Hi.
Welcome to my food blog.
I’m a Cajun cook in Cleveland, Ohio documenting my recipes, tips and food photography.
Welcome to my food blog.
I’m a Cajun cook in Cleveland, Ohio documenting my recipes, tips and food photography.
Ten Years Downriver, A Memoir
I was seventeen when I met the man I believed I'd spend the rest of my life with. I spent the next decade learning that love and endurance aren't the same thing.
Ten Years Downriver is my debut memoir, and the most personal project I've ever created. It's a story about growing up in the deep South, navigating a decade-long marriage, and slowly realizing that the life you imagined for yourself isn't always the life you're meant to live. Woven through Louisiana, Tennessee, Memphis, Los Angeles, and Cleveland, the Mississippi River quietly connects every chapter, becoming a witness to the places, people, and moments that changed me.
Writing this book has been years in the making. Long before I ever wrote the first chapter, I knew I wanted to tell an honest story—one that acknowledged heartbreak without being defined by it, found humor in unexpected places, and ultimately reminded readers that it's never too late to begin again. More than anything, I hope this memoir makes someone feel a little less alone if they've ever questioned whether the life they're living is the one they truly deserve.
Ten Years Downriver will be published in October 2026. As publication approaches, I'll continue updating this page with cover details, preorder information, events, behind-the-scenes stories, and everything leading up to release day. Thank you for following along—I'm excited to finally share this journey with you.
A series that shows pulled quotes from the book, and are in different color themes for the varying sections of the book.
Originally shared on Instagram as part of the Ten Years Downriver series.
An infographic style graphic that shows the structure of the memoir, in three parts of a river.
Originally shared on Instagram as part of the Ten Years Downriver series.
A series showing the food mentioned and not mentioned throughout the memoir. Ten Years Downriver. All photos taken by Ashley Durand.
Originally shared on Instagram as part of the Ten Years Downriver series.
Sometimes the warning signs aren't obvious until you can finally see them all together. This field guide-style infographic brings together many of the red flags explored throughout Ten Years Downriver, inspired by my own experiences.
Originally shared on Instagram as part of the Ten Years Downriver series.
