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Dear Reader,
Author Carolyn Haines admits to a dangerous obsession in today's guest column. Don't miss it and be sure to enter her book giveaway. Someone has to win and it might as well be you. She has five copies of Booty Bones for readers. Email: [email protected]
A little bit about Carolyn Haines, the author of the popular Sarah Booth Delaney Mississippi Delta mystery series. Booty Bones, her latest mystery, is the 14th in the series. Carolyn is an animal lover and activist and a dancing fool. When she insisted on performing in a 'beginner' ballet recital (she was 26) her entire family fled town to avoid attending.
A DANGEROUS OBSESSION
By Carolyn Haines
My name is Carolyn, and I'm a book addict. There, it's out in the open. Somehow, I suspect I am not alone. Funny how book lovers find each other.
My obsession took an unusual twist several years ago. I was deeply under the sway of James Lee Burke. I was (and still am) captivated by Burke's masterful descriptions of Iberia Parish, Louisiana. The unique culture of the Acadians, who populated the watery lands of South Louisiana, drew me like a bee to honey. I wanted to see and experience the real Cajun culture for myself before it was gone. To that end, I convinced my childhood friend, Diana, to go for the weekend with me.
My goal was to dine on authentic Cajun food and to learn some of the wonderful, fun dances. Keep in mind that I am board stiff and not graceful, but I love to dance.
We stayed at a B&B in Jeanerette, LA, and our wonderful hostess, Dawn, gave us a list of places to eat and dance. At Mulate's we dined on delicious fare and watched families dancing--infants, grannies, nuns--everyone danced. Diana and I were primed and ready. We went to the dance hall Dawn recommended. And we danced. For five hours, we danced without stopping. I even learned some of the steps because the gentlemen I danced with were so patient and willing to re-school me.
Everyone there spoke a type of French/English language specific to that region, and neither Diana nor I could understand a word anyone said. Who cared! We were dancing! I'd never danced so much or had such a good time. I was living the culture brought so vividly to life in Burke's books.
The next evening we went to another dance hall and ran into one of the women who had been helping us with the steps. She was very sweet and complimented us on our "kindness." When I asked her what kindness she referred to, she laughed and said, "Oh, you don't know, do you?"
"Know what?" I asked.
"That table full of men you danced with all last night..."
"What about them?" I asked.
"They were out on weekend pass from the mental institution," she said. "It was so kind of you to dance with them."
"Do you know where they are tonight?" I asked. Perhaps they had another night of freedom and I another night of dance.
Reading has given me great adventure, in real places and in my imagination. Bring me another book, please! Something about...horses and Ireland.
--Carolyn Haines
Email Carolyn and enter her book giveaway: [email protected]
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
AUTHORBUZZ: THE DOG YEAR (Fiction) by Ann Garvin
When Lucy Peterman loses everything dear to her, she is caught red-handed in a senseless act that kept her grief at bay. Now, Lucy must share her deepest secrets with a group of misfits each with something to offer, if only she can get out of her own way. Funny and sad characters you won't soon forget.
Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on THE DOG YEAR to read more and to email author Ann Garvin, you'll get a reply.
KIDSBUZZ: Meet new authors--send an email, ask a question and they will reply. Plus this week, enter to win a free copy of books for pre-teens and teens: HIGH STAKES by Brandy Schillace; QUEST OF HEROES by Morgan Rice; and THE BOY WHO PLAYED WITH DARK MATTER/ZAMIRA AND THE WORLD OF Z by Holy Ghost Writer. For a chance to win, say hello to the author, and more, see http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz.
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