‘Tis the season– this Saturday, December 12, sees one of the loveliest evenings in the south Mississippi literary calendar, the annual author extravaganza at Main Street Books in Hattiesburg. Now in its twelfth year, the event brings in folks from all over the area for a night of old and new friends, minced pies, mulled wine, and, of course, books. The fair runs from 4-7pm, at 210 North Main Street in Hattiesburg.

Pelican Bomb has an interview with Cassie Pruyn, author of the forthcoming history of Bayou St. John in New Orleans.

The Louisiana Book Festival is this coming Saturday, October 31st, on the grounds of the state capitol in Baton Rouge. One of the highlights of the literary year here in the Pelican State, the festival features scores of panels, discussions, readings, vendors, and exhibitors all throughout the day, and best of all, is free. More information about the Festival is available on their website, including a complete schedule of events.

As one of the visitors to the festival from overseas, the novelist and journalist Nick Holdstock will be visiting New Orleans to give a reading this coming Wednesday at 6pm at Maple Street Book Shop. I’m honored to introduce my good friend (and occasional collaborator), who is currently on tour for his new novel, The Casualties. More information is available through Maple Street itself.

November 14th brings the annual YMCA Corporate Cup 5k in City Park, a race whose proceeds benefit the Adult Education Center at the main branch of the New Orleans Public Library. Long known for their wonderful work promoting adult literacy in New Orleans, the Y is always in desperate need of more resources to serve the reading-deficient communities of this area. If you like to run, walk, or even just sit and read, consider coming out for this event. Registration is open now; more information is available here.

For those in the New Orleans area, next Monday, September 29, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities will host the inaugural reading by Peter Cooley, the new poet laureate of Louisiana. Reception to begin at 6, reading at 7. Readings of this nature happen only once every few years, so it’s sure to be a wonderful night.