Fresh Fiction Blog | Elle James | Come with me to the Bayou

Traveling to research a trip is such fun. For those of you who don't get out enough or far enough south, come along with me on this trip to Louisiana I took with my sister last fall.

bayou swamp

bayou sunset creole
mansion cathedral

We started from my parents home in a little town called Arkadelphia, Arkansas, early in the morning. The sun was just coming up as we hit the interstate headed toward Texarkana. That was the easy part, then we cut around Shreveport and drove south into bayou country. After a long few hours of traveling we were in bayou country where the roads paralleled cannels and cypress trees towered out of the water. We stopped along the way at a mom-and-pop joint for a yummy taste of Shrimp Okra Gumbo and continued south to our first stop, the farthest point south, Grand Isle, a small patch of islands connected to the mainland by bridges. We were thinking vacation spot and, to some, it is. The beaches were eh, but it seemed the fishing was what people come for. The houses were on stilts, 8-10 feet above the ground (think hurricanes and storm surges). But you won't find a better sunset than what we found there.

Next day we headed north to Thibodeaux and arranged to take an airboat tour of the swamp. Our Cajun guide was crazy! He drove like a bat out of hell, and scared the bejeezus out of us. We loved every minute! Then it was into the bayou where the alligators roam and sincerely deranged people rob alligator nests for the alligator farms. Our guide pulled a twelve foot alligator out of the water by his tail so that I could pet it. Uh huh. I was the only passenger on the boat brave (or foolish) enough to touch it. Yay me! Then we skimmed through a cypress forest where Spanish moss draped the trees and cypress knees poked out of the water by the hundreds. We found an alligator nest with a mamma alligator guarding it. She was smaller but less agreeable than the big guy. Don't be messin' with a mamma and her eggs! Beautiful ride on the bayou, satisfying conclusion to that day in Louisiana. Next day we toured a couple of really cool sugar plantation houses from the 1800's. Oak Alley was my favorite with its stately avenue of ancient oak trees lining the walk up to the front. We drank mint juleps and listened to a costumed guide tell of the former residents and their family history.

Next stop? New Orleans! We stayed at the Royal Sonesta on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. Had our palms read in front of St. Louis Cathedral, visited the Voodoo shops, ate beignets at Cafe Du Monde and watched the crazies on Bourbon Street at night.

Do I recommend a trip to Louisiana? You bet. But make sure you get that airboat ride. It was the best! I chose the bayous as the setting for my CAJUN MAGIC series because where else will you get the flavor of the south quite like it is in Cajun Country?

CAJUN MAGIC Series coming out this year from Entangled Publishing. VOODOO ON THE BAYOU (Feb 2013), VOODOO FOR TWO (April 2013) and DEJA VOODOO (Jun 2013)

Voodoo On The Bayou
Cajun Magic
#1.0
February 2013

Voodoo For Two
Cajun Magic
#2.0
May 2013

Deja Voodoo
Cajun Magic
#3.0
July 2013

Comment to win a copy of VOODOO FOR TWO

Comments

WOW, it looks like VOODOO on this contest for sure. Hope not
but I want to enter your book contest VOODOO FOR TWO. Thanks,
Cecilia
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 11:51pm May 13, 2013)

i would love to read this i love the stories that have the
voodoo romance love in them so interesting wow love the cover
(Denise Smith 3:46pm May 14, 2013)

Would love to read this book. It looks like it would be a book that would be hard to put down :)
(Aimee Robison 4:43pm May 14, 2013)

Your trip sounds fascinating, however, I would be terrified to see alligators, and I know I'd never want to touch one! Your voodoo romance series looks good, as well as those enticing covers; I'd love to read them all!
(Linda Luinstra 5:29pm May 14, 2013)

Would love to win! Sounds like an interested series.
(Lazydrag0n Puff 6:08pm May 14, 2013)

My sister and I travel together (girl's only) about every 2 years. I would love to go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras! I know its not how the city is on a regular day but what fun! Did your air boat driver warn you to keep your mouth shut? Ours didn't and my sister thought she was going to choke to death on a bug! I would love to read your book and get a little voodoo magic in my life too.
(Janis Milford 7:05pm May 14, 2013)

love to win..this series sounds like a great and interesting read...just love to share with my nieces also if i'm lucky to win
(Kimberly Hoefs 9:43pm May 14, 2013)

Sounds like a really interesting series. Would love to read it :)
(Aimee Robison 10:15pm May 14, 2013)

Love the voodoo titles. I am looking forward to reading them now!
(Tracie Travis 10:52pm May 14, 2013)

This sounds like an interesting twist on the love potion story. It sounds like a great read.
(Kathleen Yohanna 10:56pm May 14, 2013)

My best Girlfriend, who is like a Sister to me, lives in New Orleans. I told her that one of these days, I'm going to come down there to visit her. I would love to see the area that is so rich with History, and the architecture is incredible!! The people seem to be warm and friendly for the most part, and the food sounds interesting, too!! I think I'd pass on the airboat ride, but my Girlfriend has told me about the Cafe duMonde!! That's more my speed!! Thank you for the wonderful posting and tour of the city. Now I'll be looking forward to reading your book!!
(Peggy Roberson 11:37pm May 14, 2013)

You have me wanting to travel to Louisiana and the bayou country right now. But guess I may have to settle for just reading about it.
(Sue Farrell 11:51pm May 14, 2013)

Seriously, it sounds like I would enjoy listening to your
tales about your trip as much as your books! What a fantastic
story taler you are! (sorry that's spelled wrong) I am
putting all three books on my to read list! Thanks for
telling us about your adventures!
(Sandie White 12:00pm May 15, 2013)

My parents traveled all over the US til my Dad got sick this
winter. Love hearing abt it!
(Vicki Hancock 12:06pm May 15, 2013)

Cities near the Bayou are just a place that is magical and mystical to me. This is where Voodoo is practiced. I am so curious about these places. New Orleans and Baton Rogue is on my bucket list to visit one of these days.
(Kai Wong 1:30am May 15, 2013)

It sounds like a wonderful trip & all in the name of research.
Half your luck!!
(Mary Preston 7:45am May 15, 2013)

There is something about this area that is so different. I also loved Oak Alley and went to Mass one Easter at St. Louis Cathedral when we were visiting there. Your pictures are great.
(Leona Olson 9:51am May 15, 2013)

Oooh this sounds good... love books that take me to New Orleans...
(Colleen Conklin 5:22pm May 15, 2013)

I love to hear Bayou people talk and want to go down for Mardi Gras some day. It's such a magical area and with the swamps ... scary. Cajun Magic sounds like a fantastic series.
(Annetta Sweetko 5:52pm May 15, 2013)

I love New Orleans, only been once, hopefully will get to go back in the near future! I love reading about NOLA, and the bayous. I can't wait to read these books, they are on the wish list. Thanks for the chance to win one.
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