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Audio Interviews
At Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith’s December 14th and 15th “American Conversations” visits to the Jean Lafitte Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux, and the South Lafourche Public Library in Cut Off, local community members were eager to share their excitement and enthusiasm about the events with Anya Creightney, programs manager of the Library of Congress Poetry and Literature Center. You can listen to or read these short interviews below.
Bessie Sennett is a poet, writer, and healer living in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Read the transcript of Bessie Sennett’s interview
Eric Cartier is a library manager and recorder of documents at the State Library of Louisiana. Amanda Hawk is the head of public and research services at the Louisiana State University Library. Both live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Read the transcript of Eric Cartier’s and Amanda Hawk's interview
Tammy Pate, born and raised in Cut Off, Louisiana, is the branch manager at the South Lafourche Public Library in Cut Off.
Read the transcript of Tammy Pate’s interview
Email Interviews
Many thanks to the dedicated coordinators and staff who helped organize the Louisiana “American Conversations” visits. The following interviews were conducted over e-mail by Anya Creightney, programs manager of the Library of Congress Poetry and Literature Center.
Bette Billiot
United Houma Nation
Bette Billiot is the administrative assistant to the current Principal Chief of the United Houma Nation Tribe of Louisiana, Mr. August Creppel.
Read the interview
Jim Davis
State Library of Louisiana/Louisiana Center for the Book
Jim Davis is director of the Louisiana Center for the Book and the Louisiana Book Festival, having served in this capacity since May 2008. Prior to coming to the State Library, he was the Adult Programming Coordinator for Jefferson Parish Public Library, headquartered in Metairie, LA.
Read the interview
Alise Wascom
State Library of Louisiana/Louisiana Center for the Book
Alise Wascom is an administrative coordinator at the State Library of Louisiana, where she works on Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Awards and the Louisiana Book Festival, and shares funny memes and bookish news on the festival’s social media accounts. Born in New York, Alise now lives in Southeastern Louisiana with her husband, writer Kent Wascom, and their daughter.
Read the interview
