Today’s guest blogger to Louisiana Book News is the prolific
Colleen Mooney of New Orleans. Mooney is the USA TODAY and Wall Street
Journal best-selling author of “The New Orleans Go-Cup Chronicles” and founder
of the city’s Sisters in Crime chapter. Her latest book is "Politicians, Potholes and Pralines." She's also an author who diligently raises money for animals.
First, I’d like to thank Chere Coen for asking me to be a
guest on her blog.
“Politicians, Potholes and Pralines” is book six in my
series, “The New Orleans Go Cup Chronicles.” It was quite a few years ago I got
the idea for the first book, “Rescued By A Kiss,” when I lived in New York. I
started it, then I moved back to New Orleans, started a new job, and then
Katrina came along delaying me finishing the first book. When I was close to
completing it, the second one popped into my head and it’s been going like that
ever since. New Orleans, where my books are set, is a never-ending source of
entertainment and inspiration. Recent collapses in tunnels dug throughout New
Orleans in the 1960s gave me the idea for this story.
All my ideas come from unusual people and situations I
experience in New Orleans on a regular, if not daily, basis. I pull ideas from
the small things we, as natives, tend to overlook. When I lived and worked in
New York, I had a King Cake delivered to my office during Mardi Gras. I was
explaining about the doll in the cake when I noticed everyone looking at me
like I was crazy until someone got the doll in their piece. Then, they looked
at me like I had two heads. I decided not to tell them about the Drive-Thru
Daiquiris shops.
It was while answering questions about Mardi Gras or some of
the traditions we have here that gave me the idea of writing a story about what
we take for granted and the world sees as unusual. I decided to use the
kiss/flower exchanges the gentlemen walking clubs are known for in Mardi Gras
parades and taking it one step further. I added the gentleman asking the pretty
girl to meet him at the end of the parade. She does, and the adventure begins.
One of the first things I do when a friend comes to visit me
in New Orleans is take them to a drive-thru daiquiris shop. Many don’t believe
it until they are holding drinks, sitting in the car and driving away.
There are more fun things to do in New Orleans than anywhere
else. I have lived in other cities — New York City, Atlanta and Birmingham —
but I am a New Orleans girl, born and raised. I like writing about what we do
differently here to share with fans for a fun read. Several readers have
emailed me asking for recommendations for places to go in New Orleans for a good
crawfish boil or Crawfish Monica because they plan to visit. I love hearing
from readers. They gave me the idea to add a page on my website for the places
I enjoy visiting and why. Check it out at www.colleenmooney.com.
Follow Colleen Mooney on Facebook and join the fun at Louisiana Ladies of Mystery Facebook page.
Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes Louisiana romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "Emilie," book one of The Cajun Series, "Ticket to Paradise," book one of The Cajun Embassy series and "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.
Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes Louisiana romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "Emilie," book one of The Cajun Series, "Ticket to Paradise," book one of The Cajun Embassy series and "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.
