It's no secret that reading Anne Rice novels were part of what started my obsession with going to New Orleans. Since I've been rereading a few of those books before my trip, I thought I'd share my favorites.  If you've never read any of her novels I definitely suggest her most popular series the Vampire Chronicles.  My favorites are the The Vampire Lestat , Interview With The Vampire (which you're probably familiar with) and Tale of The Body Thief.  Now before you say "Oh gosh another lame vampire book/series/etc", these books came out long before the Twilight craze and are what vampires should be lol. Anne's writing style is incredibly detailed and believable so much that you get lost. 

I'm also a big fan of most of her other books, in particular ,  Angel Time, Exit To Eden and The Sleeping Beauty trilogy. (The last two are under the pen name Anne Ramplin or Roquelaure. They're a bit risque. You've been warned.) I haven't read any of the Mayfair Witches series or her newest series Wolf Gift but if you have let me know what you think of them! They are of course all on kindle as well, but sometimes its good to crack open a good ol paper book. =)

I'm also a big fan of almost any tv show or movie set in New Orleans. I'll watch just for the scenery or a look at the streets or architecture.  True Blood, True Detective and even the shows a on the cornier side like The Originals. I also REALLY enjoyed last season of American Horror Story being set in New Orleans. 

What do you like to read? I'm in need of a few good books!

Kat
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I'm literally grinning and squirming in my seat with excitement as a write this. My friend and I are FINALLY making our much planned mini trip to New Orleans in a few weeks!  Since my last post about it I've become ever more fascinated with going every time I watch a tv show set there or read a book set there. It's no secret I'm obsessed with Anne Rice novels. I'm hoping I'll get a glance of some of the places featured in her books. 

A rough intinerary:

-A quick stop at the Oak Valley plantation  before getting into the main part of the city.

-I'm most excited to visit the houses of the Garden District, the French Quarter, Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral. I'm also a bit curious to visit the famous haunted places of the city like LaLaurie House and the house of Marie Laveau. 

- I've been digging into the history of city to better understand and know what to see while I'm there and there are just so many fascinating things. The former "red light district' know as Storyville  has a lot of cool history to it. I was really fascinated by the photographer E.J. Bellocq who is now known for his portraits of the women of Storyville. If you like that sort of thing, GOOGLE it! There's actually a "burlesque" type show that runs at a local bar that tells the history of Storyville! So we may even check out a burlesque show! Who knows?!

-Ride a street car! While that's not something singular to New Orleans, I've always wanted to do this.

-We plan on checking out some of the noted bars and dives.  Especially the Absinthe House.    

-Try legit cajun/seafood!I may have mentioned it before, but I'm not a big seafood fan. At all. So I'm hoping to overcome that while I'm there and check out some of the famous Cajun food and seafood.



Have you ever been? Have any great suggestions of things to do or places to go?


kat


images:
absinthe house
storyville lady
Oak Valley 
sazerac
streetcar

This past week I've been jumping into the Find Your Voice online work shop. It's free (YAY) and so far very great. I've met a ton of wonderful people and it's been a great source of inspiration so far. I highly encourage you to join to if you are looking for a great creative adventure. (Join via the facebook group to get started) This is how my first week went. I'll share my projects as I complete them as well.

Week 1: Introductions

What is story telling to you?
Story telling is self expression.. sharing the things you love, do, experience, believe, learn and see in some tangible or intangible way. (photography, painting, journals, singing, music, poetry etc) Story telling is a way to make a record of something to share or revisit at another point in life and be transported to those memories.

Who are you?
I'm a mother, a daughter, an artist, a sponge of anything I can find that inspires me. I'm a student of life.

What are your storytelling goals? How do they fit in with the rest of your creative & life goals? 
My story telling goals are a personal aspiration to to remember every detail of everything important to me. The taste, smell, vibe, emotion of each beautiful thing. My blog is the biggest part of my life that I can use to convey and record these things and also by incorporating my photography, art and design work into my blog.

What are your favorite stories?
My favorite stories are visually appealing and usually transport me to a different time and place. Places and people rich with history and traits such as honor, chivalry and bravery. The Hobbit, Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Pride & Prejudice,  Anne Rice's novels, children's movies such as Shrek, Puss in Boots, Rio,


What styles do you find aesthetically pleasing? Modern? Vintage? Minimalist?
The honest answer is that I enjoy anything that is done well. Maybe because I'm aspiring to be a designer who has to be able to provide numerous styles for clients of maybe because I don't exactly know my particular style. I seem to lead towards vintage in most aspects of life but appreciate and admire other styles as well.

Which storytellers do you admire? How can you pull from their style to enhance your own?
I admire storyteller's with great imaginations and visions. I admire storytellers who transport me and shock me. I enjoy emotion and passion. Anne Rice and J R Tolkien in particular. Their keen descriptions and thorough thought process in their writing is something that I can try to convey in my own story telling.

What is your ideal story? What are you looking to get out of the Find Your Voice summer storytelling workshop? 
My ideal story is one full of enchantment, wonder, love, adventure and beauty. I'm hoping to bring out my creative side and find out a little bit more about myself.

 

 

 My friend and I are planning a mini adventure.  We've talked for a long time about how neither of us have ever been to New Orleans. She's been to quite a few places on the west coast and other places but I've never been ANYWHERE other than Oklahoma and Arkansas. So I figured its time to get to traveling, even if it is just an over night trip, now that my schedule allows it. When I start thinking about traveling, I usually end up thinking of places with amazing architecture and food. If I can't go to Paris yet, New Orleans will do for now hah!

My love for New Orleans started when I got hooked on to Anne Rice's novels. Most, if not all of them, are set partially or completely in New Orleans or Louisiana. I fell in love with the New Orleans she writes about... the french influence... the swampy landscape... and of course the vampires. haha. And not the corny twilight vampires... like.. the real killing, remorseless vampires. *SIGH* Lestat... haha

SO anyways.. I've been doing some research trying to find what I want to do or where I want to go while I'm there. I'm honestly a get there and "go with the flow" kind of girl but I don't want to miss anything. Obviously I plan on seeing the French Quarter and I know New Orleans is notorious for haunted places and graveyard tours. And I will definitely eat a lot of food.

Any suggestions other than stay away from the voodoo shops? haha

kat

p.s. these photos i got from pinterest, i just dont remember where. =\