Louisiana book events Dec. 10-14

            Marvin Allen, manager of the Carousel Bar at the Monteleone Hotel of New Orleans, will talk about his new book, “Magic in a Shaker: A Year of Spirited Libations” and the history of prohibition at 7 p.m. Tuesday at East Bank Regional Library, 4747 West Napoleon Ave. in Metairie.

            Ralph Adamo, Ava Leavall Haymoth, Gina Ferrara and Andy Young will share their poetry at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Octavia Books in New Orleans.

            Bonnie Warren signs “New Orleans Homes at Christmas” from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Tubby and Coo’s, 613 N. Carrollton Ave. in New Orleans. She will also be signing copies at noon Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Episcopal Church in New Orleans.

            Ron Drez signs “The War of 1812: Conflict and Deception: The British Attempt to Seize New Orleans and Nullify the Louisiana Purchase” at 6 p.m. Thursday at Garden District Book Shop of New Orleans.

            Muralist Robert Dafford and photographer Philip Gould will discuss their new book, “The Public Art of Robert Dafford,” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at South Regional Library in Lafayette, part of Bayou State Book Talks, a free series offered by the UL-Lafayette Center for Louisiana Studies and the Lafayette Public Library System.

            Keith Weldon Medley, author of “Black Life in Old New Orleans,” will be signing books from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the New Orleans Museum of Art. He will also be signing from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the Ashe Cultural Arts Center of New Orleans.
            Richard Ford signs “Let Me Be Frank with You: A Frank Bascombe Book” at 5 p.m., followed by a reading at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Lemuria Books in Jackson, Miss., and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at Garden District Book Shop of New Orleans.

            Gretna author Jennifer Comeaux will sign her latest book about ice skating titled “Crossing the Ice” from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday at the Gretna Art Walk and Farmer's Market. Her first trilogy included “Life on the Edge,” “Edge of the Past”' and “Fighting for the Edge.” “Crossing the Ice” begins a new series.

            Denise Walter McConduit signs “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Read” and Frank Blazek signs “Phil and His Fabulous Feathers” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., then Ann Benoit signs “New Orleans’ Best Ethnic Restaurants” and Suzanne Pfefferie signs “Vietnamese Cuisine in New Orleans” from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Pop City, 3118 Magazine St. in New Orleans.

            Addie K. Martin and Jeremy Martin sign copies of “Southeast Louisiana Food: A Seasoned Tradition” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. in Baton Rouge.

            Dianne de Las Casas, author of “Cinderellaphant, The House That Santa Built,” and many other children's books, and Chef Kid Elana, author of “Cool Kids Cook: Fresh and Fit” and “Cool Kids Cook: Louisiana” will be signing books from noon to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at NOLA Kids, 333 Chartres St. in New Orleans

            Johnette Downing, award-winning singer/songwriter and children's author, will be giving a concert from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14., at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

Cheré Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “ExploringCajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana” and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.