The Reading Life: Jarvis DeBerry, Kelly Harris-DeBerry

Susan talks with Jarvis DeBerry, whose new book is “I Feel to Believe: Collected Columns,” and Kelly Harris DeBerry, whose new collection of poems is “Freedom Knows My Name.” They will be appearing at the upcoming Words and Music: A Literary Feast in New Orleans.”

 Here’s what’s on tap in the literary life this week:

• The Festival of Words, headquartered in Lafayette, will be holding its annual poetry festival November 6-7 online. Join authors Robin Ha, Erica Meitner, and state poet laureate John Warner Smith for a series of zoom events. Go to festivalofwords.org for more info.
• Drinks journalist Tim McNally discusses and signs his book, “The Sazerac,” Saturday, November 7, from 2-4:30 at a Covid-safe book signing at Octavia Books. Masks and social distancing required.
• Laura Cayouette appears in a zoom conversation with Henry Griffin to discuss the second edition of her book, “Know Small Parts,” Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 6 p.m. Go to Garden district Book Shop to register.
• Clint Bruce discusses his book, “Afro-Creole Poetry in French from Louisiana’s Radical Civil War-Era Newspapers,” in a virtual Gallier Gathering, Wednesday November 11 at 6 p.m., sponsored by Herman-Grima and Gallier Houses. Go to hgghh.org to register.
• Grammy-nominated musician Dege Legg discusses his book, “Cablog: Diary of a Cabdriver,” in a zoom conversation with R. Reese Fuller, Thursday, November 12, at 6 p.m. Got to gardendistrictbookshop.com to register.
• Akasha Rabut signs her book of New Orleans photographs, “Death Magick Abundance,” Saturday, November 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Blue Cypress Books. Outdoor event, socially distanced and masked.
• The seventh annual Bayou Soul Literary Conference for teen writers, November 18-20, based in Baton Rouge, will be virtual this year, with a full slate of writers and performers. Check out BSWLITERARYCONFERENCE.COM to register – it’s all free.
• Words and Music: A Literary Feast in New Orleans, is coming up November 19-22 in a new online incarnation. Check out wordsandmusic.org for complete schedule and information. Jarvis DeBerry and Kelly Harris-Deberry will discuss their work in a keynote appearance Thursday evening with Melissa Braden-Perry, poet Niyi Osundare appears in conversation with Christopher Romaguera Thursday morning, Pulitzer Prize winning poet Tyehimba Jess will read Friday evening, and the event concludes with a tribute to New Orleans writer Tom Dent. There will be presentations on such topics as “The Life of Leah Chase,”Queering the South: LGBTQ Writers on Home, Love, and History,” Immortal Lives in Speculative Fiction,” and “The Modern Memoir,” to name only a few, along with many musical performances.