Susan Larson previews the 11th annual New Orleans Poetry Festival with co-founder Bill Lavender and executive director Sean Munro, and Chuck Perkins, one of the poet presenters at this year's festival.
Here’s what’s on tap in the literary life this week:
Rap artist 2 Chainz discusses and signs “The Voice in My Head Is God,” Friday, April 10, at 6 at Baldwin & Co. This is a ticketed event.
The Octavia Books Science Fiction Book Club reads “Briar Rose: A Novel of the Holocaust,” Saturday, April 11, at 10:30 a.m. at Octavia Books.
Rachel Marsh reads from and signs her middle grade novel, “Grandpere’s Ghost Swamp,” Saturday, April 11, at 11 a.m. at Garden District Book Shop.
Emily Nemens appears in conversation with novelist Josh Wheeler and signs her novel “Clutch,” Monday, April 13, at 6 p.m. at Garden District Book Shop.
Che Yeun discusses and signs her debut novel, “Tailbone,” Thursday, April 16, at 6 at Garden District Book Shop.
Professor Gerald Kennedy, Boyd Professor of English (emeritus) at Louisiana State University, presents the 36th Josephine Gessner Ferguson Lecture in English Litearture, which will consider why Edgar Allan Poe is arguably the most widely known and read U.S. writer around the world, Thursday, April 16, at 7 p.m. in the Freeman Auditorium in Woldenberg Art Center. A discussion and reception will follow.
Commentator David Griscom appears in conversation with Nathan Martin and signs “The Myth of Red Texas: Cowboys, Populism, and Class War in the Radical South,” Friday, April 17, at 6 p.m. at Garden District Book Shop.
The Friends of the Jefferson Parish Library hold their Big Book Sale Friday through Sunday, April 17-19, 2026 at the Pontchartrain Center, Williams Blvd. at the Lake, in Kenner. Hours are Friday and Saturday (April 17-18) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday (April 19) from noon to 5 p.m. Free admission and free parking. This is one of the largest book sales in the New Orleans area, with over 65,000 items for sale, including gently used adult and children's books, puzzles, DVDs, CDs, and records. Cash and credit and debit cards, no checks.
The Books Along the Teche Literary Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary in April 2026 in New Iberia. Each year, we have brought readers, writers, and lovers of Louisiana culture This milestone year features Rick Bragg, Pulitzer Prize–winning author and storyteller, along with a dynamic schedule of events that showcases the cultural significance and beauty of Southern storytelling. Scott and Jane Wolfe, of Melba's Po'Boys fame will kick off the Festival Friday, April 10, at noon, with their story of resilience, hard work, entrepreneurship, and love for each other. Check out the offerings on subjects as varied as Creole trail riders to romantasy, from the history of swamp pop and dance halls in Louisiana to the process of playwriting -- and much, much more! The full slate of panels and presentations can be found here: https://booksalongthetecheliteraryfestival.com/events/ticket-information/.
There is also a book fair and writing contests for both adults and children. The festival ends with Symphony Sunday in the Park on April 12th, a free event held at City Park and sponsored by the Iberia Cultural Resources Association. Three cultural events during the festival that are ticketed, and those involve food, drink, and music – an opening reception, a traditional Southern breakfast and a Saturday evening concert..
New Orleans Poetry Festival and Small Press Fair is the big event this week, from April 16-19, as headquartered at the New Orleans Healing Center on St. Claude Ave. and at various venues in the neighborhood.
The bookfair takes place at the New Orleans Healing Center (2372 St. Claude Ave.) all weekend long—Friday through Sunday, April 17–19, 10 AM to 5 PM. It’s free, open to the public, and the place to score fresh books straight from presses. New this year: the Small Press Fair Happy Hour (Friday, 4:00–5:00 PM) in the Grand Hall. Check out nolapoetry.com for the complete schedule. The Festival is free.
The Really, REALLY Big Book Sale at Latter Library is Saturday, April 18. Open to members only from 10-11 a.m., then to the public from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Used books, movies and music.
