Books that allow the fullness and truth
of the African-American experience
to shine through on each page.
Released: 7 February 2018, LSU Press
$45 [unsigned], $65 [signed]
248 pages, 173 photos, 9 1/2 x 10
Narrative by Karen Celestan
Photographs by Eric Waters
A comprehensive look at Social, Aid and
Pleasure Clubs, one of the most African-
retentive cultures in America, that takes place only in New Orleans. Dynamic essays
and insightful interviews with renowned
culture-bearers. Dazzling, kinetic photos.
* Debuted at #1 on Spring 2010 roster for
LSU Press and held spot for two months.
African-American Studies, Louisiana Studies
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to purchase signed copies.
1 May 2010, Historic New Orleans Collection
$28.95 [unsigned]
$350 [signed by Battiste] [SOLD OUT!]
198 pages, 144 photos/illustrations, 9 1/2 x 8
By Dr. Harold Battiste, Jr. with Karen Celestan
Battiste was the creative force behind a host
of number-one pop and R&B hits, and his
music acumen launched the unforgettable
careers of Dr. John, Sonny and Cher, and
Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis (former
members of the Fifth Dimension).
His insightful memoir with Karen Celestan
details his musical life with the legendary
Sam Cooke, jazz greats Ornette Coleman and
Ellis Marsalis, and many others.
* 2011 Award-winner - Black Caucus, American
Library Association (BCALA) for Outstanding
Contribution to Publishing
Biography, Music, African-American Studies
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to purchase signed copies.
Running Ragged with No Thread
Sexagenarian stories of aware, lively living.
By Karen Celestan
Expected release: April 2024
Released: 3 February 2012, Mosaic Literary
A collection of memoir essays, non-fiction
By Karen Celestan
180 pages, 27 photos, 3 illustrations
Eleven essays detail the author's life as a
young African-American feminine in the
1960s and 1970s in Niagara Falls, New York
and a vibrant adulthood in New Orleans.
Lessons from a childhood filled with food,
love, music, societal and cultural touchstones
fueled a journey that led to a feminist-
progressive approach to modern living.
Released: 19 August 2012, Mosaic Literary
A novel by Karen Celestan
220 pages, fiction
This novel traces the lives of three New Orleans women - CeCe, Sonya, Charlayne - all from disparate backgrounds and experiences, yet intertwined by culture and society. Their stories explore class and intra-racial conflict as the sights and sounds of Crescent City culture swirl around each one - uniting them and ripping them apart.
Chief Executive Officer / Author
So, So Pretty -
African-American Masking
Queens of New Orleans
By Karen Celestan
and Cherice Harrison-Nelson
(pictured)
Expected release: September 2025
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15 November 2021, Mosaic Literary
$12
75 pages, 6 x 9
By Rev. James E. Dennis
and Mayme Dennis Gardner
A monumental overview of the institution of
marriage from the pen of Rev. James Dennis,
a beloved and respected Christian scholar
before his passing in 2005. His daughter,
Mayme Dennis Gardner, picks up the reins
to expand upon the Dennis family's devotion
and wisdom to keep God at the forefront,
both before and after marriage.
Religion, Religious Studies,
Family, Christian Life