Peauxdunque founding member Maurice Carlos Ruffin will have a new publication in the Fall 2016 issue of Virginia Quarterly Review–his beautiful essay, “Fine Dining in New Orleans,” about race, class, and the shifting historical symbologies of eating out. You won’t want to miss this one.

In addition, Maurice‘s work is included in the upcoming New Orleans Noir: The Classics, edited by Julie Smith and including short stories by such other luminaries as James Lee Burke, Armand Lanusse, Grace King, Kate Chopin, O. Henry, Eudora Welty, Tennessee Williams, Shirley Ann Grau, John William Corrington, Tom Dent, Ellen Gilchrist, Valerie Martin, O’Neil De Noux, John Biguenet, Poppy Z. Brite, Nevada Barr, and Ace Atkins. Publisher’s Weekly recently gave the anthology a starred review, and singled out Maurice’s story, “The Pie Man,” calling it “a powerful examination of ethnic tensions in post-Katrina New Orleans.” The anthology will be released on March 1, and a book release reading and signing is on tap for Garden District Book Shop that day, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., featuring Julie Smith, Ace Atkins, Nevada Barr, O’Neil Denoux, and Maurice.