New Orleans real estate attorney and LSU Law Class of 2012 alumna Laura Cotaya Carroll poses with a copy of her new debut children’s book, “Rainbow Rodney.”
As a full-time real estate attorney with three small children and a side hustle writing children’s books, LSU Law alumna Laura Cotaya Carroll (’12) splits her time between her family, career, and the vibrant world of Rodney, a colorful flamingo who serves as the star of her debut children’s book, “Rainbow Rodney.”
When the book was released by New Orleans-based Pelican Publishing Company in mid-September, it represented the completion of a goal that Carroll had dedicated herself to more than a decade ago.
“When my husband and I were flying to Belize for our honeymoon 12 years ago, we wrote our bucket lists of things we wanted to accomplish in our life together,” the New Orleans native explained. “Writing a children’s book was at the very top of mine.”
The protagonist of her 32-page book is a flamingo named Rodney who lives at the Audubon Zoo and decides to spice up his usual shrimp-only diet with New Orleans favorites—resulting in a brilliant coat of muti-colored feathers. From beignets and gumbo to king cake and snowballs, Carroll said readers who aren’t hungry before picking up “Rainbow Rodney” will be craving New Orleans’ famous cuisine by the book’s end.
The inspiration for “Rainbow Rodney” came to Carroll about four years ago, while she was admiring the flamingos at the Audubon Zoo with her daughter, Quinn.
“I was explaining to my daughter, who was 3 at the time, that flamingos are pink because they eat shrimp, which eat algae, which contain beta carotene,” Carroll recalled. “She was eating Froot Loops and said, ‘I’ll feed the flamingo these Froot Loops to make him rainbow.’ Just like that, ‘Rainbow Rodney’ was born, and the book seemed to write itself.”
Carroll was pleasantly surprised to receive an influx of positive responses after she submitted the manuscript for “Rainbow Rodney” to publishers. She quickly inked a deal with a local publishing company, but the pandemic hit shortly after, and the deal fell through.
“The timing didn’t work out,” Carroll said, “so they canceled the contract.”
It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Not long after, Carroll happened upon “Alligators Don’t Like Flowers,” a children’s book with illustrations from New Orleans artist Shannon Kelly Atwater.
“It was the most beautiful watercolor art I’d ever seen in a children’s book,” said Carroll, who reached out to Atwater with the “Rainbow Rodney” manuscript to gauge her interest in the project. “We started all over again. I think Shannon loves Rodney just as much as I do!”
The cover of “Rainbow Rodney,” which was released Sept. 18 by New Orleans-based Pelican Publishing Company.
With Atwater onboard, Carroll signed a new contract with Pelican Publishing and spent the next few months delightfully watching Atwater bring “Rainbow Rodney” to life with vibrant watercolor illustrations. The book officially hit shelves on Sept. 18, four years after Carroll and her daughter’s visit to the Audubon Zoo. Since then, Carroll has been promoting the book by signing copies at events across Louisiana and leading “Rainbow Rodney” reading sessions at local schools.
“When I drop off my kids at school in the morning, their classmates know that if I’m dressed in bright pink and rainbow tennis shoes, it’s a ‘Rainbow Rodney’ reading day,” Carroll said. “But if I’m wearing all black and heels, I’m headed to my day job as an attorney.”
Carroll’s love of the creative process extends beyond storytelling to her legal career, particularly within the realm of real estate development. After earning her undergraduate degree in construction management and business from LSU in 2008, Carroll set her sights on construction litigation. However, she quickly discovered her true passion lay in real estate law while participating in a year-round clerkship with Long Law Firm in Baton Rouge as a law student.
Specializing in commercial finance, general corporate transactions, and real estate development and finance, Carroll said she finds fulfillment in witnessing her projects materialize, especially through her real estate development work.
“I’ve been fortunate to work on quite a few historic tax credit projects across the country over the last decade, too many to choose a favorite, but I am thrilled to be working on the River District Neighborhood development. It is truly a transformative project for the city of New Orleans,” said Carroll, who practices at Dwyer, Cambre & Suffern, PLC in Metairie. “I like to think I played a small role in preserving historic buildings for future generations, and seeing and touching that tangible final product is my favorite aspect of real estate law. Attorneys don’t often get to experience such satisfaction at the end of the day,” she said.
During her years at LSU Law, Carroll said she feels lucky to have received a high-quality legal education and be introduced to a close-knit group of friends. Staying connected with a group message, Carroll said she and her friends make it a point to catch up at least once a year with a weekend girls’ trip.
“I met a wonderful group of girls at LSU Law,” Carroll said. “I laugh because we all practice in very different areas of the law, so we don’t really talk about work with each other, but I am so grateful for the incredible friends that I met in law school.”
When she’s not practicing law or exploring the colorful world of “Rainbow Rodney,” Carroll said she can be found discovering new books through her book club, practicing with her Mardi Gras marching group, and spending time with her husband, Stephen, and three children, Quinn (7), Fisher (4), and Emmett (2).
“If anyone has the secret to juggling a full-time job, a children’s book side gig, and three children please send me the outline because I certainly haven’t mastered it,” Carroll said with a laugh. “But my three children have taught me that if you give yourself some grace and accept that you’re doing your best, a lot of the world’s pressure to be the best mom and the best attorney and the best everything lets off and you can relax and enjoy what you’re doing, no matter what that is.”
