Wednesday 25 April 2012

Author Spotlight - Jillian Chantel shares her thoughts on New Orleans



New Orleans is one of my favorite places to visit and when I started to write The Gambler, I knew I wanted my hero to hail from that city- there is so much to draw from, that I couldn’t resist. The place is replete with history and awesome buildings. It’s the most European city that we have in this country. I live about two and a half hours from it and visit all the time. I’ve always loved the houses on St. Charles Avenue and the surrounding area called the Garden District. In this city, there are cemeteries, shotgun houses (called that because if a gun was shot through the front door, the bullet would go all the way through the house and out the back door), and on Magazine Street, a plethora of antique/junk shops.

This city is full of wonderful restaurants and bars. You can listen to music- blues, zydeco, jazz, etc, any time of the day or night. There’s nothing like the life in this place. There is always something going on. Travel around Jackson Square and have your fortune told, your picture painted, a caricature drawn, ride in a horse drawn carriage, take a vampire tour, or just people watch. It’s a haven for a writer. All the senses are engaged.



Three other not to be missed places are the Café Du Monde where you can eat the delicacies called beignets, the free ferry ride across the river to Mardi Gras World where you can check out all the awesome floats, and last, but not least, the aquarium or the zoo.

If you’ve never been to this city on the Mississippi River, you need to make a trip. It’s a veritable cornucopia of the human race.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIs6epy_ixY

Find me on the web:

http://www.jillianchantal.com
https://twitter.com/#!/JillianChantal

Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIs6epy_ixY
Buy link:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-286/Gambler's-Inheritance-Book-One-cln-/Detail.bok

16 comments:

  1. I'd love to visit New Orleans. One of these years! :)

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  2. Oh wow. I have never been to New Orleans, and this was very interesting to read. I love the photos. Now I want to go and take a vampire tour!!!
    =D Maria

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  3. Patty and Maria- When you get ready, come on down and I'll take you on a tour of it all. It's a super place! Put it on your bucket list, for sure!

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  4. You know I love New Orleans, Jillian. We've got to meet down there sometime... maybe even before the event in December. We'd have a blast! ; )

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  5. I've only been once but completely fell in love with New Orleans. Hope to come back one day!

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  6. YES, Melanie. We need to plan to get down there sometime soon. I'd love that.

    Angela- this city gets in your blood, doesn't it? it's so unique and interesting!

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  7. Jillian, we're late stopping by but have caught up on the three days' postings. Wicked cool! LOVED the photos@! Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Thanks Sadie and Sophie. Sometimes I have to catch up with blog visits too as there are so many good friends to check out! I love photography so I'm glad you like my pictures!

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  9. I haven't had the pleasure of visiting New Orleans. Maybe one of these years. I do remember seeing a pic on your blog of beignets. They sound yummy!

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  10. Laurie! you must come down from the Pacific Northwest and check out the beignets. They are a little slice of heaven! Hot, sift and covered with powdered sugar! YUM!

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  11. New Orleans has been on my list to visit for a long time. Just never seem to get there.

    Have you thought about writing for a travel magazine? You'd be a natural.

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  12. Thanks for that wonderful compliment, Lavada. I would absolutely love to write for a travel publication- now, have I ever tried? Have I ever submitted? NOPE!! LOL!

    Would love you to visit New Orleans and let me show you around!

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  13. Never been to New Orleans, got real close once... I was born in Biloxi, MI. Thanks for the look around, love those old houses.

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  14. That area of Mississippi is lovely, too. They had some wonderful old houses on Beach Road until Katrina wiped them out. Sad, sad.

    If you ever make it down, let me know and I'll pop over!

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  15. Oh, this is on my bucket list, and to see Mardi Gras just once. Great post.

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  16. Awesome Linda. Mardi Gras in New Orleans can be a very scary thing. Lol. Wildness abounds.

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