Writing a children’s book is not new venture for Yvette, as she already has several under her belt. What is new, however, is that she has joined forces with Pelican Publishing!
Pelican Publishing has been publishing books of quality & permanence in the heart of Louisiana since 1926. As an imprint of Arcadia Publishing, Pelican continues to push the perceptions of Southern publishing while remaining focused on stories of interest to generations of readers of all ages, including our collection of popular Pelican Publishing Childern’s Books.
Yvette’s latest book, The Wild Girl of Catahoula, falls into the category of “Juvenile Fiction.” The story is based on reported sightings of a feral girl during the early 1880’s, in several parishes in Louisiana.
The first reported sighting was in July of 1888. Harrisonburg’s Catahoula News reported this wild girl had been “causing a great deal of excitement” fifteen miles west of town. A month later, in LaSalle Parish, The St. Paul Daily Globe declared, “They say she is one of the most ferocious-looking beings that the human eye was ever cast upon.” Three months later, the St. Martinville Weekly Messenger announced that the “‘Wild Girl of Catahoula’ has turned up again,” this time in the small village of Catahoula.
Witnesses described the ‘Wild Girl’ as being about sixteen years old, four and a half feet tall and carrying an old knife. And she seemed to limp when she walked.
With this knowledge, Yvette dove deep into the recesses of her childhood memories to recreate the story told to her by her grandfather, Pop.
Here’s a sneak peak…
Every Sunday, Mike and Yvette could be found sitting on the porch listening to Pop recount stories of growing up near the Catahoula swamp. Tall tales of creatures that could only live in nightmares…an old hag with long, boney fingers, a tree that comes to life, and a wild girl who keeps “toe-kens” from her human encounters. Tall tales, yes, and none of them true…right?!
Yet when the family outing to visit Tante Nana, deep in the backwoods of Catahoula goes awry, Yvette soon discovers that strange things happen where the black trees grow.
The official book launch will take place during Breaux Bridge’s Centennial Celebration, Sunday, September 28, 2025, at Cafe Sydnie Mae in downtown Breaux Bridge. Check out the calendar page for a schedule of book signings throughout Louisiana.