The Annual Awards Luncheon of the Lafayette Public Library Foundation is on May 14, 2021, at Fleur de Lis Ballroom- City Club River Ranch. The theme of this year’s event is “The Future Is Local!” and will honor Second Harvest Food Bank with the Foundation Award and Andrew Duhon will receive the President’s Award.

Doors and silent auction to open at 10:30 am, the program begins at 11:30 am.

The luncheon is open to the public and tickets are $35.  For more information about attending the Lafayette Public Library Foundation Annual Awards Luncheon, please call 337-593-4770.

We are pleased to welcome an array of Local Authors who will join us to showcase their work and interact with attendees. A wide selection of their work will also be available for purchase.

Local Authors who will join us are:

Samantha Chopin Amos- Samantha was born in Marrero, Louisiana. She graduated from the University of Louisiana Lafayette in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and a Master’s in Business Administration in December 2020. Samantha is the founder and president of Unblock Your Healing, LLC and is employed at ULL as an Integration Analyst in the Enterprise Application Services Department. In her book, My Journey to Wholeness: Was It Physical, Mental, or Spiritual? She shares the most impactful teachings and lessons she learned.

Alysson Bourque – Alysson Bourque began her career as a teacher after graduating in Elementary Education. She earned a Juris Doctor Law degree from Southern University Law Center in 2007. After practicing law for six years, it was time to trade in writing trial briefs for writing children’s books. The Alycat Series and has won numerous awards and honors for her writing.

Rose Hoffman Cormier-Rose is a native of New Orleans and came to Lafayette in 1970 to attend the University of Southwestern Louisiana, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in 1974.  She is now semi-retired, working part-time with Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys.  Rose is the single mom of two children, Kelly and Jeff, both graduates of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.  For the past 20 years, she has been performing in Lafayette as her various characters:   Marilyn Monreaux; Acadiana’s Mrs. Santa Claus; Acadiana’s Mother Goose; the Fairy Godmother; Winifred Sanderson of Hocus Pocus; Fleaux, the Progressive Insurance Lady; along with being an actress in various local plays since 2009.  Her most notable plays were “The Dream of the Marionette” and The Addams Family, the Musical.  She is a 6 year Colon Cancer survivor and a 2-year Breast Cancer survivor.

Shome Dasgupta – Shome Dasgupta lives in Lafayette, LA. He is the author of i am here And You Are Gone (Winner Of The 2010 OW Press Contest), The Seagull And The Urn (HarperCollins India), Anklet And Other Stories (Golden Antelope Press), Pretend I Am Someone You Like (Livingston Press), Mute (Tolsun Books), and the forthcoming books, Spectacles (Word West), and Iron Oxide (Assure Press) which is a poetry collection. His stories and poems have appeared in McSweeney’s Internet TendencyNew Orleans ReviewNew Delta ReviewNecessary FictionParentheses JournalMagma Poetry, and elsewhere. His fiction and poetry have been anthologized in Best Small Fictions 2019 (Sonder Press), The &Now Awards 2: The Best Innovative Writing Anthology (&Now Books, 2013), and Poetic Voices Without Borders 2 (Gival Press, 2009). His work has been featured as a story South Million Writers Award Notable Story, nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the Best Of The Net, and longlisted for the Wigleaf Top 50.

Dominique Edmond – Dominique is a native of Lafayette, Louisiana and now resides in the Greater Baton Rouge area. He is a multiple business owner and has published five books including the best-seller, “How to Set Yourself on Fire!:17 secrets to Unlock Your Purpose, Passion and Potential.” In 2019, Dominique was able to begin a book publishing company where he’s been able to help over 30 authors write and publish their books. Of the many accomplishments he has achieved, he’s most proud of being a great Dad to his son, Joshua and his daughter, Jordan.

Stephanie Fournet – Stephanie Fournet, the author of ten novels including Leave a Mark, Someone Like Me, Kind of Cursed, and Two-Step, lives in Lafayette, Louisiana—not far from the Saint Streets where her novels are set. She shares her home with her husband and daughter, their needy dogs Mabel and Finnegan, and the ghosts of dogs past. When she isn’t writing romance novels, Stephanie is usually helping students get into college, camping, or curled up with a good book.  She loves hearing from fans, so look for her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and stephaniefournet.com.

 Edward G. Gauthier – Edward G. Gauthier’s work has been accepted by Literary Orphans, Punchnels, Dual Coast Magazine, Gyroscope Review, J.J. Outre Review, Story Shack, and others. A retired English and computer science teacher, he now maintains a four-to-six-hour daily writing schedule. His novel, Director Guy is available at Amazon.com/books in paperback and a digital e-book. His second novel is in process and will be released by October 2021.  EdwardGauthier.com features his short stories, poetry, essays, interviews, and other writings.

La’Toya Guillory – La’Toya Guillory is new to the writing scene. She was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1981, but has been a native of Lafayette, Louisiana for over 20 years. For years, La’Toya has worked in the social service field and has seen the effects of individuals who live life as if they have no purpose. Her writing style is one that strives to empower individuals to live according to the purpose that God has for them. La’Toya is the owner of Empowered with Purpose LLC which serves as the catalyst to empower her community. She is the author of her first book, Anchored: Anchored in Christ, Anchored in Marriage, and launched her study guide for the book this year. She was recently awarded Acadiana’s Top 20 Leaders under 40 in 2018. She is a certified marriage enrichment facilitator for Prepare and Enrich and SYMBIS(Saving Your Marriage Before it Starts). She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies in 2006 and went on to complete her master’s degree in Human Services Counseling with Specialization in Marriage and Families, in 2017. Her books can be found on Audible, Amazon, ITunes, and Ingram Spark.

Sharon Richard Hardy – Nannie Sharon’s Cookbook is a compilation she has lovingly collected of recipes she adapted to her necessary diet changes while making meals enjoyable for other members of her family and friends. Through her battle with gluten intolerance, Hashimot’s and GED, she has done countless hours of research on various foods and the effects they have on the body. She has surrounded herself with knowledgeable nurses, dieticians, and doctors and absorbed advice like a sponge. The recipes in the pages of her cookbook are adaptations of Cajun and Southern classics along with many all-new creations and delicious flavors. More than anything, these are the recipes she eats with her family and friends.

Dytania Johnson – Dytania Johnson was born in Miami, Florida and at the age of 3 years old he moved to the small town of New Iberia in southern Louisiana. As a kid, he was often told by older family members and friends of a Southern folk tale. Some told the tale as a demon and told the story as a witch, but for the most part all stories told by everyone were pretty much the same. He experienced the tale for himself as he slept as a youth, and as an adult, he became interested in the question of how Kooshma came about. From there he created Kooshma: the Origin.

Diana Cash Lennon – Diana Cash Lennon is a “Jill of all Trades”- she seems to have done everything!  She was born in Dayton, Ohio, but has been in Lafayette 35 years so is an adopted “Cajun.”  She comes from a family of published writers and loves to share her gifts with others. She writes with the idea of helping others in some way, as that brings her joy.  In addition to writing and publishing her first book, Why Do Airplanes Have Tails, and her current book, Pets and the Nine Fruits of the Spirit, in her diverse work life, she has written and edited a variety of material. She currently works part-time in the legal field and as a local pet sitter.  Additionally, she has started a blog and is working on several other books. She has a BA in Public Relations from the University of [Southwestern] Louisiana at Lafayette and is a Leadership Lafayette graduate. She has been married for nearly 40 years to Rocky Lennon and they have two adult daughters, Mackenzie and Savannah.

Nancy Rust and Carol Stubbs – Nancy Rust and Carol Stubbs are two friends and writing partners who share a passion for literature, literacy, and published books with another to be released this summer. Their first book is A Louisiana Christmas: Heritage Recipes and Hometown Celebrations. Their second book is What’s Watching Me and Other Animal Stories, a middle-grade book with ten short stories about animals. Andrew Higgins and the Boats That Landed Victory in World War II, was published last May through Pelican. It’s a picture book biography that tells the story of a boy whose passion for building boats led to the production of the iconic landing craft used by the Allies in World War II. Their fourth book, to be released in August, is the story of Peggy Martin Rose. Carol and Nancy are both members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Acadiana Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Critique Group.

Merrill Wautlet – Merrill Wautlet is a career finance professional in the banking industry. Prior to entering that profession, he spent two years as a teacher and a coach. He also has served on multiple community nonprofit boards. He is a native of New Orleans and now resides in Shreveport. He is the proud father of two sons both of whom have autism. His hobbies include blogging, working out, and traveling. The Rat is his first book.

Gayle Webre – Gayle holds a Master’s +30 from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (currently ULL) and has worked in elementary education for 25 years, primarily designing and implementing enrichment curricula for gifted children. She generally lives with her nose in a book or talking about books she’s read. When she’s not writing, hosting gatherings for her family and friends, or playing with her grandchildren, you can find her riding her tricycle (Yep!).