Southeast Texas author Kate Boudreaux’s debut novel, Backwater, is steeped in Southern charm and features intriguingly familiar characters that bear a slight resemblance to some of the wellknown folks from her hometown of Buna. This love story captures the essence of the region’s cherished lifestyle, as the main character, Sunday Frederick, navigates the crossroads of her heart and home. Readers can immerse themselves in the scenic river bottoms depicted in the book, or head to Barnes & Noble on Saturday, May 11, where Boudreaux will be signing copies of her debut novel along with her second book, Driftwood Diary.
Driftwood Diary is the perfect escape to isolated, tropical, and lush Eden Island, a community in the Gulf of Mexico that appears to be a modern-day Utopia.
Max Fontaine grows up struggling to accept the blind faith of Eden’s followers. Finding herself pregnant, she finally rejects the island’s dark practices and risks her life to escape. Defying all odds, Max makes it to safety only to be snubbed by the local authorities. With no money, no family, and no home, she resorts to living among the dead in a secluded mausoleum. When Cash Claiborne, a decorated Texas Ranger, discovers Max camped out in his family cemetery, he welcomes her into his home – and his heart. As feelings develop, his protective nature and lust for justice evolve into taking down the cult that tried to kill her. But their plan takes an unexpected turn, making Max feel like a failure and even worse, a traitor. With the line between right and wrong blurred beyond recognition, Max must navigate the murky waters of morality to face the ultimate choice between the revenge she wants and the redemption she needs.
Boudreaux recently sold the film rights to her debut novel, Backwater. Although the project is still in its early stages, Boudreaux mentions that specifics about the film are being kept under wraps for now. She expects the adaptation to take at least a couple of years to complete. Rumor has it that several local artists are involved in the project, and Boudreaux is thrilled to see it getting off the ground.
“I didn’t start writing until I was 30; I didn’t go to college, and it’s still not my thing,” said Boudreaux. “There’s a lot of things I’d rather do than sit in a classroom. I’ve always been a big reader and I had some old family stories rolling around in my head and characters I could see clearly, so that’s how the first novel came about.”
Boudreaux mentions that it took her about a year and a half to complete the rough draft of Backwater before it went through the editing process, ultimately taking seven years to be published. She also reveals that she’s currently working on a third novel, set in the 1920s, which she describes as “a lot grittier,” indicating that she’s taking more risks with this new storyline.
Don’t miss the chance to meet Boudreaux in person and get signed copies of her first two novels this Saturday from 1 – 3 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 4155 Dowlen Rd., Beaumont.