Actress and writer Laura Cayouette will talk about her experiences as an author – self-publishing, writing a series, creativity, inspiration and other subjects – at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 19, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

This event occurs as part of the regularly scheduled meeting of the South Louisiana chapter of the Romance Writers of America. This event is free of charge and is open to the public. There is no registration.

Best known as Leonardo DiCaprio’s sister in Django Unchained, Cayouette has acted in more than 60 movies and TV shows including Kill Bill, Now You See Me, Friends and recurring roles on Treme and Queen Sugar.

Cayouette earned her master's degree in creative writing and English literature at the University of South Alabama where she was presented the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award. She’s taught both English and acting/directing at various universities.

She has authored several books including the Charlotte Reade Mystery series. They begin during the Saints march to the Super Bowl amid Mardi Gras 2010, and feature colorful local characters, a haunted chandelier and mysteries, though no murders.

Cayouette is also the author of Know Small Parts: An Actor's Guide to Turning Minutes into Moments and Moments into a Career with foreword by Richard Dreyfuss and endorsements from Kevin Costner and others, and Lemonade Farm, a coming-of-age novel set in a commune in rural Maryland in 1976. She lives in New Orleans and writes a blog, latonola.com, about her love for the city.

For more information regarding this presentation, contact Chris Smith, Manager of Adult Programming for the library, at 504-889-8143 or wcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us.

The Southern Louisiana Chapter of the Romance Writers of America meets monthly at the East Bank Regional Library in Metairie. Monthly meetings feature guest speakers who discuss all aspects of writing, editing and publishing. Topics frequently explore subjects other than romance writing though they focus on subjects that make writers better at their craft.