•Baton Rouge and Surrounding Areas

Authors In Baton Rouge

Sylvia Rochester

Biography

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Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Graduated from LSU with a degree in arts and science with a concentration in Fine Arts and English In Alabama she worked for NASA She has two sons and seven grandsons She spent two years with the Peace Corps in Ethiopia

Works

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When Evil Loves – a women who lost her love might be in love with a killer The Sweet Smell of Death – drama of the government is brought to LA’s bayous Shadow of the Soul – cruel grips of winter in 1870 blows in an exciting novel Come Back My Love – Civil War brings in more than division of a nation; it hails a dangerous mystery

Style

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Her works come from pictures in her mind.

Writes romantic suspense and paranormal romance novels.

Her travels to many places including Europe and Africa inspire her to write.

Spends hours traveling to bayous in South Louisiana searching for future paintings and novel settings.

Elaine Grant

Biography

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Born in 1951 in a small town thirty miles outside of Auburn, Alabama

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Resident of Baton Rouge, LA for 30 years

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Married with one son

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Loves horses, gardening, baseball, eating sushi

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Her first short story published in a local newspaper

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Wrote her first novel at age sixteen

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Make Believe Mom

Works

“Instant mom- just add a fiancé and seven kids!”

Roses For Chloe

A 150-year-old southern plantation named Caroline is being haunted by love, passion, and a ghost named Chloe.

Little Book of Baseball

This book is a guide to baseball for children starting t-ball. It explains the greatness of the game and why it is America’s pastime.

Style

•Elaine Grant is a talented author, she entertains you with laugh out loud moments as well as tear-wiping sighs •She takes horror, comedy, drama, and romance and is able to wrap them up in one book

Mrs. Lawana Blackwell

Her Life

•Born Feb. 1952, Baton Rouge •Took writing courses at LSU •Married with three sons •Realized at forty God called her to write Christian-based novels

Her Works

•Writes Christian and historical romance novels •The Gresham Chronicles • Tales of London •The Maiden of Mayfair •The Victorian Serenadea

Her Style • Writes believable plots with realistic character development and spiritual insight.

• Characters in the book learn lessons about God’s love and forgiveness.

• She says about her work, “When you write a book, a little bit of you goes into every character.”

Authors In Surrounding Areas

Cindy Foust

Biography

 Was born in Lake Arthur LA, but now she lives in West Monroe, LA.

   Is married and has two children.

Began publishing her books when her son, Samuel, died.

“I believe God laid it on my heart to do this.” – Cindy Foust

Works

 Austin Alligator I’ll See You Guys Later  Benny Bear Having A Baby Sister Isn’t Fair • Glen Goose There’s A Babysitter On The  Claude and Callie Cat Loose When We Get In A Spat  Douglas Duck • Harry Harry Hippo My Doctor’s Name Is Chico • Iguana Ike I Think My Pacifier Is Stuck  Elephant Emma Lou I’ve Lost My Pretty Tutu  Freddy Fox I’ve Got The Chicken Pox The Truth Is What I Like • Johnny Jackelope You Must Believe in Hope

Style

  Writes children’s books for every letter of the alphabet, helping children cope with everyday life. She says, “Writing a new book takes six hours to six months.”  Rhyming is used throughout all of her books.

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John Ed Bradley was born on August 12, 1958.

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He was born in Opelousas, Louisiana.

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John Ed Bradley was an all SEC Center at LSU.

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He became an author when his football playing days were over.

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“Tupelo Nights” was his first novel.

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It Never Rains in Tiger Stadium.

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Autobiography of Bradley’s experiences as an LSU Tiger

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“His book is so much more than just football once you read it.”- Mark Warren

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Two other novels are Tupelo Nights and My Juliet.

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Major themes: - Love - Murder - Racism - Sports A writer of great power and intensity

Tim Gautreaux

• Tim Gautreaux was born and raised in Morgan City, Louisiana.

• As a kid, he was given a typewriter where he began his writing career.

• Working as a teacher helped him become a better writer.

• He is now a writer and a professor at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.

• His earlier works have appeared in Harpers, The Atlantic Monthly, GQ, and Zoetrope.

• He has written: The Next Step in the Dance, Same Place, Same Things, The Clearing, and Welding With Children.

• His writing shows big details and thoroughly explains small details • Characters are ordinary people who experience bizarre events

Kimberly Willis Holt

Biography

• Born in Pensacola, Florida on September 9, 1960. • Kimberly’s mother was a teacher; her father worked

as a chef for the U.S Navy.

• Her “emotional home” was Forest Hill, Louisiana. • Wrote her first book in 1998. • She says, “Louisiana gave me my roots; Texas gave

me my branches.”

• Favorite foods: dark chocolate, and chicken and

dumplings.

• Favorite hobbies: reading, movies, and going to

plays.

• Favorite books: To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Heart

Is a Lonely Hunter.

Works

My Louisiana Sky:

• Tiger Ann Parker lives with her grandmother and parents in Saitter, Louisiana. Tiger’s parents are mentally slow, but she is a straight ‘A’ student who finds herself being more and more embarrassed of her parents.

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town:

• This Story is about a 13 year old boy who moves to Texas. His life consists of mostly loss and friendship.

Style

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town

• It is sad, happy, funny, and everything else.

My Louisiana Sky (First Book)

• “It had a great storyline and I loved the characters.” • This book is great for tomboys.

• The author did an excellent job with bringing in death, sadness, romance, and excitement.

From Barnes & Nobles’ Reviewers

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • www.elainegrant.com

www.bookbrowse.com

www.Atlanta.creativeloafing.com

www.louisiana.edu

www.sylviarochester.com

www.bayoustudios.com

www.christianbook.com

www.historicalromancewriters.com

www.randomhouse.com

www.2theadvocate.com

www.powells.com

www.esquire.com

www.gardendistrictbookshop.com

www.Amazon.com

Bibliography

• Personal Interviews: Elaine Grant, Sylvia Rochester, Lawana Blackwell • Phone Interviews: John Ed Bradley, Cindy Foust • Internet Interviews: Tim Gautreaux, Kimberly Willis Holt

Special Thanks To:

• All of the participating authors • All of Mrs. Miller’s Classes, especially Technical Support Students: – Kelli Blount – Dainon Miles – Zachary Luker – Holton Hancock – Joshua Arnone – Michael Bochicchio – Kyle Haigler – Dylan Philippe – Ian Douglas