Happy Summer, everyone!
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| One Happy Birthday Girl |
While some "well-worth-the-waiting" cover art is being finalized for my next book, Witches’ Pawn,( the second follow-up in my three-part book series, The Binding), I’ve been diligently writing away on this third final book.
Recently, I was treated by two amazing women who thoughtfully gifted me with an ultimate surprise birthday trip to New Orleans.
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| Alys and me |
Why New Orleans? A party, of course! Alys Arden, Fellow Authoress, hosted a book release party for her newest book, The Romeo Catchers, and the evening was a bitingly-good time. For a few hours, I had the chance to "fan-girl" unabashedly as we toured the Ursuline Convent, an important old setting in both her books, The Casquette Girls and The Romeo Catchers, and maybe even more wonderful than that, I met a lot of really interesting people and gained a few new friends who love many of the same things that I do.
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| Courtyard of Beauregard-Keyes House (Not my picture--we were there in the evening) |
This impromptu trip garnered an armload of useful writer tidbits and provided plenty of Louisiana "mojo" that will definitely influence my upcoming pages .This well-attended book-release party was held in the Beauregard-Keyes House in New Orleans right across the street from the convent on Rue Chartres, being once owned by author, Frances Parkinson Keyes, who published over 50 books, many of them being written at this well-preserved home in the French Quarter. Another writing incident occurred while I was merrily devouring a divine luncheon of Sweet Corn and Crab Bisque at the Chartres House restaurant. Beneath a red umbrella that shaded us in the rear courtyard, I soon discovered that our table was within arms reach of a beautiful fountain. Our great waiter, Tevan, explained to us that the fountain had once been a small swimming pool, instead, and that it had been a well-known hang out/haunt of the writer Tennessee Williams, who used to spend his time, long ago, possibly in the same spot I was sitting that day, writing poolside. I can only wish that surely some of those excellent "writer vibes" from both historic locations and these two revered writers has seeped a little into my veins a bit.
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While in New Orleans, I did find a little time to conduct a little more research for book three (of The Binding trilogy), as well, and found myself meandering and exploring with my two companions inside the Voodoo Museum and then in a few other eccentric "found-only-in-New Orleans" stops.
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| Sign inside of Potions, a speak-easy vamp bar |
Since my return, inspiration has me writing non-stop. New Orleans always does this to me, infusing my thoughts and increasing my creativity meter to huge proportions until I have trouble transcribing onto paper all the words that are floating around in my head.
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| Love Potion #9 from Potions |
The next blog will be about the release of Witches’ Pawn. Stay tuned for special announcements!
And a HUGE thank you to the two women who facilitated the coup of the century! A sneak attack voyage worthy of Pirate-status acknowledgement and admiration! Here's a vial of Love Potion #9 for you!
