Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in south Louisiana in a little town called Opelousas, the third oldest town in the state, founded in 1720. This is in the heart of “Cajun Country.” I grew up listening to Cajun music, hearing Cajun French spoken by my parents and relatives, and eating Cajun food. The culture was ingrained in me from birth. So when the time came to produce “Down-Home Cajun Cooking Favorites,” I knew what the favorites were, so that project came together smoothly.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
I wrote a monster story in sixth grade and the teacher liked it so she gave me an “A.”
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