Did you see the latest AAD Author visiting Larissa’s Bookish Life yesterday with her own After Dark on Bourbon Street story? You should totally go read it…like now.
After Dark on Bourbon Street
A lot of AAD attendees know me not as Abigail Barnette, my erotica-romance writing alter-ego, but as Jennifer Armintrout, writer of vampire books that do not take place in New Orleans. When you’re a vampire author, I think people automatically assume that you’ve been to New Orleans or you know a lot about it, because the mother of all vampires, Anne Rice, once lived there. Not only have I never been there, but I don’t have a single clue what I’m going to do once I get there. So, if you’re expecting a post about one of my protagonists visiting, I must apologize. I can’t write that post, because I doubt I can accurately imagine how awesome the city probably is. I can, however, give you a character’s perspective on going to New Orleans for the first time. Me. Believe me, I’m enough of a character.
You see, for years, I’ve wanted to go to New Orleans. Ever since I was thirteen years old and convinced that Lestat was really real, really lived there, and would really bite me, I have wanted to go there. In my late teens, I had a burning desire to visit the death museum, which has since moved to California. And to be honest, after the tragedy of the hurricane, I have no desire to go on any haunted tours or death related anything. It was fun to imagine NOLA as the heartbeat of the gothity-goth-goth-goth macabre in the past, but it seems disrespectful to do that now.
Now, the New Orleans I hope to meet is the New Orleans of Disney’s The Princess and The Frog. I am fully expecting to meet a friendly firefly who sings Zydeco numbers and cracks wise. Time will tell on that one.
Since I’ve never been before, I’m trying to slowly ease into the experience. I’ve begun demanding my husband throw beads at me whenever I take my shirt off. Usually, he just throws another shirt (gravity has not been kind to me). The beads are a nice change of pace.
As you read this, I am currently cooking up a huge Mardi Gras feast for my family. Until yesterday, I had no idea what a roux was, but by god, I’ll teach myself by dinnertime tonight. The menu consists of steamed crawfish, shrimp gumbo, red beans and rice, smoked sausage, and of course, a king cake, resplendent with hidden baby Jesus. Hopefully, we’ll eat so much that the food coma lasts all through Lent.
That’s another thing I need to consider about my very first trip to NOLA. I’m totally Catholic. The guilt is overwhelming here, in my little Michigan town. What’s going to happen when I’m three sheets on Bourbon Street and remember that New Orleans is the city of Venerable Mother Henriette Delille, and that she’s probably watching me with a disapproving eye? Not to mention the temptation toward exploring the ultra-forbidden tourist voodoo industry. Verily, my immortal soul is going to be at risk on this trip. Finally, what if I get bitten by a vampire? Is there protocol for that? Will attendees forgive me if I don’t manage to make it to the book signing, not because I’m getting a tattoo as in years previous, but because I have to abstain due to vampirism?
I feel like this venue provides me ample enough opportunity to research some fabulous future story. Steampunk New Orleans would be fantastic. But I have this terrible feeling I’m going to end up in jail while I’m there. If everyone could bring along a little bail money, that would be super.
Of course most of this is tongue-in-cheek. Most of it. But I am sincerely looking forward to meeting the city and the exciting people who work in the city jails and the state court system, and all of the readers who will no doubt see me in handcuffs before the week is over. My sincerest apologies in advance.
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Meet Abigail Barnette!
The alter-ego of USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer Armintrout, Abigail Barnette was born during a conversation with author Bronwyn Green, who encouraged Jennifer to develop an elaborate fantasy persona– complete with nom de plume– under which to pen erotic romance. Abigail enjoys long naps in fairy-filled glades, running through corridors in tragically romantic haunted castles, and drinking goblet after goblet of spiced wine.
Contact Info
Website: http://www.abigailbarnette.com | http://jenniferarmintrout.com
Blog: http://jenniferarmintrout.blogspot.com/
Social Media: Twitter
Want to purchase Abigail’s novels?
All Steamed Up
Naughtily Ever After
Awakening Delilah at Amazon
Striped at Amazon
Ravenous at Amazon
In The Blood at Amazon
Phases: Volume Two at Amazon
Blood Ties (writing as Jennifer Armintrout)
- The Turning at Amazon
- Possession at Amazon
- Ashes to Ashes at Amazon
- All Souls Night at Amazon
- Blood Ties Bundle at Amazon
Lightworld/Darkworld (writing as Jennifer Armintrout)
American Vampire at Amazon (writing as Jennifer Armintrout)
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Contest Time!
Thank you Abigail for taking the time to stop by Literary Escapism for our Authors After Dark on Bourbon Street event!
Larissa and I are giving away two $25 ARe gift certificates and to enter, all you have to do is answer this one question: What would you like to discover among the streets of New Orleans? While we’re at the AAD Conference, where should we hit up?Remember, you must answer the question in order to be entered
Even though we won’t be giving any additional entries, you can still help support the authors by sharing this event and their articles on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, or anywhere you can. After all, the more people who are aware of these fabulous authors will ensure we get more fabulous stories.
The contest will stay open until February 21st at which time we’ll determine the winners with help from the snazzy new plug-in I have, the Research Randomizer and the List Randomizer.
I have not been contacting winners, so you will need to check back to see if you’ve won.
I’d like to check out the resteraunts.
I would love to discover someone completely unique and old school New Orleans. I want to check out the cemetaries.
I would like to discover that perfect magical voodoo item…or an antique that will go perfectly in my house at one of the antique shops.
Where should you hit up? John LaFittes (sp?) bar, some of the galleries and Frenchman Street, where they have local musicians all night long.
I want to discover some of the shops in the French Quarter, maybe find a cool piece of jewelry to purchase.
Where should you go? Find a bar with good live music, sit back and soak in the culture