I hadn't been to Louisiana in more than 20 years, and OMG, it was great. Or as the Cajuns and Creoles say, "We passed a good time, yeah!"
It's the land of my parents' birth; it's the place where I went to college; and it reflects a unique blend of French, Indigenous, West African, and Spanish ancestry. Those cultures all play a role in the language, customs, religions, and food. Two of my four granddaughters came to see a real Mardi Gras. New Orleans is awesome, but a bit much for little people.
I had to ship the bags of beads and other tossed parade giveaways home because we yelled, "Throw me something!" aggressively. And they did.
I teared up touring the University of Louisiana, Lafayette campus, because it was where I found my voice, literally and figuratively. I sang with a band, I won a pageant, and ultimately, I began my television career at the CBS and ABC stations in the city.
Walking around the campus took me back to the fun and carefree world of college life. https://louisiana.edu/
In Lafayette, I believe it's impossible to have a bad meal. Restaurants, arcades, markets, and even gas stations have the best Creole and Cajun flavors in the world. Boudin, etoufee, and other seafood creations like you've never had. Not even in Paris!
I was born in the San Francisco Bay Area and am a child of 1960s Berkeley, but it's the culture of my ancestors that has flavored my life. I've been inspired to showcase it in my books. Like Louisiana, my murder mysteries are spicy, humorous, and unique. I'm working my a** off to complete a new series. My new amateur sleuth uses voodoo to solve murders.
Plitar, mes amis!
