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.

Raj Tawney

Home Featured Authors & Panelists Featured Participant Lineup 2025 Raj Tawney

Raj Tawney is the author of the memoir Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience and the middle grade novel All Mixed Up. His writing largely reflects his multiracial American upbringing. Born to an Indian, Puerto Rican, and Italian American family, Tawney continues to explore his identity and family history through personal essays published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and other outlets throughout the country.

Schedule

11:45 am to 12:30 pm
A.Z. Young Park, Author Tent D
The Power of Friendship: Contemporary Middle Grade Novels
Sarah Guillory, Gus and Glory
Raj Tawney, All Mixed Up
(ages 8 to 12)

12:45 pm to 1:30 pm 
Cavalier House Books Tent
Book Signing

2:15 pm to 3:00 pm
Bienville Building, Conference Center 118
Delicious Heritage: Memoirs of Mixed Identity, Mangoes, and Meatballs
Raj Tawney, Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience
Annabelle Tometich, The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony

3:15 pm to 4:00 pm
Cavalier House Books Tent
Book Signing

All Mixed Up

WINNER, 2024 FOREWORD INDIES, HONORABLE MENTION, JUVENILE FICTION
CBC 2025 MIDDLE-GRADE & TEACHER FAVORITES
A DÍA READING LIST 2025 PICK
A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOKS FOR KIDS 2024 PICK

From New York Times essayist Raj Tawney comes All Mixed Up, a powerful middle-grade novel that explores identity, friendship, and the challenges of growing up in a post 9/11 world.

Set in 2002, this compelling story follows Kamal Rao, a sixth grader navigating the complexities of life in a suburban town that is far from inclusive. Kamal, a multi-ethnic American boy, often feels out of place and isolated, spending his days creating mud pies or cooking traditional family recipes alongside his mother and grandmother, drawing fromtheir diverse cultural heritage.

Kamal's life takes an unexpected turn when Jaz, a Pakistani immigrant, joins his school. Together, they bond over their love for the outdoors and delicious food, forming a friendship that pushes Kamal to reconsider what it means to be different. Through Jaz, Kamal discovers the strength and beauty in his unique identity.

But as their friendship deepens, the community's suspicion toward Jaz surfaces, putting their bond to the test. Kamal must decide whether to stand by his friend, risking his own safety and his family's trust, in a society that questions Jaz's presence and intentions.

All Mixed Up is an insightful, heartwarming novel based on the author's real-life experiences, offering a fresh voice in children's fiction. Young readers will be captivated by Kamal's journey of self-discovery, learning about empathy, resilience, and the importance of standing up for what's right.

Key Features:

  • Timely Themes: Addresses identity, inclusion, and cultural diversity in a post 9/11 context.
  • Relatable Protagonist: Kamal's internal struggles resonate with middle-grade readers facing similar challenges.
  • Friendship and Growth: Highlights the power of friendship in overcoming prejudice and personal growth.
  • Cultural Exploration: Showcases multi-ethnic traditions through food and family dynamics.
  • Emotional Depth: Encourages discussions about belonging and empathy.

 
Benefits for Readers:

  • Cultural Awareness: Helps readers appreciate different cultures and the richness they bring to communities.
  • Empathy Building: Fosters understanding of the impact of discrimination and the value of standing up for friends.
  • Self-Discovery: Inspires young readers to embrace their identities and find strength in their uniqueness.
  • Critical Thinking: Promotes discussions about societal issues, encouraging readers to think critically about their own communities.

All Mixed Up is more than just a story; it's a beacon of hope and understanding, leaving an indelible mark on readers of all backgrounds.

Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience

WINNER, 2025 NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARD, MULTICULTURAL NON-FICTION
WINNER, 2025 IPPY AWARD, MULTICULTURAL NON-FICTION - ADULT (GOLD)
WINNER, 2024 BEST INDIE BOOK AWARD, CULINARY MEMOIR
WINNER,​ 2024 LIVING NOW BOOK AWARD, INSPIRATIONAL MEMOIR - MALE (BRONZE)

A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY & FOREWORD REVIEWS BOOK OF THE DAY ● NAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2023 BY ZED BOOK CLUB & INDIA CURRENTS ● LA WEEKLY BOOK PICK ● RECOMMENDED BY BOOK RIOT & ELECTRIC LITERATURE

A timely self-examination of the "mixed" American experience featuring exclusive recipes and photographs from the author's multicultural family.

As citizens continue to evolve and diversify within the United States, the ingredients that make up each flavorful household are waiting to be discovered and devoured. In Colorful Palate, author Raj Tawney shares his coming-of-age memoir as a young man born into an Indian, Puerto Rican, and Italian-American family, his struggles with understanding his own identity, and the mouthwatering flavors of the melting pot from within his own childhood kitchen.

While the world outside can be cruel and unforgiving, it's even more complicated for a mixed-race kid, unsure of his place in the world. Turning to his mother and grandmother for guidance, Tawney assists in the kitchen, providing intimate moments and candor as he listened to the tales behind each culinary delicacy and the women who perfected it. Each lovingly prepared meal offered another opportunity to learn more about his extraordinary heritage. The ability to create delicious fare with his family wasn't just a duty for the grand ladies who raised him; it was a survival tactic for navigating new and unknown cultures, not always willing to accept them at first or even a hundredth glance. As Tawney examines both himself and his loved ones through the formative stages of his life, from boyhood through adulthood, he begins to realize, through all of the chaos and confusion, just how "American" he actually was.

In this contemporary coming-of-age tale, Tawney tackles personal hot-button issues about race and identity through poignant, heartfelt moments centered on delicious meals. From succulent tandoori chicken to delectable arroz con habichuelas to scrumptious spaghetti and meatballs, Tawney shares his family recipes along with the intimate stories he overheard in the kitchen as he played sous chef to hundreds of recipes that not only span continents but also come with their own personal histories attached. Colorful Palate is a tale of the mixed experience, one of the millions that rarely get told, undefined by a single group or birthright and unapologetic about its lack of classification.