PATRICIA CHARPENTIER, former Charenton resident, was recently awarded a first place Royal Palm Literary Award for her latest book, Eating an Elephant: Write Your Life One Bite at a Time by the Florida Writers Association. The prestigious award recognizes excellence in writing and literary merit. Patricia is the daughter of Joland Charpentier of Charenton. She worked for the Daily Iberian after graduating from Louisiana State University and worked for the Franklin Banner-Tribune and the former Franklin Post shortly after graduating from high school. She currently writes, ghostwrites, teaches, edits and publishes personal and family history and is a sought-after speaker and workshop leader throughout Florida. She received her undergraduate degree in journalism from LSU and a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Patricia currently lives in Orlando with her husband, Bob Guerrette.