What do a former taxi driver; the son of a Baptist preacher; a New Orleans chef who’s started a farm in Pearlington (MS); a “military brat” and immigrant from Okinawa; one of the few remaining New Orleans’ residents of the batture on the Mississippi River (Look it up!); a major Emmy award-winning TV director (Meet the Press) from Washington, D.C.; a grand-daughter whose family confronted the Hungarian Holocaust; another chef who was the food consultant during filming of the movie, The Help; an expert on the folklore and cultural history of the song, Li’l Liza Jane; another expert on the Brown Pelican; and a writer who studied under one of the most gifted American authors, Toni Morrison, while at Princeton – all have in common?
The answer is these are partial descriptions – “teasers” – of the backgrounds and circumstances for some of the authors and writers who will be participating in an extraordinary – and free – event to be held on the Mississippi Gulf Coast … at the Hancock Performing Arts Center in the Kiln on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
HOMEGROWN: A WRITERS’ EXCHANGE is returning for its second run after premiering in November 2019, then being put on the shelf while COVID tried to run its course. The full day event is jam-packed with “live in-person” appearances by accomplished writers, their books, information for aspiring writers about what it takes to get published, and important “how to’s” on being a writer. HOMEGROWN will also offer a very special session on “The Art of the Cookbook,” featuring four top chefs to be moderated by co-host, Carol Puckett Palmer (with Malcolm White) of the popular Mississippi Public Broadcasting, Think Radio’s DEEP SOUTH DINING food program which airs every Monday morning on the MPB radio network.
“We’re back, bigger and better than ever!” stated John Brdecka, executive director of the local library system. For its return, the Hancock County Library System has partnered with its neighbor, the Harrison County Library System to produce an event that may be the largest of its kind ever to be presented in Coastal Mississippi. “We’ve secured more than 20 of the most amazing, talented, and highly acclaimed authors – not just in Mississippi, but from New Orleans, and points beyond,” added Brdecka. Six timely 80-minute topical authors panels will be moderated by experts to feature 3 to 4 authors each discussing aspects of their inspiration, writing process, and their recent books. Books will be available for sale during the HOMEGROWN event, and authors will be available for personalized book signings.
“We’re excited that HOMEGROWN will become an annual event,” said Kevin Cole, the PR and marketing lead for the library system, who along with Nel Ducomb of the Kiln library branch are coordinating this year’s event. “The Library Foundation of Hancock County has again stepped forward to offer its generous funding support without which this event would not be possible,” added Ducomb. Cole acknowledged a recent grant award from the Mississippi Humanities Council in the amount of $2500 which will be used to help underwrite an IN CONVERSATION session live on-stage with MPB-TV’s popular host, Marshal Ramsey (“Mississippi Stories” program) and acclaimed fiction author Michael Farris Smith. Smith recently appeared in a solo session which was featured at the prestigious Mississippi Book Festival in Jackson where he discussed his most recent book, Salvage This World, and two others which have been made into Hollywood feature films. Smith is unique in that he has been able to retain the rights to convert his novels into screenplays, thus ensuring the literary integrity of his works. Mel Gibson starred in one of Smith’s movie versions, DESPERATION ROAD.
HOMEGROWN: A WRITERS’ EXCHANGE is free and open to the public with registration available online through the Eventbrite ticketing service. An optional box lunch is available for persons wishing to stay for the entire day’s programming. Attendance for the event is expected to top 500 people -- with attendance from 100 area college and university students, and area high school seniors and juniors. A series of special creative writing sessions for young adults will be available for the YA audience. Volunteer opportunities to assist during the event are also available. Interested persons should contact the BSL library at tel. 228-467-5282.
In addition to Brdecka, Cole, Ducomb, and Leah Holmes, branch manager, of the Bay St. Louis Library – all from the Hancock County Library System, the other members who make up the HOMEGROWN Steering Committee include Sarah Crisler-Ruskey, executive director, Harrison County Library System; Dr. Vickie Feazelle, head of curriculum for the Hancock County Schools; Catherine Tibbs, manager, Hancock PAC; Robin Dedeaux, Hancock Schools librarian; Scott Naugle, owner of Pass Christian Bookstore / Cat Island Coffee; popular MS author Johnnie Bernhard; and Wendy Allard, Pass Christian Library.
“We are fortunate to have such a great group of individuals who’ve ‘grabbed the bull by the horns’ and have helped provide the leadership and brainpower to put this exciting and unique day-long program together,” stated John Brdecka. “Sometimes the library system is about books, and this time it’s about writing and authors as well!”
Another feature of the day’s program includes special “by appointment only” Pitch Sessions with literary representatives from regional publishing companies. At press time, the University Press of Mississippi (Jackson), the Texas Review Press (Houston), and Pelican Press (New Orleans) were confirmed. This is an opportunity for unpublished and/or emerging writers, or persons who have an idea or manuscript (finished or in process) to meet with a representative about possible publishing opportunities, and to receive professional feedback on their work. An RSVP is required, which can be made online through the HOMEGROWN website https://hcls.info/homegrown or by contacting the HCLS.
Authors slated to participate include: MEMOIRS PANEL – Pass Christian’s Margaret McMullan (book, Where Angels Lived); Oxford’s Lee Durkee (Stalking Shakespeare: A Memoir of Madness, Murder, and My Search for the Poet Beneath the Paint), and New Orleanian Elizabeth Miki Brina (Speak, Okinawa).
ADULT FICTION PANEL – New Orleans Authors, Katy Simpson Smith (The Weeds; and, The Everlasting), Jami Attenberg (The Middlesteins; and, 1000 Words); plus Washington, DC’s, Jeffrey Blount (new release, Mr. Jimmy From Around The Way). SHORT STORIES & ESSAYS PANEL – Oxford’s Mary Miller (Biloxi; and Always Happy Hour); New Orleans’ Ladee Hubbard (The Last Suspicious Holdout; and, The Rib King); and, Leah Myers (Thinning Blood). NON- FICTION PANEL – from Tulane University, Rien Fertel (Brown Pelican); and, Tulane’s Nathaniel Rich (Losing Earth; and, Dark Waters); and New Orleanian riverfront dweller, Macon Fry (They Called Us River Rats).
A special panel entitled, TRUTH TELLERS will feature Jackson, Mississippi journalist and author Ellen Ann Fentress whose 2023 release, The Steps We Take: A Memoir of Southern Reckoning has set the southern literary world on fire and launched “the Admissions Project,” an Internet site that provides for contributions of private school experiences by former students during the period following desegregation of public schools in the south. Dan Gutstein’s Poor Gal (a December 2023 release) tells of the history of the classic folksong, Li’l Liza Jane. Gutstein is also producing a documentary film of the same subject. Another panelist, Mississippi’s Johnnie Bernhard whose book Hannah and Ariela exposes the plight and flight of immigrants, and the issue human trafficking rounds out the panel.
A panel entitled, “THE ART OF THE COOKBOOK” will feature several James Beard award-winners. Chefs Martha Foose (Hattiesburg; book, Screen Doors and Sweet Tea), Oxford’s Vishwesh Bhatt (Snackbar restaurant, part of the City Grocery Restaurant Group; and, book, I Am From Here); and, Ernest Foundas (New Orleans restaurant, Suis Generis) whose book Suis Generis: Food Evolution is due to be published early in 2025.
Moderators for the event include Ellis Anderson, French Quarter Journal and former publisher of The Shoofly magazine; Lisa McMurtry, editor, University Press of Mississippi; Tracy Carr, Mississippi Library Commission; Bill Lavender, New Orleans Poetry Festival, and Carol Pucket Palmer, MPB radio.
Young adult readers and writers will be able to experience three sessions on writing, creative writing, and screenplays. Sessions will be directed by Perry Guy, Jason Stuart, Vickie Feazelle, and Oreathia Smith.
For more details about the authors, their books, any of the HOMEGROWN activities and programs to be presented, and to register to attend the January 27, 2024 event, check online at: https://hcls.info/homegrown. Questions can also be directed to: kcole@hancock.lib.ms.us
