to pay the band.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7
Event: Awards Ceremony for Youth of Creative Writing Contest
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Location: The Thensted Center, 268 Church St., Grand Coteau, LA 70541
Presenters: Bruce Coen, James Blanchard and friends
Event: “Drive-by” Poetry”
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: MLK Dr., Grand Coteau in cafes and gift shops, and on the streets
Event: Community Stage showcasing literary and spoken word groups of Acadiana
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: The Thensted Center, 268 Church St., Grand Coteau, LA 7054
Author: Kevin Waltman
Event: Writing for Young Adults (class open to youth & adults)
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.
Location: St. Charles Chapel, 252-A, Church St., Grand Coteau, LA 70541
Author: Kirby Jambon
Event: Workshop for French Teachers: Words, Creativity, Poetry in French pedagogy
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:50 a.m.
Location: St. Charles Chapel, 252-A, Church St., Grand Coteau, LA 70541
Author: Jericho Brown
Event: Poetry Workshop
Time: 3:00 p.m. to 4:50 p.m.
Location: St. Charles Chapel, 252-A, Church St., Grand Coteau, LA 70541
Author: Corey Ledet
Event: Songwriting Workshop
Time: 3:00 p.m. to 4:50 a.m.
Location: St. Charles Chapel, 252-A, Church St., Grand Coteau, LA 70541
Authors: Kirby Jambon + Kevin Waltman
Event: Public Reading + Q & A
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Location: St. Charles Chapel, 252-A Church St., Grand Coteau, LA 70541