John Biguenet | Peauxdunque Writers Alliance

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.

More news on Peauxdunquians in the world: Foremost, another Peauxdunque publication, as Kimberly Clouse’s short story, “Hector Gets Taken,” is in Volume 1, Issue 9 of Fortyouncebachelors. Kimberly joined Peauxdunque in 2011, and is currently working on a collection of short stories for her thesis project in the UNO Creative Writing Workshop MFA program.

In readings news, TODAY, February 3, Peauxdunqian Helen Krieger will be reading at the Artfully Aware event at the New Orleans Museum of Art, which takes place from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Also reading at the event are friend-of-Peauxdunque and fellow Oxford American Summit alum Benjamin Morris, as well as New Orleans literary renaissance man extraordinaire, John Biguenet; Moira Crone; and M’Bilia Meekers. A number of other musical and visual art components will take place in conjunction with the readings.

In a final bit of Peauxdunqian-in-the-world programming news, beginning February 26, 2012, Hatchery Media‘s (and Peauxdunque’s) Helen Krieger and Joseph Meissner will conduct an eight-week master class in acting and directing actors for the screen, bringing together actors, writers, and directors to develop and hone their material in a hands-on workshop. The class will meet Sundays from 1-4 p.m., until April 22. Contact Joseph at Hatchery Media for information or registration.