On Sunday afternoon, the rain had stopped, the air was a perfect 70 degrees, and my house was full. Full of people with great admiration for my mother-in-law, Anne Simon, who once served as a district judge in a three parish area of Louisiana. She was not holding court, but the respect and honor was present. Minga (her grandmother name given by my oldest daughter) was signing her 5th book. Her first book Blood in the Cane Field came out in 2014. She has only been a writer for 10 years. She is 92 years old.
Actually, Anne has been working on being an author for a long time. She graduated from Wellesley and was the token woman chosen from her class to attend Yale Law School. Mona Lisa Smile was a movie based on her Wellesley class. At Yale, “They didn’t even have female bathrooms,” she told me. At Yale, she met Jerry Simon, a young man from an exotic place, New Iberia, Louisiana. In 1956, she was the only woman law school graduate in her class at LSU Law School. Jerry had swept her away from Yale to plant her firmly in Louisiana soil. From 1956-1984, Anne and Jerry practiced together as partners in a law firm. My husband Jeff joined the practice in 1981. In 1985, Anne ran for District Judge and became the first woman to hold that office. In her retirement, she served as an ad hoc judge for the Louisiana Supreme Court. All that time, she collected stories.
On Sunday, Anne told the group gathered in our home about how she came to write this latest novel, Blue, Gray, and Black Blood: The Civil War in the Bayou Country. She was interested in Civil War history. In her studies, she found that farm boys from western Massachusetts volunteered for the Union Army. She knew this area of the country well (Wellesley is located in Massachusetts) and imagined that they might have crossed paths with French speaking African Americans in Acadiana.
This photo shows Anne talking with Phebe Hayes, a historian and founder of the Iberia African American Society. Phebe was studying her family’s genealogy when she had lunch with me and Anne on the back porch of Anne’s house. I was there when the two discussed Phebe’s discoveries about her ancestry. Her ancestors were French speaking Creoles who joined the 52nd Massachusetts volunteers heading west. Through Anne’s thorough research, she wrote a historical fiction book “so you could imagine what it would have been like to live during that time.”
“We need to know every group’s history, not just our own. They intersect and we understand more when we know more,” said Anne to the crowd gathered. I was honored to be able to provide my home for the book signing. And many thanks to the people who helped with the event.
Reflections on the Teche 
It was a lovely event
Margaret, this is SO inspiring – the preservation of story and knowing that it is never too late to start writing are two important messages for readers of all ages. The photograph is priceless, and I know the experience of this book signing will be unforgettable for all of you. Way to go!
Oh my gosh, what a woman! It gives me hope to realize that this person walks among us and that her story, an inspirational one, could possibly represent countless other untold stories of singular purpose and distinction. You must be so proud to know her, to claim her as family, your husband’s mom, nonetheless! The bayou has such a rich history, fraught, yes, but full of so many influences and diverse people’s stories. Words to live by: “…we understand more when we know more…”
oh lovely! Thanks for sharing this. What a lovely afternoon.
Your mother-in-law sounds remarkable – an inspiration for all of us! I think I am most excited by the fact that she has written five books in the last ten years – just amazing. She is clearly a collector of stories, and I love that quote – “We need to know every group’s history, not just our own. They intersect and we understand more when we know more,” bravo!
SUCH an inspiration!
Wow! What a life and what an accomplishment!
I loved reading about Anne, Margaret! She is truly an inspiration.
WOW!! Margaret, this is so interesting and inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, congratulations to your mother-in-law’s new published book. She has accomplished so much in her life. Starting to write books at 82, still writing them at 92, and having them published is wonderful and an inspiration! Thank you for sharing your slice on your mother-in-law’s life.
What a remarkable woman, whom I imagine has written some great books from her life experiences. I’ve written down her name to add her books to my reading list. And what an honor for you to host the event in your own home. Thanks for sharing. 🙂