All are welcome to join us to discuss Pelican Girls by Julia Malye .

For fans of sweeping historical literature in the vein of Philipp Meyer's The Son or Min Jin Lee's Pachinko, an extraordinary US literary debut set in Paris and colonial New Orleans and based on a true story, about three of the 88 young women-among them an orphan, a madwoman, and an abortionist-who were deported to the Louisiana Territory as brides"--

All are welcome to join us at The Conundrum bookshop for conversation and snacks while we discuss Ruta Sepetys’ book Out of the Easy.

About the Book :

A haunting peek at the life of a teenage girl in 1950s New Orleans."--Entertainment Weekly

It's 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.

Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

Join The Conundrum Bookshop and Country Roads Magazine as we celebrate the release of Jordan LaHaye Fontenot’s new book Home of the Happy.

Books can be ordered in advance of signing through our website at : Home of the Happy by Jordan LaHaye Fontenot — The Conundrum

A compelling blend of true crime and memoir tracing the author's investigation into the kidnapping and murder of her great-grandfather in 1980s Louisiana and the reverberations on her family and community throughout the decades

"Riveting and atmospheric, Home of the Happy is also a heartfelt grappling with a trauma in the author's family and her attempts to unravel its secrets once and for all. LaHaye Fontenot's writing is urgent, fueled not just by a desire for justice but by love for her ancestors and the Cajun community of south Louisiana. A must-read for true crime and mystery fans."-- Ana Reyes, New York Times bestselling author of The House in the Pines

On January 16, 1983, Aubrey LaHaye's body was found floating in the Bayou Nezpique. His kidnapping ten days before sparked "the biggest manhunt in the history of Evangeline Parish." But his descendants would hear the story as lore, in whispers of the dreadful day the FBI landed a helicopter in the family's front lawn and set out on horseback to search for the seventy-year-old banker.

Decades later, Aubrey's great-granddaughter Jordan LaHaye Fontenot asked her father, the parish urologist, to tell the full story. He revealed that to this day, every few months, one of his patients will bring up his grandfather's murder, and the man accused of killing him, John Brady Balfa, who remains at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola serving a life sentence. They'll say, in so many words: "Dr. Marcel, I really don't think that Balfa boy killed your granddaddy."

For readers of Maggie Nelson's The Red Parts and Emma Copley Eisenberg's The Third Rainbow Girl, Home of the Happy unravels the layers of suffering borne of this brutal crime--and investigates the mysteries that linger beneath generations of silence. Is it possible that an innocent man languishes in prison, still, wrongly convicted of murdering the author's great-grandfather?

About the Author : Jordan LaHaye Fontenot's work has appeared in Oxford American, Atlas Obscura, and others. The managing editor of Country Roads magazine, she lives in Lafayette, Louisiana. Home of the Happy is her first book.

Join us as Hayley Arceneaux reads from and signs her new book for Children: Astronaut Hayley’s Brave Adventure.

Books can be pre-ordered through our website at: Astronaut Hayley's Brave Adventure by Haley Arceneaux — The Conundrum

Join us as we discuss the novel: How To Read a Book by Monica Wood. The book is available for sale at our bookstore, Through the website bookshop.org for a copy mailed to your home or an ebook edition, and as an audiobook through Libro.fm. If ordering through Libro or Bookshop.org please select The Conundrum as your bookstore - Thanks!

Light refreshments will be served.

Join us for this annual ticketed literary event where you will hear from five fantastic writers and enjoy a delicious lunch at Heminbough .

For more information and to purchase tickets to the event visit: https://bontempstix.com/events/2025-writers-readers-symposium-2-22-2025

Catharine Savage Brosman will join us to read from and sign her new book Partial Memoirs.

CATHARINE SAVAGE BROSMAN, one of America's most accomplished and inspired poets, is a writer of extraordinary awareness. Partial Memoirs features moments, images, and experiences that exemplify her life, seamlessly intertwined with literature. Unlike many intellectuals, she is not suspicious of nostalgic memory, comparing a recollection with one of Proust's that shows how memory is mediated by sensory experience. The style is unique, combining scintillating precision with poetic charisma. Here we have a new gem in the crown of American letters.
-Jonathan Chaves, Professor of Chinese at the George Washington University and author of the poetry collection Surfing The Torrent

Catharine Savage Brosman'sPartial Memoirs, composed when she was nearly ninety, reflects on experiences that have helped make up her poetry and prose. She looks her life squarely in the eye, including the trials, prejudices, and hardships along with happy times and successes. Examining her neuroses as well as her giftedness, she has created a candid depiction of a hard-working twenty-first century writer, flawed but truly talented.
-Olivia McNeely Pass, Professor, Nicholls State University, retired, co-author ofLouisiana Poets: A Literary Guide

Catharine Savage Brosman, one of America's finest poets, is also a literary historian and critic of French and American literature and fiction writer. Here, she focuses her attention on the persons and places that shaped her character and work: her mother, her father (who inspired her love of high culture), two divorced husbands (one of whom she remarried), and selected friends. Running throughout is a warm and infectious gratitude for the faces and places that have made her.
-Donald W. Livingston, Professor of Philosophy, Emory University and Past Fellow, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, University of Edinburg

Sedona Soul Stretch: 10 Ancient Yoga Principles to Heighten Consciousness and Performance discusses specific ways to apply ten ancient Yoga principles to increase well-being and guide your everyday life decisions to achieve greater success. It shows how to use these proven principles to enrich your home and work life and achieve your deepest goals and desires. The principles begin with Compassion for self and others and shift the focus inward to get in touch with your soul and connect with the energy of all sentient beings throughout the Universe.

The first set of five codes, called the Yamas in Sanskrit, is based on human characteristics observed as the highest good present in everyone. You display them when you are at your highest of well-being. These Social Harmony Characteristics guide you to practice Compassion for self and others, Truthfulness, Non-Stealing, Moderation in all things, and non-attachment to worldly desires and possessions.

The second set of principles, called the Niyamas in Sanskrit, are internal soulful practices that encourage you to move more deeply within to expand your Higher Consciousness. These principles guide you to increase inner well-being as you practice Purity, Contentment, Discipline, Self-Study, and Surrender to a Higher Power as you realize your Oneness with the Invisible Intelligence of the Universe that affects every aspect of life.

These ancient principles were culled from the oral tradition of wandering sages, known as Sadus or holy persons, who taught these principles as a way to prevent human suffering. Approximately 200 years before Christ, these precepts were recorded as part of 196 wise sayings or aphorisms in The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

About the title — Sedona Soul Stretch does not require a trip to Sedona or to any other sacred place. Author Johanna Mosca included the name Sedona because so many of her own soul-stretching epiphanies occurred through experiences of spiritual connection with clients in her Sedona Spirit Yoga and Hiking sessions. Hence, the title Sedona Soul Stretch. However, the wisdom of these 10 Ancient Yoga Principles extends beyond time and space and will be yours forever, no matter where you find yourself in life. May living these principles help you grow in the deepest and most compassionate way.

Susanne Duplantis is out to save the world one leftover at a time. You'll think twice before ever throwing edible food away again!--Poppy Tooker, host of Louisiana Eats! radio show

With this fun, family-friendly cookbook, there's no longer any excuse for standing in front of the refrigerator with the door wide open and asking oneself the eternal question: 'What in the world am I going to make?'--Adrian Miller, James Beard Award-winning author

You'll never look at your leftovers the same way again! Susanne Duplantis has unlocked the code to rethinking leftovers and reducing kitchen waste.--Cynthia Graubart, James Beard Award-winning author

Susanne Duplantis takes the last bit of leftovers from your favorite Southern dishes and repurposes them into brand-new tasty offerings. These simple home-cooked recipes combine the time-saving advantage of leftovers with the convenience of pantry staples you already have on hand to create family-pleasing meals that are also friendly on your wallet. With Susanne's guidance, you'll begin to see leftovers as a delicious way to save time, food, and money.

About the Author:

Louisiana native Susanne Duplantis is an award-winning chef, restaurant veteran, and creator of the food waste blog, Makeover My Leftover. A Certified Health Education Specialist, she has competed in national and international cooking competitions and was a successful competitor at the World Food Championships.
Susanne works as a recipe developer for national brands, but her passion is eliminating food waste. She conducts food waste workshops and cooking demos across the state of Louisiana and was featured in the Netflix series Best Leftovers Ever! She was a guest on Tamron Hall and hosted a monthly cooking segment on Baton Rouge's CBS affiliate, WAFB.
She lives in Baton Rouge with her husband, Chris, and her donkey, Fred.

Two adorable bears set out to find the source of an irresistible aroma and wind up smack dab in the middle of the most exciting place on earth--a festival!

Join Hannah Bear and LuLu on a thrilling journey as they explore the blinking lights, the spinning rides, and delicious food! The adventurous cubs sample every delectable delight at the big autumn event, from spicy cracklins, pecans, and pralines to other Louisiana treats. As the wind picks up, Hannah Bear and LuLu catch a whiff of something truly special that leads them through the pumpkin patch and across Bayou Bridge. They even encounter an alligator! Follow Hannah Bear and LuLu to the perfect spot with the most delicious smell of all.

With humor, curiosity, and a dash of mischief, Hannah Bear and LuLu's Festival to Remember celebrates the joy of exploration, the love of family, and the warmth of home. Get ready for a wild ride with these adorable fuzzy cubs!

about the author :

Julie Hooks attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she majored in Child and Family Studies. Her work as an elementary-school teacher's assistant has been an inspiration in her stories. When not writing or reading, she enjoys traveling throughout Louisiana attending festivals, trade days, and market shows. Her favorite pastime is hosting crawfish boils with all the trimmings while surrounded by friends and family. She resides in Southwest Louisiana with her husband, Kelly. Together, they have two daughters, Hannah (Bear) and Haleigh (LuLu), a big fluffy cat named Ollie, and a silly dog named Finn.
Children's book illustrator Drew Beech is a southern Louisiana native. She is an alumna of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and Marymount Manhattan College. In her free time, Drew enjoys rock climbing, losing herself in books, collecting house plants, camping, biking, and hiking. Her greatest adventure, however, has been parenting and growing alongside her daughter. She was the 2019 winner of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Louisiana/Mississippi portfolio showcase.

We will bring a selection of cookbook to Suday’s Grand Tastings including books by several of the event’s featured chefs. Stop by and see us!

Embark on a mesmerizing journey where spirituality, interior design, and serendipity converge in The Color of Magic, an intimate autobiography from Ellen Kennon that unveils the profound connections between the metaphysical world and the art of interior design and color consulting. Discover the enchanting tales of synchronicity and manifestation that have guided the author’s career and personal life - from when she moved from Louisiana to New York City in the 1980s to pursue a career in interior design to designing and building her home nestled in the woods, which she first visualized decades prior and still operates her business from today.

Beyond mere aesthetics, this book celebrates the transformative power of creating healing environments that resonate with the soul. It reminds us that the true magic of design lies in how a space makes you feel and that in creating healing spaces we can unlock the greatest potential for the magic within ourselves.

ReplyForward

Join us under the Exhibitors tent as we once again set up shop at The Louisiana Book Festival. The event is held in front of the State Library and Capital buildings in downtown Baton Rouge ,

Meet your stabby new best friend !

"Cordelia Black loves exactly three things: her chosen family, her hairdresser (worth every penny plus tip), and killing bad men. By day, she's an ambitious pharma rep with a flawless reputation and designer wardrobe. By night, she culls South Louisiana of unscrupulous men-monsters who think they've evaded justice, until they meet her. Sure, the evening news may have started throwing around phrases like "serial killer," but Cordelia knows that's absurd. She's not a killer; she is simply karma. And being karma requires complete and utter control. But when Cordelia discovers a flaw in her perfectly designed system for eliminating monsters, pressure heightens. And it only intensifies when her best friend starts dating a man Cordelia isn't sure is a good person. Someone who might just unravel everything she has worked for. Soon enough, Cordelia has to come face to face with the choices she's made. The good, the bad, and the murderous. Both her family and her freedom depend on it"--

About the author :

EMMA C. WELLS loves anti-heroes, dark humor, witty banter, and ride-or-die friendships. Twisty relationships are her kryptonite (or catnip--depending on how you look at it). THIS GIRL'S A KILLER is her debut novel. Emma lives in Louisiana where the novel is based.

Coming to The Witches Ride ? Stop by The Conundrum first to pick up a signed copy of this magical new book for 8-12 year olds..

About the Book: In her second year of living in Boston, sixth-grader Feliciana Fruge misses everything about Louisiana but is determined to try and fit in and conceal her Cajun heritage; however, her plans are thwarted by the unexpected arrival of Roux, a magical swamp monster.

About the Author:

Rachel M. Marsh grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University in New Orleans, where she studied English and Psychology and minored in Spanish. After graduating, she moved to Boston where she earned her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing for Children from Simmons University. She now lives in New Orleans, where she eats the world’s best food and stays busy with her almost-hundred-year-old house. She works for the New Orleans Public Library, and her writing is represented by Larissa Melo Pienkowski at Jill Grinberg Literary Management. Rougarou Magic is her debut novel.

You asked for it so we are restarting our book clubs !  First up will be our Murder, Mystery, Mayhem & munchies Book Club where each month we will read a new thriller , discuss , and share a snack and a beverage . First up is Sulari Gentill’s The Mystery Writer - and if you come buy your book at The Conundrum you will also get a cool “Mystery Authors are my Rock Stars “ tote bag and a letter from the author about the book !  We will discuss the book at our May 21, 2024 meeting at 5:30 so you’ve got a few weeks to come get your book and get it read !  This is gonna be fun !

Thank you to Sourcebooks for sending the great swag !

Catharine Savage Brosman will join us to share poetry from her new collection titled : Aerosols.

Publisher Marketing:
THESE POEMS-PUFFS OF AIR, OR "AEROSOLS"-are auras, emanations of being, lingering, prolonging meaning. Following the title poem, they are arranged in sections, structured according to themes, inspirations, forms, or other markers. Among the underlying vectors are perception and imagination-how we see, feel, and picture things. The approach is, loosely, phenomenological. Hence the importance here of painting and of poetry itself. Vision as both tool and matter plays a major role. Vivid scenes, memories, daydreams, and concocted idylls arise from stores of sight, outer and inner. Such visions are essential for personal and collective health. -Catharine Savage Brosman, From Introductory Note

Praise for Aerosols and Other Poems
"The foliage around us shakes, not with wind, /but being."So writes Catharine Savage Brosman in her rich new book of poetry,Aerosols.Brosman is timeless in her sensibility. She conjures up the mystic ontology underlying space, time, and the memory of time. This nearly cosmic reach is intertwined with an unparalleled ability to be in the moment as an opening towards eternity, and all is conveyed with craftsmanship of the most impeccable character. As if this weren't enough, she brings back the grand tradition of including exquisite translations from other poets-José-Maria de Heredia, Verlaine, Apollinaire. She is master of literary translation, as these poems live in English as they live in French, and resonate with the themes of Brosman's original work. -Jonathan Chaves

Praise for Brosman's previous poetry.
"Catharine Brosman has produced one of the most remarkable bodies of work in contemporary poetry."
-Jesse Graves.

"Her poems are illuminating." -Marc Jolley

"For nearly half a century now, Catharine Savage Brosman has been one of this country's finest poets, not just because of her mastery of language and form, but also because of the courage to remain true to her traditionalist aesthetic." -Claude Wilkinson.

"Catharine Savage Brosman, one of the greatest poets of our age, has recovered for contemporary poetry a concern for the essentially human and universal within a romantic poetry of reflection." -James Matthew Wilson

This year’s event will feature authors:

Claudia Gray

Robert Mann

Kevin Couhig

Sarah Guillory

and Louisiana Poet Laureate : Alison Pelegrin

Tickets are available at : BonTempsTix | 2024 Writers & Readers Symposium

Join us as we welcome the authors of this beautiful new book for a Book Signing at The Conundrum on Saturday Nov 18, 2023 from 3pm - 4:30pm.

“A young reader's adaptation of the story of the youngest American to ever orbit the Earth - cancer survivor Hayley Arceneaux - who shows us all that when we face our fears with hope and faith, the extraordinary is possible. "It may be hard to believe while I'm gravity-bound on my bedroom floor, but if there's one thing I've learned in my time on Earth, it's that as long as you keep saying yes, everything is possible," says Arceneaux. In this adaptation of her heartfelt memoir, especially inspiring for middle-grade readers, Arceneaux shares the details of her wild ride with never-before-told stories written especially for kids coming to this edition. Arceneaux not only tells readers what it was like to go to space - from training in a fighter jet to lifting off in a Dragon capsule - but she also offers stories from her childhood: things that she faced at the hospital when going through cancer treatment, what she had to overcome when she went back to school, and the courage it took to dream big dreams for her teenage and adult years. For students navigating a time of uncertainty, and for the adults and educators who seek to offer them hope, Arceneaux's uplifting story is one that will inspire kids for years to come. She offers wisdom and courage to anyone fighting against the odds, and shows us that dreaming is always possible"--

Biographical Note:
Hayley Arceneaux is the author of Wild Ride and a St. Jude Children's Research Hospital physician assistant, a career she committed to at age ten after surviving pediatric bone cancer. She joined the first all-civilian orbital space mission, Inspiration4, on September 15, 2021, and successfully water-landed three days later. At age twenty-nine, she became the youngest American to orbit the Earth, the first pediatric cancer survivor in space, and the first astronaut with a prosthetic body part.

Sarah Gullory will join us to talk about and sign her middle grade book: Nowhere Better Than Here .

Brief Description:
In a town slowly being destroyed by rising tides, one girl must fight to find a way to keep her community's spirit from drowning.

For thirteen-year-old Jillian Robichaux, three things are sacred: bayou sunsets, her grandmother Nonnie's stories, and the coastal Louisiana town of Boutin that she calls home.

When the worst flood in a century hits, Jillian and the rest of her community band together as they always do--but this time the damage may simply be too great. After the local school is padlocked and the bridges into town condemned, Jillian has no choice but to face the reality that she may be losing the only home she's ever had.

But even when all hope seems lost, Jillian is determined to find a way to keep Boutin and its indomitable spirit alive. With the help of friends new and old, a loveable golden retriever, and Nonnie's storytelling wisdom, Jillian does just that in this timely and heartfelt story of family, survival, and hope.

In her stunning debut middle grade novel, Sarah Guillory has written a lush story about an indomitable girl fighting against the effects of climate change.

Biographical Note:
Sarah Guillory has always had a passion for literature. Coming from a family of teachers, she learned to read before she'd even started school and has escaped into fictional worlds ever since. Sarah loves being outside, whether that's walking her dogs, sitting under a tree with a book, or running countless miles before the sun has even come up. She teaches high school English and lives in Louisiana with her husband. She is the author of Nowhere Better Than Here and Reclaimed.

Review Quotes:

*Four Starred Reviews!*

*A Kirkus Reviews' Best Book of the Year!*

*The International Literary Association's Intermediate Fiction Winner!*

*A Children's Book Council Best Book of the Year!*

*A National Book Festival Pick for Louisiana!*

*A Louisiana Readers' Choice Nominee!*

Call it what you like (previously Polos and Pearls and Vibes in the Ville among others) , our late summer St Francisville festival is back with a fun new theme. It will be called “Pop & Shop” and will be a Champagne themed event with different festive drinks and decorations at each shop throughout town. We will have music by Steve Judice and Gordan Graham from 5:30 - 7. We will serve a champagne citrus punch and other refreshments all day , and of course there will be books.

So Music, Books and Bubbly what could be better?

Authors Ken Wells and Hillary Wells will join us to talk about and sign their new book Swamped !

For more information about the book and to pre-order your signed copy here : Swamped ! by Ken Wells & Hillary Wells — The Conundrum (conundrumbooks.com)

Today, most of Louisiana's camellia gardens feature plants of recent vintage that are sources from 20th and 21st century nurseries. Only a few scattered "ancients" such as 'Alba Plena' have been generally recognized. Marketed by European and northeastern American nurseries, camellias once enjoyed enormous popularity, though information about varieties bought to Louisiana between 1828 and 1860 has been scarce. Inspired by the recreation of their own historic gardens, the contributors to EARLY CAMELLIAS IN LOUISIANA have uncovered evidence in archival documents and in their landscapes' original plantings.

This research venture unexpectedly yielded thirty historic camellias growing in the field and nearly double that amount documented in letters, advertisements, and other catalogs. Some of the plants identified are lost treasures about which there has been minimal study. In this book, extensive photography provides the reader with detailed pictures. For some blossoms, multiple images show their stages of developments, illustrating a fascinating evolution of shapes and colors. List and charts are helpful for those seeking plants or guidance about their garden collections. Information is provided about antique cultivators that are presently available commercially and about the authors' efforts to propagate rare specimens.

Enjoyed far beyond the Gulf South, old varieties of camellias continue to captivate gardeners with their spellbinding beauty. The splendor and vitality of these flowers, as well as their extraordinary history, make the compelling case for their preservation and inclusion anew in contemporary gardens. EARLY CAMELLIAS OF LOUISIANA serves as a guide for the rediscovery and identification of these prized blooms.