Thanks to all of our attendees, volunteers, authors, presenters, sponsors, and exhibitors for making the 2025 Louisiana Book Festival a success! Sign up for email updates on the 2026 event.

This website has a .gov link

The .gov means it’s official.

Louisiana government websites often end in .gov. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a Louisiana government site.

HTTPS Connection

The site is secure.

The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Amanda Hampton Bravender

Home Featured Authors & Panelists Featured Participant Lineup 2025 Amanda Hampton Bravender

Amanda Hampton Bravender is not your ordinary hair and makeup artist; she is a culinary aficionado, lifestyle influencer, and avid storyteller. As a dedicated homesteader, she and her husband are building their dream apiary, rescuing and relocating bees to their farm. In her spare time, Amanda volunteers with 4-H, teaching children the joys of growing food, beekeeping, and horsemanship. She also shares her expertise through makeup workshops, raising funds for local theater companies and empowering others to feel beautiful inside and out.

Schedule

10:00 am to 10:45 am
Cooking Demonstration Tent
Bébés, Beauty & Bees: Making Fancy Look Easy
Amanda Hampton Bravender with moderator Joshua Hebert

11:00 am to 11:45 pm
Cavalier House Books Tent
Book Signing

Bébés, Beauty & Bees: Making Fancy Look Easy

Step into the vibrant world of New Orleans with Bébés, Beauty & Bees, a captivating blend of family recipes, beauty secrets, and heartfelt stories from author Amanda Hampton Bravender's colorful life.

In this enchanting cookbook, Amanda invites you on a journey through her experiences, from her upbringing in Harvey, Louisiana, to her bustling career as a local hairstylist and makeup artist. With each turn of the page, she shares cherished family recipes passed down through generations, infusing the flavors of New Orleans into every dish.

More than just a collection of recipes, Bébés, Beauty & Bees is a celebration of Amanda's journey toward self-discovery, from her humble beginnings to her endeavors as a homesteader, beekeeper, and proud horse owner. Through her anecdotes and reflections, she imparts lessons of resilience, sustainability, and the importance of cherishing one's roots.

Join Amanda as she navigates the joys and challenges of raising five children―four boys and a daughter―while finding inspiration in the strong women who have shaped her life. With warmth and nostalgia, she invites readers to embrace the beauty of times past and savor the simple pleasures of home-cooked meals, homemade beauty remedies, and the sweet buzz of life on the farm.

Discover this testament to the enduring spirit of New Orleans and the remarkable journey of one woman determined to create a life filled with love, laughter, and lasting memories.