Marie is the media and communications coordinator for the New Orleans Public Library.
In August 2020, when Patricia Austin stumbled across an article about a virtual creative writing workshop being offered for free by the New Orleans Public Library, she decided to step out of her comfort zone and go. Just over three years later, the work she started developing in that group was published by the University of New Orleans Press.
“Tales from a Teaching Life: Vignettes in Verse,” is a collection of anecdotes from Austin’s decades-long career, ranging from elementary, to university, to online teaching. However, when Austin first started attending the Library’s virtual writing workshop, she had no plans to write a book.
“I was looking for more ways to connect with people in a [COVID] safe way, and I thought I should try it out,” Austin said. “And I am so glad I did.”
Through the encouragement of her peers and especially the program’s then-facilitator, librarian Kathleen Balma, Austin said her idea for a book started to blossom.
“At first, the project was something I’d been doing for myself and for my own posterity,” Austin said. “I was coming out of a decades-long career in teaching, and I had so many stories that I regularly used as examples and teaching tools in my classrooms, and I didn’t want to forget them.”
As she started preparing for retirement in 2019, Austin decided to finally write these long-told stories down.
“I’d been an elementary school teacher in four different states and spent 26 years as a college professor,” she said. “I just wanted to hang on to all those memories.”
So, when it was her turn to submit work for the writing workshop, Austin brought excerpts from this project.
In addition to being a longtime librarian with the New Orleans Public Library, Balma is a poet and Pushcart Prize-winning writer. She started the virtual writing workshop in June of 2020 after being approached by the Library’s then head of programming.
After attending one workshop, Austin said it was Balma that kept her coming back.
“Katy is such a wonderful leader and created such a lovely environment. She’s an amazing critiquer, with such a gift for encouraging writers while offering valuable constructive feedback. As a teacher, I know how hard that is to do, and how important it is,” Austin said.
With Balma’s thoughtful critiques and feedback, plus the interest she received from the group, Austin realized her project may have more potential than she ever would have expected.
“I thought ‘wow, people seem to think that this could have a larger audience,’” she recalled. “And not just any people – writers that I trusted and respected, and who didn’t always have the same interest in the education field that I came from.”
Emboldened by this realization, Austin approached the editor of University of New Orleans Press, who affirmed the project had legs.
In November 2023, “Tales from a Teaching Life,” was published. Upon reflection, Austin called the Library’s writing workshop “influential,” in the project’s success.
“Without this group and without Katy, I’m not sure I would have realized what this collection could mean to other people, beyond my own world,” Austin said. “Overall, it was a delightful experience in a time that we all desperately needed joy and connection. I will always be thankful for that, and especially for the kind, thoughtful encouragement that Katy provided to us all.”
For Balma, running the workshop was a way to provide both a creative and social outlet for Library patrons, “when they needed it most.” At the time, the Library was not open to the public. Contactless lending services were in place and the writing workshop was one of the first virtual programs the Library started to offer.
On a personal note, Balma said the workshop was “a solace to me, and I hoped it would be to the participants as well.”
When Balma heard Austin’s book was being published, she was “thrilled” for her success and honored to learn that the writing group had meant so much to at least one of its participants.
“I am over the moon about it, and really humbled to be given any credit at all,” Balma said. “I have a lot of respect for Dr. Austin, and I know how hard she worked on this book. It was a joy to witness the book’s progression and I’m just thrilled for her that she found a good home for it.”
“Tales from a Teaching Life: Vignettes in Verse,” is available to borrow from the Library, as are Austin’s two children’s books — a picture book called “The Cat Who Loved Mozart,” and “Elephant of Sandess, Butterfly of Joy,” a collection of poetry that explores emotions.
Austin will visit Nix Library on July 17 for a reading, author talk, and book signing from 5:30-6:30 p.m. More information here.
The Library’s virtual writing workshop — now called Just Write — is still going strong, but Balma is no longer the facilitator. Adult programming librarian Shelby Goddard leads the workshop, which is held via Zoom every month. The next workshop is on August 10 and new members are always welcome.
In 1902, the New Orleans Public Library received a $250,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie to build four new Library locations, including one Uptown, known then as the Napoleon Library. More than a century later, that little Library is still serving its community today, but under a different name: the Children’s Resource Center Library.
Lionel Milton is New Orleans native, acclaimed visual artist, and the New Orleans Public Library’s 2026 artist in residence.
A 6-week partnership with Trinity City Arts and the Library connected teens with volunteer hours while learning about artivism.
