River Reads: One Book, One Ouachita - Author Natalie Baszile

Queen Sugar selected as Library’s River Reads: One Book, One Ouachita title; author to visit April 23 The Ouachita Parish Public Library has selected Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszile as its 15th River Reads: One Book, One Ouachita title. The community reading program will culminate with an author visit on April 23. Set in contemporary Louisiana, Queen Sugar tells the story of African American single mother Charley Bordelon who leaves her home in Los Angeles after unexpectedly inheriting hundreds of acres of sugarcane land. As she struggles to prepare for grinding season, she must learn to balance new and old personal, romantic and professional relationships. “The purpose of River Reads: One Book, One Ouachita is to foster a shared reading experience across the Parish,” said Library Director Robin Toms. “We can come together across geographic and demographic differences by reading the same book at the same time.” The Library will host 10 Queen Sugar-inspired programs throughout March, as well as a presentation led by the author during National Library Week in April. On April 23, Baszile will discuss and sign copies of her book at noon at the Ouachita Valley Branch Library and again at 6 p.m. at the Main Branch Library. Copies of the book will be available for sale. The novel has been adapted for television by writer and director Ava DuVernay and co-produced by Oprah Winfrey for OWN. Queen Sugar was named one of the San Francisco Chronicle’s Best Books of 2014 and nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Her nonfiction work has appeared in Lenny Letter, The Bitter Southerner, O, The Oprah Magazine and many anthologies. Baszile earned her M.A. in Afro-American Studies from UCLA and is a graduate of Warren Wilson College’s MFA Program for Writers. Baszile is on MFA Faculty at Sierra Nevada College and lives in San Francisco and Oakland. “The Library has Queen Sugar is available for check out in regular print, large print, e-book, e-audiobook and book-on-CD. I would love for everyone to check out this book. All you need is your Library card,” Toms said. About the Ouachita Parish Public Library The mission of the Library is to advance literacy, inspire lifelong learning, and strengthen our community by serving everyone in Ouachita Parish. The Library serves a diverse community of approximately 160,000 people. The Library has 10 branches throughout the parish, plus a bookmobile, outreach services and e-services online at www.oplib.org. ###