St. Martinville – St. Martin Parish native Greg Guirard, a noted author and photographer, has updated one of his most popular books just in time for Christmas.

“Atchafalaya Autumn II” features his wry humor, guest essays and his striking photographs of the swamps.

Guirard’s work focuses on both the beauty and the endangered lifestyle that exists in one of the nation’s greatest natural treasures, the Atchafalaya Basin.

Around 1939, when Guirard was 2 years old, his family moved to the western edge of the Atchafalaya Basin in St. Martin Parish. He still lives there today. The former English teacher, sawmill worker, fisherman, actor, carpenter, crewboat skipper and cattleman is now primarily a writer and photographer trying, since about 1990, to get back to his roots and take his audience with him.

To the 1995 edition, which was taken from his journals during his five-year retreat in the Basin, Guirard now adds essays from the likes of Rheta Grimsley Johnson, author of “Poor Man’s Provence,” and Jody Meche, fiery activists on behalf of traditional deepwater crawfishing. There are more photos, some of his famous “crepuscular” scenes, steeped in twilight, along with candid but artful studies of folks whose characters were shaped by the wild, simple life between the levees.

In addition to the book-signing, Guirard will present a slide show focusing on the beauty of the Basin, narrated by his own deep knowledge of the past, present and future of this unique ecosystem. The show starts at 5:30 p.m. with the book-signing afterwards.

Other books by Greg Guirard include: “Atchafalaya Autumn,” “The Land of the Dead Giants,” “Cajun Families of the Atchafalaya” and “PsychoTherapy for Cajuns.”

“Atchafalaya Autumn II” is available pretty much wherever books are sold in St. Martin Parish and in Lafayette, or directly from the author. Call 394-4631 for more information.