Local author, family receive national award for excellence

Welcome to Willow Hammock and the Cajun Kids Adventures of Beth, Mark, Timmy, Annie, and Sam, as they explore local marshlands, bayous, wildlife, artifacts, and cultures.
“South Louisiana is my home, as you can tell from my work,” explained children’s author Chris Landry, a resident of Maurice.
He is a descendant of the original French Acadians. His wife of 40 years, Jade (Walters) Landry shares a similar heritage as the fifth generation to hunt, trap, and fish the marshes of the Atchafalaya River Basin.
“My great-great-grandfather settled that land,” she said.
Together, the Landrys taught their children to respect their Cajun heritage and their home.
On March 13, the Mom’s Choice Awards informed the Landrys that Cajun Kids Adventures was named among the best in family-friendly media, products, and services.
The Landrys received the MCA Silver Award, Honoring Excellence, after submitting their first fiction book, Mystery at Indian Point, to the committee. The Landrys launched the series Nov. 1, 2022, with their own Excaliber Publishing Services.
The Mom's Choice Awards® evaluates products and services created for children, families and educators. The program is globally recognized for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services, according to the MCA website.
“Until a few years ago, I had not considered becoming a writer,” Landry explained. “At the age of eighteen I graduated high school and went to work in the oilfield. For the last 43 years I worked in the oil and gas industry and even owned a small service company.”
Now, he pursues writing. In his books, Landry creates storylines based on events that Chris and Jade’s own children experienced at their camp along the mouth of the Atchafalaya River. The land his family owns is named Willow Hammock.
The Landrys’ adult children – Shelbie, Jake, Grant, Camryn, and Blake – selected the names for their own characters.
“Our children were all avid readers. They loved many of the classics, such as Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and The Boxcar Children,” Landry said.
The family’s goal is for children, as well as adults, to enjoy their Cajun Kids Adventures series, to laugh, to share in these adventures, to learn of different cultures, and to recall their own childlike joy.
“I had many fears about becoming a writer,” Landry continued, “so I began to do research to understand the craft.”
The Landrys realized that if they were going to create books about life and adventures, they must meet the challenge with courage and determination.
“We have always worked as a team with every venture we started,” Jade said, “so we locked arms and jumped right in.”
The Landrys’ book publishing enterprise is a group effort with each member involved.
Working together, Jade and her daughter Camryn produce the numerous illustrations printed inside the editions. Camryn also handles all design work and collaborates with the printers when formatting the books.
“My oldest, Shelbie, an English major, did the first edit,” Landry said. “She gifted me her copy of The Gregg Reference Manual.” Shelbie also set up their social media sites. Camryn handles online orders and shipping. The other siblings help with promotion and marketing.
“Jade works nonstop and deserves so much credit,” Chris emphasized. “In a typical day, she might organize book sales for festivals and conferences or meet with librarians and teachers.”
While creating his first manuscript, Landry’s main concern was not about creating the perfect sentence. His true fear was whether or not he had what it took to be a storyteller. 
“I needed to know that I could tell a story that engaged the reader,” Landry said.
The Mom’s Choice Award confirms that he has succeeded.
The Volume Two book, Adventure in the Wild became available this month. The Volume Three book, The Cup, The Cap, and the Ring-Tailed Monkey will follow.
Artist Steve Shaumburger created the cover illustrations.
A prolific writer, Chris Landry is now working on his eighth manuscript. He and Jade plan to promote their Cajun Kids Adventures series at the Teach Them Diligently Homeschool Convention, March 23-25, in Round Rock, TX, followed by conventions in South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia.
For more information, visit www.cajunkids.com.