It’s Mardi Gras Again!

You know the let-down you feel on January 2nd after the holidays? That doesn’t happen in New Orleans. In fact, those wild ‘n wacky New Orleanians get MORE excited after Christmas because the minute the Epiphany kicks in on January 6th, Carnival Season begins. You can eat King Cake until Lent! You can go to parades! You can dress in my favorite colors, purple, green, … Continue reading It’s Mardi Gras Again!

Happy Book Birthday, Ellen Byron!

It’s Release Day for Wined and Died in New Orleans, the second book in Ellen Byron’s new series, The Vintage Cookbook Mysteries! Says the Library Journal, “Fans of Byron’s award-winning ‘Cajun Country’ mysteries will enjoy her return to New Orleans with an engaging, fun cast of characters.” Congratulations, Ellen! You can pick up a copy through the link below. About WINED AND DIED IN NEW … Continue reading Happy Book Birthday, Ellen Byron!

Behind the Book: Wined and Died in New Orleans

Welcome to “Behind the Book,” our fun new Chicks on the Case feature! Join us as we Chicks share the real stories behind our stories. Inspiration, motivation, frustration, jubilation–you’ll find them all right here…  Hi, Ellen here, pulling back the curtain on my new Vintage Cookbook Mystery. The main plot of Wined and Died in New Orleans is twofold: 1) a valuable cache of 19th … Continue reading Behind the Book: Wined and Died in New Orleans

Your memories from this day are… what????!

Not that long ago, I started receiving emails from OneDrive titled “Your memories from this day.” At first, I didn’t really pay attention to them. My motto, stolen from a book called The Year of Jamie’s Diary (which I’m ashamed to admit was also stolen by yours truly from the Scarsdale junior high school), is “Forward ever, backward never.” But eventually, driven by a combination … Continue reading Your memories from this day are… what????!

Happy Book Birthday, Ellen Byron!

It’s Release Day for Bayou Book Thief, the first book in Ellen Byron’s new series, The Vintage Cookbook Mysteries! Says the Library Journal, “Fans of Byron’s award-winning ‘Cajun Country’ mysteries will enjoy her return to New Orleans with an engaging, fun cast of characters.” Congratulations, Ellen! You can pick up a copy through the link below. And read to the end of this post for … Continue reading Happy Book Birthday, Ellen Byron!

Chicks News Flash – Two Giveaways!

Hi all! Just a quick email to alert you to two giveaways featuring Chicks on the Case Authors. The first books in Ellen Byron and Jennifer J. Chow’s new series – Bayou Book Thief, Book #1 in Ellen’s Vintage Cookbook Mysteries and Death By Bubble Tea, Book #1 in Jen’s LA Night Market Mysteries – are included in the this great Spring Reading: Mystery Edition … Continue reading Chicks News Flash – Two Giveaways!

Evacuation – the short story that I wrote during our real evacuation.

When they cancelled the New Orleans Bouchercon mystery convention, I decided to make the trip to my favorite city anyway. My new Vintage Cookbook Mystery series is set in the Big Easy, plus our daughter is a senior at Loyola University. And I’m a Tulane alum. So… research. Daughter. Friends. What could go wrong? HURRICANE IDA, THAT’S WHAT. The trip started out so well. I … Continue reading Evacuation – the short story that I wrote during our real evacuation.

Mardi Gras becomes Yardi Gras

No parades. No balls. No bars. No hordes of visitors reveling in iconic Mardi Gras celebrations. You’d think that would plunge a city into a deep depression. Well, not if that city is New Orleans. Don’t get me wrong, there was depression. How could there not be? But then some of New Orleans’ many creative types came up with a way to celebrate in a … Continue reading Mardi Gras becomes Yardi Gras

Guest Chick: Colleen Mooney

Ellen here, and I’m happy to welcome my friend Colleen Mooney to Chicks. Colleen, a native New Orleanian, writes the endlessly entertaining Go Cup Chronicles Mystery Series. Thanks so much for joining us today, Colleen! HURRICANE HAVOC I want to thank Ellen Byron and Chicks on the Case for having me as a guest.  Being a guest anywhere right now is quite an honor since … Continue reading Guest Chick: Colleen Mooney

A New Orleans Halloween

Ever since I began writing the Cajun Country Mysteries, a highlight of publication has been my annual panel appearance at the Louisiana Book Festival, which takes place in Baton Rouge either the last Saturday in October or first in November. I always combine the trip with a visit to New Orleans, especially now that our daughter has followed my path and is attending college there. … Continue reading A New Orleans Halloween