I have an affection for New Orleans and its people-- and have had, since I was a teenager. Which is just one of the reasons why, when it came time to write my first Erotic suspense novel, Full Exposure, the bayous surrounding New Orleans came immediately to mind.
As a literature graduate student, I roamed the streets of New Orleans, taking in all the literary and historic sites the city had to offer. More than once I sat near Ann Rice at Lafitte's Old Blacksmith shop, where it is rumored she wrote most of her novels. I haunted the old hangouts of Tennessee Williams and Kate Chopin. I even took a road trip, with some of my fellow grad students, to Ole Miss to check out William Faulkner's old stomping ground. And I was a research assistant to famed biographer, Carol Gelderman, who taught me more than I can say about writing and New Orleans in the year I worked for her.
I turned twenty-one in New Orleans, fell in love in New Orleans, got married and became a mother in New Orleans-- so it's hard to remember the city with anything but fondness, even though the New Orleans of today is very different, thanks to Katrina, than the one I haunted in the mid-nineties.
Is there any city you have a particular affection for? Any city that means something special to you? I'm giving away a copy of my Christmas Superromance, A Christmas Wedding, so leave a comment and be entered to win.
20 comments:
Hi Tracy! I think New Orleans, at least the city I visited in the 70s, would be the perfect location for a suspense novel or, for that matter, any novel. Good luck with your book!
The city of my heart is Florence, Italy. I first visited when I was 16 and fell in love with the history, art, people and food. (gelato, anyone?) It took me more than 30 years to make it back there and when I returned at the age of 55 it was even more magical for me than it had been at 16. Of course, at 55, I also added shopping to the list of what I love about Florence. Now if I could just win the lottery I'd be able to indulge my passion every year!
I have not traveled much, so haven't found a city I can love.
I know what you mean, PJ. I love Alexandria,Egypt and Paris in the same way.
And I haven't traveled much lately, either Estella. Three kids, work, saving for college funds . . sigh. Someday.
Hiya Tracy. My choice would have to be Gatlinburg TN. We get a cabin in the mountains and have the most wonderful time with the kids.
This may sound a little strange to some but a city I would love to be able to go back to and spend a lot of time in is Washington, DC. I am really fascinated by all the history there. The Smithsonian museums are places where I could spend all day (in each one).
Hi Tracy,
I was just a kid when I visited New Orlens but I would love to go back. I haven't traveled much so I can't say that I have a favorite city, but I do have an aerial photograph that someone on a large jet plane took of Detroit as seen through the clouds as the plane was getting ready to land. From the ground, Detroit may not be a very pretty city, crowded, congested and full of traffic, but from up there, it is gorgeous!
I haven't been lucky enough to travel very much at all but have grown up in Sydney and I have gotta say our harbour is beautiful and the Rocks area has some really great old buildings the area has so much history that I love walking around there to me Sydney is fantastic.
Have Fun
Helen
I visited San Francisco when I was a teenager and was awed by how beautiful it is there. The Golden Gate Bridge at night is a sight I will always remember. Another city that I loved visiting is London. My husband and I went for our honeymoon and I had a great time sightseeing. All the people there were very nice.
I haven't traveled much so I don't have a city I just love. I do enjoy going to visit Myrtle Beach but can't say I love it. I just enjoy the ocean there.
I love Medicine Hat, Ab., Canada. It was were I went when I was going through a divorce and where I 'survived' the ordeal and got a job, got an apartment and a different car, took a trip to Las Vegas and Victoria, B.C., Canada --- the city were I did it all and made it. I was on my own and I survived. Yeah Medicine Hat!!!! We go there now to shop every so often.
Miami, I went on a shopping trip there and got so much more than l expected, great food and sights as well.
Hi Tracy,
Ok my city of choice may sound weird but it has a lot of history and some really neat ghost stories. It is St. Augustine, Florida. My husband and I stayed there with his sister, her 2 kids and mom. His sister has a time share condo there and we had a blast! We even went on a ghost tour of the town at night! We went to Epcot and Disney Land too. It was a fantastic trip.
The one thing I really loved about the place we stayed at was that it was so close to the ocean that at night I could hear the waves rolling in. Absolutely loved it!
I have been to New Orleans too and loved it! Lot's of cool history there too! My brother stayed in a hotel there and had a ghostly experience. When he went to bed that night all his luggage was in the same room as him. When he woke up the next morning he noticed his luggage was missing. He got up and found that it all had been moved into the bathroom. He was rather spooked by that!
I was born in Houston, Texas and I
have lived all 72 of my years here.
There is no place I would rather be!
Nor would I live in any other state.
Pat Cochran
I have only not been to aot of cities, but born in Chicago and with many interesting facts from there too make it my fav, even though I now live in Milwaukere, lol
Thanks everyone for your great comments. The winner is lucky number 1 (which my son drew out of a bowl a little while ago). So, PJ, if you drop me a line at tracy@tracywolff.com, I'll get the book in the mail to you.
And for everyone else, I'm doing a mega-contest and giving away lots of goodies to celebrate the release of Full Exposure. Enter to win at www.tracywolff.com
Hi Tracy
I've never been to New Orleans, but I'm with PJ - Florence will always have a special place in my heart.
I have to say Madison, Wisconsin where I went to college and worked . Madison holds both the huge University of Wisconsin along with being the center for the state's government (capital). Both coexist beautifully nestled between three lakes: Mendota, Monona & Wingra. There are bike trails, concerts, sports events, museums, art fairs, and the weekly farm market(summers& fall. You can take fun classes at the Union ...learn to sail, draw, basket weaving offered for young & old alike. Friendly people and a relaxed atmosphere. It's a great place to visit!
Christine, Florence is beautiful. And Laurie, I lived in Madison, Wisconsin very briefly-- between my M.A. and PhD-- It is beautiful.
I was just able to make my first visit to New Orlean's a couple of weeks ago. I went to the Superdome to watch Troy play Southern Miss. We stayed the weekend and had a great time looking around the city.
I am what my family would call a dream traveller. I have travel brochures for just about everywhere in North America and some places overseas. One of these days I hope to have the opportunity to visit some of those destinations.
Out of the places I have been I would say that The Thosand Islands in north-eastern Ontario is my favourite. The views are breathtaking and it incedible to see the varity of cottages on their own private islands.
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