It also feels affirming for my home state to celebrate my work. It has not been easy for me to acknowledge my accomplishments. This is one of the gifts the Festival gives to me: in being honored, I am helped along to honor myself.

I am aware that I stand on the shoulders of my mother and her gang of girlfriends, The Hee-Hees - inspiration for the Ya-Yas - and also on the shoulders of the writers who came before me. RW: Joyful and grateful and perhaps a little nervous. SW: How do you feel being nominated and celebrated as the 2019 Great Southern Writer for the Books Along the Teche Literary Festival? The fact that Louisiana loses the equivalent of a football field of wetlands at a rate of 38 minutes makes me one of my deep sadness. My least favorite thing is the environmental destruction. The dear threatened wetlands, our lungs, our kidneys… The brown pelican, green sea turtles, and gray fox. Solo Cajun fiddle waltzes, blue-eyed soul. Rebecca Wells: The people, with graciousness, resilience and willingness to recognize life itself as one big fais do-do. Sarah Wood: What is your favorite thing about South Louisiana? It is an honor to speak with this Louisiana legend who sings poetry from the heart of an eccentric soul and isn’t afraid to embellish her state in the worship it deserves.

I reached out to speak with Wells on her homeland, Louisiana, her bestselling novel, and exciting new literary pieces she has in the works. 'Little Altars Everywhere' is the prequel to 'Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood' and debuted the Walker family that is brought to life through the Ya-Ya series. According to an interview with Deep South Magazine, Wells’ story on the Ya-Yas began in 1990 when a broken foot kept her from performing in her play “Gloria Duplex.” Off her feet, she wrote a collaboration of short stories titled 'Little Altars Everywhere' that published in 1992.

Nothing Else Matters by Sandra Wells