Please join us for story time and a booksigning with Cornell Landry (GOODNIGHT NOLA) featuring his new children's picture book, HAPPY MARDI GRAS.

It's carnival time; so, please join us for a reading, presentation and booksigning with Sherry Alexander featuring her recent book, COURTROOM CARNIVAL: Famous New Orleans Trials.   She will be joined by one of the co-authors, Lyn Koppel ("Darleen Jacobs: Miss New Orleans, Larger Than Life.")

From Edwin Edwards' outlandish antics to Chicken King Al Copeland's romantic entanglements, this is a collection of stories about 10 of New Orleans's most memorable high-profile litigants. Each chapter describes one of the colorful personalities whose trials and tribulations have captured widespread public attention. 

"Louisiana's unique legal system and its reputation for out-sized political personalities come to life in Courtroom Carnival, an insightful and colorful account of the state's most famous trials and infamous litigants."
--John Maginnis

Featured chapters include sheriff Harry Lee ("The Chinese Cowboy,"), Harry Connick, Sr ("The Singing DA"), NOPD's Antoine Saacks ("The Fop Cop") and state senator Michael O'Keefe ("The Courtly Pol").

In addition to the chapter on recently-released-from-prison Edwin Edwards ("Fast Eddie Plays the Game The Louisiana Way"), a bonus chapter on the four-time former governor includes 100 examples of instant retorts and quips divided into such sections as politics, women and gambling: "The Wit and Wisdom of Edwin Edwards."

Such tales could take place only in Louisiana, where courtroom proceedings often take on the air of a Carnival celebration.

Author/Editor S.L. Alexander, a journalist and professor in the School of Mass Communication at Loyola University New Orleans, earned her doctorate in communication law at the University of Florida and has published extensively on free press/fair trial issues.  She will be joined by one of the co-authors, Lyn Koppel ("Darleen Jacobs: Miss New Orleans, Larger Than Life.")

"This is a book to read on a calm night when there's hardly a breeze and the skies are clear. It will remain with you in vivid detail, and someday, when the weather turns tumultuous, this book could save your life."  --Jeffrey Zaslow, coauthor, The Last Lecture 

Please join us for a presentation and book signing with CNN weather anchor Bonnie Schneider featuring her new book, EXTREME WEATHER: A Guide to Surviving Flash Floods, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Snowstorms, Tsunamis and Other Natural Disasters.

2010 had broken the most weather records on the books – until 2011 hit. With over $35 billion in damages (not including Hurricane Irene) and over 700 U.S. disaster and weather deaths this year, it’s clear that extreme weather is on the rise and taking a heavy toll.  Bonnie Schneider explains when extreme weather strikes and how to respond.  In EXTREME WEATHER, she distills her extensive knowledge as a trained meteorologist to craft a must-have informational guide on natural disasters. She interviews experts from a wide variety of agencies—including FEMA and NOAA—to provide a comprehensive understanding of the science behind weather patterns and the latest thinking on how to act in dangerous conditions.

EXTREME WEATHER is a guidebook on natural disasters for everyday people, an informative yet straightforward book that introduces the reader to the best course of action during weather emergencies, including:

• how to handle extreme weather scenarios in your car, outside, on a boat or at home
• what you need to have at home to protect against floods, earthquakes, or severe storms
• how to protect your home from rapidly spreading fire
• how to create a family evacuation plan for different emergencies
• making sure your beloved pet it taken care of in time of disaster

Bonnie Schneider is a meteorologist who appears on the various media platforms of CNN and HLN.  She holds the American Meteorological Society’s Seal of Approval for excellence in weather broadcasting.  Given the extreme weather scenarios New Orleans has seen, and continues to see, and Bonnie’s personal ties to the city (she covered  Hurricane Katrina for CNN Worldwide), she plans to deliver a city-specific talk.

This event is held in partnership with The World Affairs Council of New Orleans.