Books are relics. You may interpret the statement as you wish. In the digital publishing age, the hard copy is becoming rarer. I am not opposed to online publications or eBooks at all. Some of my first literary writing credits were with the former and I believe along with the latter, a tangible version is a nice option, if not the first. Isn’t that it? We want the sensory pleasure of holding a book along with seeing/reading it and maybe smelling it too. When you are reading, you are giving an investment of your personal time and it is a commitment, no matter how temporary. Even after the read is over, we may feel sentimental and pick up the book again just to reminisce in a favorite passage or two- much like remembering the finest memories of a past relationship. In the best case scenario, there was at least a connection and precious time was spent voluntarily and hopefully without remorse.

I had a fairly substantial library once. I can’t brag; I probably only had a dozen or so collectible, but they were all priceless to me because I’m one of those sentimental types when it comes to books. Some were from my childhood. Many were from my eclectic studies resulting in my Funeral Services associate degree and my bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. Yet, several were thrift store or garage sale finds. I had an extensive amount of fiction, especially short story collections. There were beautiful art and photography books on my shelves. Many were lovely gifts from friends and family who understood. This was my library in New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina and the resulting floods from levee breaches drenched my beloveds.

Fret not. This is not a bitter tale. Sure, there are those moments of remembering a book and realizing it is not on the shelf. Lost. It’s a clumsy amnesia when you have everything taken away and you can’t remember what was replaced. The easy titles were quickly reinvested. The more difficult ones required more capital and had to be obtained from overseas, but there were only a couple worth the expense. The initial library would never resurface, but something more remarkable did.

It recently occurred to me I have a new shelf. These titles were scattered around on different ledges and bookcases in my front double parlor. Today, I gathered them all and brought them together for a photo shoot. They are as varied as can be- poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art, photography, a cookbook, a cocktail book, and even a political coloring book. Some are hardbacks; others are paperbacks, and some are stapled or saddle-stitched chapbooks. Yet, they belong together because these forty-four books/chapbooks were all obtained post-storm, most after returning to New Orleans, and each is signed and/or inscribed to me. I have other wonderful books signed by authors who are now deceased, but these books are signed by living writers. This shelf is my treasure.

Having a book inscribed to you by an author is an intimate privilege. The same book without inscription cannot compare to the honor of a signed copy. I’m fortunate to have this contemporary lot of books. Living in New Orleans, hurricane evacuations are always a reality. Rest assured, I’ll be taking this shelf with me.

                             Contents of the Shelf:

1.     The Paul Simon Project, Karen Lillis (NightBallet Press, 2014)

2.     Full of It, Tim Hall (Undie Press, 2009)

3.     Enamored, O’Neil De Noux (Big Kiss Productions, 2012)

4.     Æpoetics, Thaddeus Conti (Lavender Ink, 2008)

5.     Charactered Pieces, Caleb J. Ross (OW Press, 2009)

6.     This Pagan Heaven, Robin Kemp (Pecan Grove Press, 2009)

7.     The Philosophy of Sex and Love, second edition, Alan Soble (Paragon House, 2008)

8.     Transubstantiate, Richard Thomas (Otherworld Publications, 2010)

9.     Apostle Rising, Richard Godwin (Black Jackal Books, 2011)

10.   A Howling in the Wires, Sam Jasper, Mark Folse, et al (Gallatin & Toulouse Press, 2010)

11.   Downtown, Lee Meitzen Grue (Trembling Pillow Press, 2011)

12.   Train to Pokipse, Rami Shamir (Underground Editions, 2012)

13.   In the Land of Cocktails, Ti Adelaide Martin and Lally Brennan (William Morrow, 2007)

14.   The Coffee Shop Chronicles of New Orleans, Part 1, David Lummis (River House Publishing,  2009)

15.   Lost in Space, Ben Tanzer (Curbside Splendor, 2014)

16.   A Quiet Learning Curve, Aleathia Drehmer and Dan Provost (Rank Stranger Press, 2010)

17.   Errata, Michael Allen Zell (Lavender Ink, 2012)

18.   yo quiero mas sangre, ryan buynak (Three Rooms Press, 2009)

19.   The Narrows, M. Craig (Papercut Press, 2011)

20.   Unaccustomed Mercy, DB Cox (Rank Stranger Press, 2011)

21.   Dogging It in the Big Easy, J.B. Sensenbrenner (Zander Press, 2013)

22.   Brautigan Meets Bukowski, Scot Young (Rusty Truck Press, 2012)

23.   No Tears for Old Scratch, Ken Wohlrob (Bully Press, 2014)

24.   The New Lost Blues, Carter Monroe (Thunder Sandwich Press, 2005)

25.   Unsolicited Poems, David Rowe (Verna Press, 2010)

26.   Triumph of the Won’t, Tim Hall (Undie Press, 2006)

27.   Stranger Will, Caleb J. Ross (Otherworld Publications, 2011)

28.   The Philosophy of Sex and Love, Alan Soble (Paragon House, 1998)

29.   The Coffee Shop Chronicles of New Orleans, Part 2: The Last Beaucoeur, David Lummis (River House Publishing, 2012)

30.   Katrina Days: Life in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, George Long (Xlibris, 2007)

31.   Tales of the Sisters Kane, Christy Kane (Baby Tattoo Books, 2006)

32.   1 Dead in Attic, Chris Rose (Chris Rose Books, 2005)

33.   How America Died: A Letter to the Future, Tim Hall (Undie Press, 2009)

34.   Holy Hermaphrodite, A.D. Hitchin (Shadow Archer Press, 2009)

35.   Undeniable Truths, A.M. Garner (Rank Stranger Press, 2009)

36.   Short Story America Anthology, T.D. Johnston et al (Short Story America Press, 2011)

37.  The Last Madam: A Life in the New Orleans Underworld, Christine Wiltz (Faber and Faber, 2000)

38.  New Orleans Free People of Color & Their Legacy: The Artwork of José Torres-Tama (The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, University of New Orleans, 2009)

39.  The Gravy: In the Kitchen with New Orleans Musicians, Elsa Hahne (High ISO Music, 2013)

40.  One Damn Thing After Another, Tim Hall (Outsider Writers Press, 2010)

41.  Ray Nagin Coloring Book, Karin Ocker (New Basin Press, 2009)

42.  The Man Who Wrote the Book, Erik Tarloff (Crown Publishers, 2000)

43.  Half Empty, Tim Hall (Undie Press, 2004)

44.  The Oblivion Atlas, Louviere + Vanessa, Michael Allen Zell (Lavender Ink, 2013)

Contact Kristin

(Messages are forwarded by The Preservation Foundation.
So, when you write to an author, please type his/her name
in the subject line of the message.)