Rebecca Wells's novels Little Altars Everywhere (1992) and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (1996) are set in central Louisiana. Each novel reflects important issues of life in the Bayou State by showing the influence of family and region on the search for individual identity. The phenomenal sales of these novels are noteworthy when one realizes that her books were not destined to be best-sellers. Initially, neither Little Altars Everywhere nor Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood was reviewed by any major publication and did not appear on any best-seller list. Wells also made none of the traditional national appearances, such as the morning television shows on the major networks, but word of mouth eventually generated the sales that are reflected today: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood has sold more than three million copies, and Little Altars Everywhere has sold more than one million copies. Wells's importance must also...