Bio of Wendy Wilson Billiot
A native of Bossier City and 1975 graduate of Louisiana Tech, Wendy Wilson Billiot moved to Thibodaux in 1978 and went to work in the oil field. She worked as a roustabout, an offshore dispatcher, and later as a deckhand on offshore crew boats. She has lived in South Louisiana for over 27 years and currently resides on three acres in the marsh of Bayou DuLarge near Theriot, Louisiana. Billiot combined her love of the wetlands and story telling to write Before the Saltwater Came. The author is the mother of one daughter and four sons ranging in ages from 11 to 25, all of whom she has home educated. She is a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain developing educational wetland tours in her area. Introducing others to her home and teaching about the wetlands is her passion.. Through her books and tours, she hopes to make a difference for America’s WETLAND.
Alligator hunting is done for 4 weeks in September. The trapping is done by licensed residents who own or lease land from the land owners. It is a dangerous and exciting way of life. Does she get it in the boat? The author is seen here on a piece of floating marsh called a "flottant" which is a rookery for several species of wading birds.
The flottant actually bounces on the water below it!!
You can read more about "flottants" in her book.
The author sadly reports that this flottant and the rookery on it are totally gone. (2-06)
The author (with yellow paddle) and two new friends at the end of a 33-mile, two-day paddle trip down Bayou Lafourche in November 2004
In 1980, these cypress trees were alive and beautiful. This photograph was taken by the author in 2004, and from it the illustrator rendered some of the images seen in the book.
This photo, taken by the author in 2002, shows an eagles' nest which was once inhabited but now remains empty for reasons unknown to the author. Could it be that it is because these trees are now dead? These trees are part of the grove pictured above.
