The College of Liberal Arts is hosting a book signing and reception for Rheta Grimsely Johnson, Auburn graduate and former editor of The Plainsman, April 24 at 6 p.m., in the Ariccia Lounge at the Hotel and Conference Center.
Her new book, “Poor Man’s Provence: Finding Myself in Cajun Louisiana,” is a memoir celebrating her Cajun background.
The Carolyn Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts is a co-sponsor of the event. Jay Lamar, director of the center, said the book is filled with a number of accounts of Johnson’s life growing up in Louisiana.
“The stories in Rheta’s new book are great,” she said. “As she says, ‘Louisiana is always good for a story.’ Through those stories, she delves into the whys and wherefores of how we live, why we work and what the land and people mean in a unique and fascinating place.”
Lamar said she enjoyed reading Johnson’s new book.
“It is a pleasure to read and it does that most wonderful thing good books do: it makes you think,” she said.
Jack Simms, who taught Johnson when she was in the journalism program at Auburn, said she has had a successful career.
“The Journalism Department was established in 1974, and she was one of our early graduates who really made a name for herself,” he said. “She was nationally syndicated and nationally known for a long time.”
After graduating from Auburn in 1977, Johnson wrote for The Commercial Appeal in Memphis from 1980-94.
“When she was at The Commercial Appeal, her column was syndicated three days a week and went to a lot of newspapers around the country,” Simms said.
Johnson went on to work as a reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution from 1994-2001, where her column was also syndicated.
She now lives in Iuka, Miss. Syndicated by King Features of New York, her column appears weekly in about 50 papers around the United States.
“She writes under a byline of Fishtrap Hollow, Miss.,” Simms said.
Her column centers on stories about ordinary people around the South.
“Rheta Grimsley Johnson is a legend in the world of journalism,” Lamar said. “So many of us read her column religiously.”
Johnson has won many national awards, including being named one of three finalists for the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for commentary.
Johnson also received the Ernie Pyle Memorial Award for human interest reporting in 1984
In 1985, she received the Headliner Award for commentary.
She was awarded the American Society of Newspaper Editors’ Distinguished Writing Award for commentary in 1982.
Johnson was Scripps Howard’s writer of the year from 1983-1985.
While she served as editor of The Plainsman from 1974-1975, she was awarded the Pacemaker Award.
She also wrote a book titled, “Good Grief,” an authorized biography about Charles Schulz.
Lamar said Johnson is excited to return to Auburn.
“As an AU College of Liberal Arts graduate, Rheta is looking forward to meeting and talking with students,” she said.
Lamar said she encourages students to attend the book signing at the Ariccia Lounge.
“To have a chance to actually meet her and to hear her talk is a real treat,” she said. “It is also a great chance to get a first edition copy of her new book and to have it personally signed by the author. We hope everyone interested will come to hear and meet her.”
