Southeastern names Armand writer-in-residence
Thursday, October 5, 2017 
by: Rene Abadie
HAMMOND – Award-winning novelist and Southeastern Louisiana University English Instructor
David Armand has been named the university’s writer-in-residence.
A native of Folsom and resident of Hammond, Armand is the author of three novels,
a book of poetry and a memoir based on the mental health struggles of his mother.
He is due to have another novel published next year.
"We're so fortunate to have a writer as prolific and talented as David serve
as our writer- in-residence,” said Karen Fontenot, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities
and Social Sciences. “David is a nationally recognized author who excels in a variety
of genres, including fiction, memoir, and poetry. Our students are lucky to have him
as a resource.”
“As our new writer-in-residence, David Armand will provide our students with
ongoing support for their writing beyond what he is already teaching in creative writing
classes and thesis direction,” said David Hanson, head of the Department of English.
“I cannot count how many times students throughout the university have made a special
point to tell us how a class taught by David turned out to be a transformative experience
for them because his teaching raised them to an appreciation of literature and a love
of writing that they had never suspected possible for themselves.”
As writer-in-residence, Armand will be allowed some time away from teaching in
order to spend more time on writing. He will continue to teach creative writing, will
direct graduate students’ theses and expects to set up special readings and talks
in Southeastern’s Writing Center.
Armand received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in English at Southeastern;
he readily acknowledges the instruction and support he received from the university
and faculty members who served as mentors.
In 2016 he was honored with Southeastern’s President’s Award for Artistic Activity
and was named the St. Tammany President’s Artist of the Year. His first novel, “The
Pugilist’s Wife,” earned the George Garrett Fiction Prize, and his second novel, “Harlow,”
was listed on Amazon’s best novels about dysfunctional families.
Armand has been recognized by reviewers as an up-and-coming Southern author whose
works have been compared to William Faulkner, Flannery O’Connor and Cormac McCarthy.
He draws heavily from his experiences in south Louisiana in his work.
“I always have to be writing about Louisiana; it is what I know,” he said. “One
of the most powerful aspects of literature is how the most inherently regional stories
are often the most universally understood.”
In addition to “The Pugilist’s Wife” and “Harlow,” his works include the novel
“The Gorge,” the memoir “My Mother’s House,” and the book of poetry “The Deep Woods.”
