Today, I celebrate publishing. I love author and love hanging out with authors, feeling like an author, and making my students feel like authors.
1. My student, Vannisa, placed 2nd in the Writes of Spring contest sponsored by the Lafayette Public Library. Her poem is published in an anthology of winners.
2. My poem, In Blue Veils, was published in the Birmingham Arts Journal. Thanks to Irene Latham for submitting it.
A draping oak at Belmont Plantation. Photo by Vickie Sullivan.
3. My friends and fellow authors, Diane Moore and Janet Faulk-Gonzales, have published a book together with the theme of porches. Each vignette features a porch of some kind. They held a book signing/reading on one of the most beautiful porches in New Iberia at Belmont Plantation.
A book to delight porch sitters, people who enjoy relaxing and meditating on a small porch or sitting with families and friends on Victorian style verandahs, telling stories and “taking the air.” The vignettes are quaint—some humorous, some tragic—but all incite memories of good times and relaxed hours “just porch sitting.” The cover is a photograph of glasswork rendered by Karen Bourque of Churchpoint, Louisiana, and the text includes eight whimsical illustrations by Paul Schexnayder of New Iberia, Louisiana.
4. My mother-in-law, Anne L. Simon, received her first shipment of her first novel, Blood in the Cane Field. I am so proud of her and will write more about her book. Her book is available on Amazon, a thrilling crime novel set in South Louisiana.
5. Poet Laura Purdie Salas left a comment for one of my students this week on our kidblog site. I am using the book Math Poetry by Betsy Franco with my youngest students. They are loving the writing and blogging. Erin wrote about Pegasus in her addition poem. She was thrilled that a “real author” left her a comment. She said out loud, “I am famous!” You can read their wonderful poems on our kidblog site.
Reflections on the Teche 
Congratulations on your poem being published, Margaret! That is something huge to celebrate! And all the others celebrations sound special too. What a good week you’ve had. I love the idea of the book about porches!
If I remember correctly, you have featured Vannisa’s writing on your blog. Congrats to you and your mother-in-law. You have such talent in your family! The porch book sounds wonderful too. My porches are my favorite place at home. This has been a “publication celebration!”
Leigh Anne, I have posted Vannisa’s work before. She is a wonderful writer. Thanks for stopping by to celebrate today.
WOW! What exciting news for all of you authors/poets! 🙂 How wonderful to have your hard work rewarded through publication.
I love your celebrations. I am in the middle of reading Blessen. As soon as I’m done reading celebration blogs, I’m going to head up to bed to read more. I’m really enjoying it. Celebrating authors is the best!
I’d love to hear what you think of Blessen. I did another post yesterday to enter into the conversation about diverse books.
Thank you for the bump.
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Oh, what great celebrations. I will be sending your books this coming week.