Loyola University New Orleans English professor John Biguenet received the top literary award in the state—the Louisiana Writer Award -- in 2012. The award recognizes his many contributions to the state’s literary landscape as a novelist, short story writer, playwright, poet, columnist, translator and essayist. Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton presented the award to Biguenet in a ceremony at the Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge.