Former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards is no stranger to Vermilion Parish over the last 40 years during his tenure in Louisiana politics. Sunday evening he returned to the parish to sign copies of his book, “Edwin Edwards: Governor of Louisiana” for nearly 200 people at the Abbeville Library.
Starting at 2 p.m. people began lining up at the front door for the booking signing that began at 5 p.m. When the doors opened at 4:30 p.m. people made their way into the library.
For the next 90 minutes, Edwards signed and sold books, as well as, took pictures with anyone who wanted a photo with the former governor.
Leroy Carter, 65, got a copy of his book signed and also took a photo with him. Afterwards, he was happy.
“I am extremely excited,” said Carter. “I am not sure why I get giddy like this, but he is a living legend. I shared a book signing with him and I got overjoyed.”
Another person who was happy to meet Edwards is Joan Stoute from Erath.
“Edwards is probably the only governor from Louisiana who has helped the state,” she said.
Edwards was governor for four terms (1972–1980, 1984–1988 and 1992–1996), twice as many terms as any other Louisiana chief executive has served. Edwards was also Louisiana’s first Roman Catholic governor in the 20th century.
Edwards spent eight years in federal prison for his role in a bribery and extortion scheme to rig riverboat casino licenses during his fourth term in the early 1990s. In July, he completed six months of home detention and regular reporting to a Baton Rouge halfway house.
“As you know, they sent me to prison for life,” said Edwards, who turned 84 in August . “But I came back with a wife.”
He had delivered that verse before, but it always got a laugh, as everyone knew of the wife: Trina Grimes Scott, whom Edwards married in July and who is 51 years his junior.
While in Abbeville at the book signing, Trina made the book signing go faster by speaking to the person who wanted a book signed and heard the name and she wrote the name down on a yellow sticky note and gave it to Edwards. He read the paper and signed the book.
Once the library was empty, the Edwards went to Gene Sellers’s camp next to the Vermilion River on Eaton Drive. Sellers, a parish engineer, has been knowing Edwards for 40-plus years.
Those who went to the book signing were also invited to a fish fry at Sellers’ camp. At the camp, people got to take pictures with him.
Edwards spoke to the crowd on the back porch of the camp, where he has been many times.
“My signature is on the guest book. I guess I have been here 25 times,” Edwards said. “Never during my campaign did I miss an opportunity to meet with the people of Vermilion Parish. Vermilion Parish has always, always been nice to me. The people here have been so wonderful.”

By Howell Dennis
Crowley Post-Signal

CROWLEY – For the first time since his release from federal prison, former La. Governor Edwin Edwards and his glamorous wife Trina made a public appearance in the town where he began his political career at the Rice Festival Queen’s Ball Saturday night at the International Rice Festival Building. While he obviously hasn’t lost his ability to deliver a stirring speech, Edwards displayed a touch of emotion that left many audience members in tears. More »

Governor Edwin Edwards house arrest ended Wednesday and the four term former governor shows no signs of slowing down. With a possible reality show in the works, a Facebook page that filled the 5,000 maximum friends allowed in only eight days, numerous book signings, not to mention an upcoming wedding and birthday party extravaganza, it’s safe to say that the man once known for his wit and Cajun charm will once again be in the spotlight.

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LAFAYETTE – State librarians have selected “Edwin Edwards, Governor of Louisiana, An Authorized Biography” by Leo Honeycutt as the winner of the 2011 Louisiana Literary Award.

The Louisiana Library Association’s annual convention is being held this week in Lafayette and the award was presented Thursday. More »

W2G Publishing has been chosen to be the exclusive, worldwide distributor of the eBook version of this terrific book. It will soon be available on iTunes, Amazon, and other locations. Please go to this link for more information:

www.write2grow.org/edwards

Margaret Sloan I really enjoyed the talk you gave today at Jefferson Baptist Church. The Edwin Edwards book is very good. The political history is amazing and your ability to write this book in such a way to make it so interesting it very well could be used as a history book in any class room.
I will be looking forward to your next book.

Anastasia Ramirez This book is absolutely fascinating. It isn’t just the history but how Leo Honeycutt captures the true essence of EWE, his personality, humor, everything. More »

The author, Leo Honeycutt, has scheduled the following speaking appearances:

 SATURDAY, JULY 30

• Monteleone, New Orleans (sold out)

 TUESDAY, AUGUST 9

• Rotary, Alexandria (sold out);
• Paragon Casino, 6 PM open to Public

 FRIDAY, AUGUST 12

• WRKF. Jim Engster Radio Show, 9 AM

  SATURDAY, AUGUST 13

• Hemingbough, St. Francisville, 6 PM

 SUNDAY, AUGUST 14

• Baton Rouge Gallery-Cottonwood Books, City Park, 4 PM

Well almost, but not quite.

Sun-Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

Edwin Edwards book hits shelves

By MELINDA DESLATTE – The Associated Press

BATON ROUGE — At Danny Plaisance’s small independent bookstore the phones are ringing every few minutes, and the cash register and credit card machines are humming. More »

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) – The newly-released biography of former Governor Edwin Edwards is so popular the book’s author can’t keep it on store shelves.

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