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Bayoubro.Com/the Ken Wells Books Page |
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What’s New… *Louisiana friends—check out Chris Cenac’s terrific new book, “Eyes of An Eagle,” a creative and ground-breaking account of the lives and times of a pioneering family in 19th Century Terrebonne Parish. You can also find it at Bent Pages bookstore in Houma.
*Check out Ken’s song writing talents on display—Cajun fiddler extraordinare Waylon Thibodeaux’s recording of Ken’s song Cher BeBe’
*You can find Waylon’s new CD, with Cher BeBe’ as the title cut, here. And you can download Cher BeBe’ on Itunes
*Ken collaborates in his songwriting efforts with his multi-talented brother, Pershing Wells, master guitar player, producer and arranger and founder of Digital Sac-a’-Lait Recording Studio. Ken and Pershing write and record under the name Crawdiddy. You can listen to more Wells originals here.
*Important developments in the case of my former colleague and friend, the slain journalist, Danny Pearl. All people of conscience should read the Pearl Project by investigative reporter Asra Nomani and her superb team at Georgetown University. *Wells was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters from his alma mater, Nicholls State University, on December 12, 2009.
*Ken, along with Terry Bradshaw, was inducted as a Louisiana Legend at a Louisiana Public Broadcasting banquet at the Old Capitol Building in Baton Rouge, La., on Thursday, April 30, 2009.
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Now in paperback—Rascal, a Dog and His Boy
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Rascal is a takeoff of Wells’ classic coming-of age-novel, Meely LaBauve, the story of a plucky 15-year-old boy living by his wits on the lonesome end of Catahoula Bayou. This time, the narrator is Rascal, the precocious beagle puppy given to Meely by the kindly teacher who takes him in. Born on Voclain’s Farm into a jambalaya of dogs, Rascal has lost his mother to a reckless cane truck driver and is thrilled to get Meely as his very own boy. “My boy’s got a lot of dog in him,” Rascal declares of their instant bond. They roam the beautiful South Louisiana low country, chasing rabbits and squirrels and exploring fields, bayous and swamps in a land that feels as pristine as the river bottoms that Huck Finn once explored. But on a night time romp, when Meely and Rascal are accidentally separated, Rascal comes face to face with a scary, trash-talking cottonmouth who seems to have an unusual interest in Meely—and warns Rascal of danger ahead. The prophesy rings true sometime later when Meely gets trapped on a rotting bridge in the deep swamp with a vengeful, man-hating creature named Pick on his trail. It’s left to Rascal, and a colorful cast of barnyard characters, including a feisty momma cat named Big Maw, to try to save the day. |
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Cover art by George Rodrigue; illustrations by Christian Slade |
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Publicity/author contact: Jessica Shoffel, Random House Children’s Books, 212-572-6012 jshoffel@randomhouse.com |
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2002 |
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September 28, 2010 |
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The Ken Wells Literary Timeline... |
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“Ken Wells is the Cajun Carl Hiaasen!”—Tom Wolfe |
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This page last updated November 2011 |
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The Critics Love Rascal! “The vividness of the animal world, the high adventure, the interspecies social commerce recalls Kipling for a start.” With “touches of humor and earthy realism,” the book brims with “characterizations of humans and animals that are sharp and distinct.” Rascal is an “honorable and engaging hero” while Wells’ narration “sings with the same lively Cajun-flavored spices as the dialogue.” —The Center for Children’s Books “A fine coming-of-age tale from a pet dog's perspective makes this a pick for any animal lover's collection.” —Midwestern Book Review “Rascal definitely has the feel of the great Huckleberry Finn stories .” —San Francisco Book Review Recommended for all children who love dogs, Rascal is “a charming story. ...Wells does an excellent job of portraying how a dog sees life: his priorities, his devotion and his understanding of the relationships between animals and people. Readers who take the time to know Rascal will come to love him.”—Kristine Wilder, Curled Up with a Good Kid’s Book “A full cast of spunky animals...keeps this one interesting.” —Kirkus Reviews |
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Ken Wells at Schoodic Point, Me. |
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‘A cracking good animal story of classic pedigree’—The Center for Children’s Books |
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2002 |
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Listen! The Good Pirates and Crawfish Mountain now available on Audible.com |
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The prestigious Bank Street Children’s Book Committee names Rascal one of its Best Books of the Year! |
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Upcoming Appearances Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce keynote speech/Civic Center, Houma, La./January 18, 6 p.m. See the HTC website for details Friends of Ken Ken wrote the lead blurb for his friend Jesmyn Ward, who won the 2011 National Book Award for her terrific novel, “Salvage the Bones.” Ken shared the stage in December with his pal Roy Blount Jr. at the Faulkner Society Word’s & Music Festival. Roy is one of the funniest people in America. Roy’s wife, the artist Joan Griswold, has a new exhibition at the Cole Pratt Gallery in New Orleans. Other favorite writers and artists: Julia Reed, Julia Glass, Robert Olen Butler, George Rodrigue, Tony Horwitz, Geraldine Brooks, Lucette Lagnado, Carl Hiassen. |