Ellen Byron's Blog, page 11

On the morning of August 13th, I sat down at the computer in my Southern California office and blithely wrote on Facebook, “Beginning countdown to the launch ofBody on the Bayou: A Cajun Country Mystery!”Unbeknownst to me, as I typed that cheery post, one of the worst natural disasters in Louisiana's history was unfolding in some of the very areas that inspired my series.The home where we spent the Christmas holidays with friends this year? Flooded. The homes of my friend's kids, grandkids, friends, and other relatives? Under water.(Beyond the field and trees is Black Bayou. The pumps failed and the house next to it took on over two feet of water.)I immediately donated to theRed Cross, and sharedlinks to relief funds. I sent money to friends who I knew would never dream of asking for it. When I learned that the high school theater department in the Louisiana town where we stayed had lost all its scripts to the flood waters, I reached out to theater friends from my years as a playwright, and spearheaded a script donation drive.But how on earth do you promote book in the midst of a disaster?Struggling to find an appropriate answer, I put this question to the mystery community. The responses were incredibly helpful and sympathetic. Authors shared similar stories that surpassed my dilemma, and offered terrific advice.As several  of them pointed out, my series is a love letter to south Louisiana. It was motivated by the passion I developed for this amazing part of the country as a student at Tulane University. Here's my Twitter bio: “Loves the rain; lives in bone-dry Los Angeles. From New York; obsessed with Louisiana.”I see my series as more than a good mystery yarn, although that’s certainly job one. Readers have written to me for travel tips, and asked for advice on how to host a Cajun-themed party. I’ve developed itineraries and invented recipes – anything to popularize this unique region.Feel free to copy and print the brochure below:If people don’t buy my books, my series ends, as does a perfect outlet for championing south Louisiana. So  I’ve finally accepted that I have to continue “the sell.” For one thing, I’m really happy withBody on the Bayou, and think it’s a fun read. For another, promoting the book is promoting Cajun Country.But it will be a less giddy promotion by far. Gone will be the excited exclamation marks!!! The banners I designed for my Facebook pages are sedate. And I’ll be donating 10% of my royalties to the relief effort, which will go on for years. (Eleven years after Katrina, the state still bears the scars of that cataclysmic storm.)I’m scheduled to appear at the Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge on October 29th. As soon as the flood water began to recede, I contacted the festival organizer to see if the area libraries needed any help. He reported that they survived the storm with remarkably little damage. The festival will go on as planned because, as he said, "It'll be some good medicine for people.”Please think about visiting Louisiana. Meet the warm and wonderful people. See the fascinating sights. Eat the incredible food. Be “good medicine” for this remarkable part of America. I gar-on-tee you won’t regret it.And as to my book promotion…BODY ON THE BAYOU, which officially launches on September 13th, is available for pre-sale at AmazonandBarnes & Noble.  See? Not one exclamation mark.Readers, I’d love any thoughts you have about the floods, promotion, Louisiana, disasters… anything.

I’ve written before about some of the dear Louisiana friends who’ve inspired me. Jan Gilbert, the extraordinary artist. Gaynell Bourgeois Moore, an artist-singer-writer triple threat. And then there’s Charlotte Waguespack Allen. Dear, dear Charlotte. We met when I transferred to Tulane University, and even though the ensuing years separated us by thousands of miles, our affection for each has kept the flame of friendship burning.(Note how I have changed, but she looks exactly the same.)Charlotte’s roots in Louisiana go back centuries. Even on the shortest visit to Louisiana, I can pretty much guarantee you that you’ll hear the names Waguespack and Poche – two of her antecedents – sometime during your stay. Charlotte’s gentle N’Awlins charm and infectious joie de vivre make any time spent with her pure heaven.Charlotte has lived in Texas for years. Through the course of life in the Lone Star State, she connected with three other Louisiana ex-pats. They quickly bonded and even came up with a name for themselves: Les BontempsGirls.I was tickled by this, and asked Charlotte to share a little about the group. Here’s their story in her own wonderful words. Seriously, just reading this will give you a little insight into the delight that is Charlotte.  And perhaps you’ll wish that you were a Bontemps Girl, just like I do.Les Bontemps Girls are fun, spirited kindred spirits who celebrate, unabashedly, their Louisiana roots. No need for a special event, it’s just that their feet can't help but instinctively tap to the same parade rhythm on any given day, raining or otherwise. There’s a shared "undertow" of purple, green & golden vibes that flow through their collective veins. Twirling festooned umbrellas to dance with are purely optional.These ladies first met up after church that’s situated in a slightly upscale, rather "reserved" lakeside community in the piney woods of east Texas. Not missing a syncopated Mardi Gras beat, a lively non-stop, "gumbo yaya" talk immediately ensued between these carefree, Southern-drawled ladies. Debating over hot topics like "How 'bout dem Saints" and "when's the next crawfish party?" immediately bonded these lagniappe gals together... forever! So.. let's have a toast to the good times. Indeed to "Les Bontemps!"(Louisiana natives and Bontemps Girls from left to right: Jan Rushing, Grand Isle, LA; Jan Chitty, Lafayette, LA; Darlene McCuistion, Shreveport LA; Moi- Charlotte - N'awlins, LA)Yes, let's toast! And I’ve got the perfect drink for it. In honor of these “femmes merveilleuses” I invented my first-ever cocktail: the Banana Bontemps. A votre sante', y’all!BANANA BONTEMPS COCKTAIL2 oz dark rum2 oz banana liquor2 ½ tsp. brown sugar1 cup milk1 cup ice1 ripe bananaBlend everything but ½ tsp. brown sugar together. Pour in (highball) glasses and sprinkle each serving with the remaining brown sugar. Garnish the glass with a slice of banana.Serves 2.

My good friend, D. Max Maxey, who's one of Los Angeles' most popular mixologists, just returned from New Orleans andTales of the Cocktail, the world's premier cocktail festival. Max, famous for his Old-Fashioneds and classics, currently works his spirit magic at The Chestnut Club in Santa Monica and the Alibi in Culver City. Raised all over the South, he describes himself as a man "with a penchant for denim and strong whiskey."Here are his terrific answers to a few questions I threw at him, including the all-important reveal of where he likes to toss back a few when he visits the Crescent City.What draws you to New Orleans?I love the city’s love for parties, get-togethers, good food, and good music.  New Orleans loves to celebrate.The French Quarter is touristy – but unlike other touristy spots in the US that put on something for the tourists, NOLA is having the party and invites the tourists to come along.What do you find interesting about the city's history with mixed drinks?New Orleans has a legitimate hold in cocktail history. They celebrate Absinthe, Peychauds, bitters, the Sazerac, and the Ramos Gin Fizz.What makes NOLA different from any other city in the country? (Or possibly the world?)NOLA is the only place in America and in the world that is equal parts big city, southern charm and French influence. I just got off the plane from Tales of the Cocktail in NOLA and it’s wonderful to see all the cocktails from all over the world influencing the local flavor.Did you know that the Louisiana legislature declared the Sazerac the official cocktail of New Orleans? What do you think about that?I did know. There’s also a great story about Huey P. Long, who was spending a lot of time at the New Yorker and flew in his favorite bartender from New Orleans on the taxpayer's dime to teach the bartenders in NYC how to make a proper Ramos.What's your favorite NOLA cocktail?Hands down, the Sazerac is my favorite.  It is argued to be the oldest cocktail – it’s not – but it has that classic form of spirit, water, bitters, sugar. I love the rye version, but the brandy is the original. They had to switch from brandy when it became too hard to get during the wine shortage in France in the mid-1800s caused by the phylloxera virus. In the United States, brandy got very expensive, so some drinks moved to American whiskeys. Side note: it's thought that because phylloxera virus made wine scarce, wine producers helped spread rumors about absinthe because it was taking over their business.What are some of your favorite NOLA bars and why?Although I love the cocktail scene, when I’m in New Orleans, I tend to want to get down and dirty.  I love Jake & Snake’s Christmas Bar, DBA for live music and great spirit selection, and Aunt Tiki’s which does not serve Tiki drinks but you get a really good shot of Jim Beam in a plastic cup for five bucks.On your recent trip, did you discover a particularly exciting drink and/or bar?My newest favorite that I discovered on this trip is the Golden Lantern.  I wondered in because of the live music and cheap beer but stayed for the drag show and the promise of free pizza.A big thanks to Max for sharing his insights into the Big Easy's spirit scene. Nola fans, what are you favorite bars in the city? I'll start - mine is Lafitte's Blacksmith shop. Now, your turn!

For me, music is what you dance to. When I go to New Orleans' legendary JazzFest, I spend most of my time in the Cajun and Zydeco tents two-stepping away. But you can't blog about The Big Easy without writing about its fabulous and widely varied music scene, so I acknowledged my limits in this area and turned to mystery author and music maven, Sarah M. Chen for thoughts, tips, and favorite NOLA hot spots. And boy, did she deliver! Below is my Q&A with her. You might want to take notes of the

It's official. The Big Easy has beat out my hometown, The Big Apple, as my favorite city in America. I adore New Orleans' warmth, exuberance, and fascinating culture. But even though the Crescent City is magical, it's important to remember that it's still an actual city, replete with all the pluses and minuses of a major metropolis. Here are ten do's and don'ts that will help you laissez les bon temps rouler - let the good times roll.  DO: Eat at off hours. During normal meal times, you may find

If you're looking for an experience that's unique to Louisiana, nothing beats a swamp tour.I've done about a half dozen, ranging from flying along the water on an airboat to walking a half-mile boardwalk that a couple built in the swamp behind their convenience store business. It's a fascinating, almost other-worldly journey and the good news is that you can find several options not far from New Orleans. At the bottom of this post, I'll share a link to a site that offers swamp tours close to the

In my last blog post, I shared about the plantations along the west bank of the Mississippi River. Today I'm going to focus on those scattered along the river's East Bank. Again, depending on how many you choose to visit, it's an easy half-day or full-day tour from New Orleans. Our first stop is Destrehan, which is a mere half-hour from the city. Take 1-10 north to  Route 310. Get off at exit 6. At the traffic light make a left onto River Road / Hwy 48. The plantation is just a few yards away on

In my last blog post, I shared about the plantations along the west bank of the Mississippi River. Today I'm going to focus on those scattered along the river's East Bank. Again, depending on how many you choose to visit, it's an easy half-day or full-day tour from New Orleans. Our first stop is Destrehan, which is a mere half-hour from the city. Take 1-10 north to  Route 310. Get off at exit 6. At the traffic light make a left onto River Road / Hwy 48. The plantation is just a few yards away on

The great thing about Cajun Country - and Plantation Country - is that they're close enough to New Orleans for  wonderful day trips. Over the next few months, I'm going to share easy itineraries inspired by my own travels. They'll feature locations I've been to and locations I long to visit. First up is a visit to the plantations of the West River Road, which runs along the Mississippi River's west bank. (For all travels involving the river plantations and sights, I highly recommend my personal

The great thing about Cajun Country - and Plantation Country - is that they're close enough to New Orleans for  wonderful day trips. Over the next few months, I'm going to share easy itineraries inspired by my own travels. They'll feature locations I've been to and locations I long to visit.   First up is a visit to the plantations of the West River Road, which runs along the Mississippi River's west bank. (For all travels involving the river plantations and sights, I highly recommend my