Born and raised in Hammond and surrounded by the unique Louisiana culture, James Wilcox always knew he wanted to be a writer, plunking out stories on an old typewriter from a young age.
Wilcox, director of the University’s creative writing program, turned his childhood dream into reality and was recently announced as the recipient of the 2011 Louisiana Writer Award.
The Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library of Louisiana presents the award to a writer for outstanding contributions to Louisiana’s literary and intellectual life.
Wilcox said he appreciates having Louisiana roots to inspire his work.
“I have spent a number of years appreciating the landscape here and the way towns function here,” Wilcox said. “I enjoy finding out new things about people who live in this area, and I’m always very happy to know what I’ve learned from growing up and being raised in