Other works by Ken Wells...
Novels
Nonfiction
Visit Ken's Etsy Shop to order personally signed books and photoarts.
Reader reviews...
"Ken Wells strikes again! In a follow-up of sorts to his spectacular book, Gumbo Life, Ken Wells mixes history, science and travelogue, into a short extremely, enjoyable read."--Eric D.
"When I heard someone was writing a book about boudin, my first thought was how can there possibly be enough history out there to write about boudin? Oh, you didn't tell me Ken Wells! Boudin is very well written, entertaining, and full of surprises!"--Sally C. "
"Boudin is rich, rewarding, and compulsively readable. Why? Because Ken Wells has it all: a strong, singular voice, rock-solid reporting, an intimate knowledge of place, an unerring sense of pace and storytelling, and, always, flashes of insight and humor. This is a fabulous road trip of a book. And you will want to pack loose pants."--Jane Lear, editor of Newsday's Feed Me Magazine and former senior articles editor for Gourmet.
"A delicious deep dive into the culinary and cultural history of boudin -- a savory Cajun/Creole comestible that is beloved in South Louisiana. Wells combines assiduous research with an accessible writing style that will make readers feel welcome – and hungry."--Ben Sandmel, author, folklorist, drummer/producer for the celebrated Cajun swing band, The Hackberry Ramblers
"Armed with Ken’s book, I am ready for a boudin-crawl through Louisiana, neighboring Texas, and yes, maybe Chicago.”—Marcelle Bienvenu, author of Who’s Your Momma, Are You Catholic, and Can You Make a Roux?
Now an audiobook
on Audible!
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The roots of a writer's inspiration...click on...Bayou Black, La.
Some of the best of Ken's feature writing over the years...
A Trip to the Gorilla Orphanage
Dinner With Michael Jackson Is Less Than a Thriller
The Witchdoctor Will See You Now
Where Madonna (the Holy One) Is a Best Seller
Margaritas on the Frozen Arctic Ocean
Elephants for Sale: Africans Want to Profit from Their Wildlife
On sale now!
Anthologies
Caspar Dubs sailed with his family to colonial Louisiana from France in 1721, gaining a new life and new name--Gaspard Toups. From him, the ubiquitous Louisiana Toups families all descend, making them one of the founding families of the state. Ken's mother was a Toups from Thibodaux, meaning Gaspard is Ken's sixth-greatgrandfather in genealogical parlance. As a journalist always interested in a good story, Wells began to poke around Gaspard's journey and settlement and realized it was a tale of epic proportions. You can read and/or download his deep dive here. If you belong to Ken's Toups line, you may want to read this version which adds details of specific Toups and Keller relatives.
Ken's fourth book of narrative non-fiction, Boudin, a cultural commentary and lively travelogue through the mania surrounding Louisiana's iconic meat-and-rice sausage, is now available from LSU Press as part of its Louisiana True series.
You can order it here or here or here or here
New! His blog on Real Clear Media: Boudin on the move
Boudin...or an excuse for Ken to eat his way across Louisiana in the name of journalism...
(Well, somebody had to to it!)
New!