Illustrator Jennifer Lindsley and I have exciting news to share! Just in time for Halloween, our book The Fifolet is now in a paperback edition with a redesigned cover for only $12.95! This eerie, beloved Cajun Will-O’-The-Wisp tale not only received rave reviews from the media, but also was the inspiration for two fall festivals using the same title, one in Baton Rouge and one in New Orleans. Jennifer and I are releasing this book on our own for the first time on Amazon Print on Demand, which means the book is available on Amazon as well as book distributors such as Ingram in the US and internationally. The book is also available on my website!
Book Description:
Louisiana Writer Award recipient Johnette Downing takes readers deep into the swamp under the pale moonlight for this Cajun Will-O'-The-Wisp tale that will give you a fright. The Fifolet, also known as the Feu follet, is a dancing blue flame that you never want to cross. It will tease you and coax you and draw you near, but all the Cajuns know that you better beware. No matter what the warnings, it is hard to resist because wherever you see it, treasures exist. Jennifer Lindsley's fluid watercolor illustrations evoke the atmosphere of the bayou—cypress trees, swamp, creatures, and bubbling water touched by moonlight. Find out what happens to fisherman Jean-Paul Pierre when he ignores the warnings to NEVER follow a dancing blue spark in this delightfully eerie folktale for children.
Johnette Downing is a musician and the author of thirty books and twelve recordings for children. Called the "Pied Piper of Louisiana Music Traditions" and the "Cajun Raffi" by the media, Johnette has received dozens of awards and has performed on five continents.
Jennifer Lindsley is a Louisiana-based artist and illustrator who received her Associate of Arts in Acting degree from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, California, and her Bachelor of Arts in Design Technology degree from the University of Northern Colorado. She is an art instructor in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she resides.
Book Reviews:
"The Fifolet is a great, spooky story steeped in Cajun folklore but told in typical Johnette Downing fashion—just silly enough to not give you nightmares." —Bree Sargent, Education Director, Acadiana Arts Center.
"Johnette Downing thinks like a kid but writes like a magician. This Cajun tall tale is a little bit scary and a lot of fun."
—Julie Kane, former Louisiana Poet Laureate
"Legend says, if you follow a fifolet, it will lead you to buried treasure. One day, fisherman Jean Paul Pierre spots a fifolet, a ball of bright blue gas flitting across the water. Greedy Monsieur Pierre sets out to find the fifolet's buried treasure, but will he find what he seeks? Find out how Jean Paul fares in this spooky and suspenseful tale! The colors of the illustrations sweep and swirl with whimsical strokes, and the overall tone reflects the humid and quiet atmosphere of the Louisiana bayou." —Good Reads - 4.5 out of 5 Stars!
"Amazing artwork!"
—David N. Scorza, 5.0 out of 5 stars, Five Stars, Amazon Customer Reviews, Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2015, Verified Purchase.
"South Louisiana breathes ambiance and history, and Johnette Downing brings to life one of the most colorful myths surrounding Cajun culture, the fifolet, those pesky swamp gases that inspire great legends. As usual, Downing does it with charm, style and down-home fun." —Cheré Coen, Lafayette Daily Advertiser.
"Used by both teachers and parents at home, Johnette Downing's books are such a delight! This one will be especially appealing in teaching about folktales and superstitions. I always look forward to her upcoming titles." —Kathy Mulloy, Programming Librarian, Lafayette Public Library System
Book Details:
ASIN : B0BGN8X963
Publisher : Independently published (September 30, 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 32 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8355402518
Item Weight : 4.8 ounces
Dimensions : 8.5 x 0.08 x 11 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #261,435 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#3,124 in Children's Folk Tales & Myths (Books)
Customer Reviews: 5.0 out of 5 stars 2 ratings
We are happy that our book The Fifolet, about the naturally occurring swamp gas, will live on in print forever! Get your copy today!