Wacky Southerner
Cheré Dastugue Coen is an award-winning journalist and author. She has written or edited for several newspapers, magazines and websites, including Variety magazine in Hollywood, the Advocate newspaper in Baton Rouge, Gambit Weekly in New Orleans, the Gannett newspapers of Louisiana, The Californian, and many others.
She currently writes freelance for a variety of
publications, including AAA Southern Explorer;
New Orleans magazine, Louisiana Life
and Acadiana Profile of the Renaissance magazine
group of New Orleans; TravelAgeWest magazine;
Louisiana Country; Florida Currents;
South Carolina Currents; and many others.
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Cheré also writes nonfiction books, plus novels
under the pen name of Cherie Claire
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Chere's Nonfiction Includes:
"Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,"
"Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana,"
"Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Tour of Acadiana" (The History Press)
The cookbook travelogue “Cooking in Cajun Country” with "Cajun" Karl Breaux (2009, Gibbs Smith Publishing)
“Magic's in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets” (2010, Llewellyn) with Jude Bradley.
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Cherie Claire's Novels Include:
The Viola Valentine paranormal mystery series
The Cajun Series of historical romances
The Cajun Embassy, a contemporary romance series.
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Cheré has sat on the Louisiana boards of the Lafayette Public Library Foundation of Lafayette, the Festival of Words literary festival of Grand Coteau, the Writers Guild of Acadiana, and the Heart of Louisiana Romance Writers of America of Baton Rouge. She has appeared numerous times at the Louisiana Book Festival, Romance Writers of America's national convention, the Los Angeles Times Book Festival, the Louisiana Library Association conference, and many other literary events.
Contact her for speaking engagements and workshops here.
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​You can read more about Cheré and her publications here.
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Blog Posts:
Cheré contributes to:
Forbes
VisitSouth.com (defunct)
MyLafayetteTravel.blogspot.com
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Awards:
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Finalist, environmental reporting, Louisiana Life magazine, New Orleans Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards, 2022
International Regional Magazine Association
Bronze, travel package, "Luxe La," Louisiana Life, 2022
Gold, food feature, "Best Boudin" Acadiana Profile, 2017
Gold, food feature, "Best New Restaurants," Acadiana Profile, 2018
Gold, art direction of a single story, "Best New Restaurants," Acadiana Profile, 2018
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Silver, recreation feature, "Best Bars," Acadiana Profile, 2020
Silver, art and culture feature, "Cracklins," Acadiana Profile, 2020
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Bronze, food feature, "Cracklins," Acadiana Profile, 2020
Bronze, reader service article, "Game On," Acadiana Profile, 2018
Bronze, portrait series, "Best Chefs," Acadiana Profile, 2018
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ArtSpark Grant, Lafayette, 2019
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Robin Hardy New Student Scholarship, Writers Retreat Workshop, 2012
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Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation Grant, 2007
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Louisiana Press Women, First Place Entertainment Feature and Best Novel, 1999
Louisiana Press Women, First Place, Web Page Feature Story, 2000
National Federation of Press Women Award for Best Novel, 2000 (third place)
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Helicon Achievement Award of Excellence, "Power and Influence: Women Who Have It and How They Use It," Gambit Weekly, 1994
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Ingersol national news writing and feature finalist, 1988 and 1989
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Margaret Dixon Journalism Award for LSU Outstanding Female Senior, 1982
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Theatrical
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Produced plays in 2007 and 2008 at the Hub City Theater Festival, Lafayette, LA
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Screenplay “ZeZe’s Waltz” took first place in Scriptscene Contest, 2003.
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Podcasts
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Louisiana Life, Episode 1 "Louisiana Travel"
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Louisiana Life: Episode 26 "Louisiana Staycations"
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Louisiana Life: Episode 57 "Towns With Charm"
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It's Acadiana Out to Lunch: Writers Do the Hustle
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Guest on The Extra Mile with Linda Boudreaux, 2014
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Articles About Cheré Coen/Cherie Claire
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SensibleTalk and click here
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