Tag Archives: New Orleans

Sep16

Cover Reveal- The Eisenger Element

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This one was hard to imagine an appropriate cover. Even the cover artist was at a loss since there is so much going on in this story. I knew I had no idea how to capture the essence of it and I’ve been thinking about it since I finished writing it a long time ago (this was my NaNoWriMo story in 2013)-  I knew a New Orleans Police Department badge was something I wanted somewhere since the heroine is a cop. The scales of Justice was also an idea since the hero is a lawyer. Jack, the cover artist, came up with the New Orleans musician in the corner to give the flavor of the city.

The first scene is the remainder of the cover. In that scene, the heroine is working undercover and the hero is leaning on a lamp post hoping to see her as he wants to assist her to get off the streets because he thinks she’s an underage prostitute. (The inspiration for this story was the Herman’s Hermits song, Leaning on a lamp post– LOL) Check it out here.

Eisenger Element

Sep9

Working on Edits- The EIsenger Element

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My second set of edits came in on my upcoming release, The Eisenger Element and I’m working through them. I’d forgotten how much I love these characters. The heroine, Emilia, is a smart-mouthed, sassy New Orleans cop from Algiers and she has a quirky side for sure. The hero, Lincoln Eisenger, is a lawyer who is trying to help his brother who has been wrongfully convicted of murder and is in Angola Prison.

It’s a fun story with lots of character, if I do say so myself. BUT how could it not since New Orleans is where it’s set. What a great city to place a story. There’s so much that can be done and so many unique individuals there that inspire me to really ramp up the characterizations. This tale has hookers, Garden District denizens, a Tarot card reader, a family of cops, and a mystery to solve as well.

Here’s the house I picture as the home of the hero. It’s a real home in the Garden District. Isn’t it lovely?1851

Aug26

Good News! The Eisenger Element 

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I turned in the first edits on this novel back in February and have been awaiting the second edits patiently. Finally broke down and asked for status again last night and I should have them shortly. There was a computer crash and lots of edits had to be recreated. So, I’m hopeful for a release date soon as well as a cover. I did also learn that the editor loved the story so yay for that. I confess, I was getting scared since it was taking longer than normal. I was thinking it must be a trash book. Writers have such fragile egos! Lol. 

I love this story. It takes place in New Orleans, one of my favorite cities. It has a lawyer and a cop as the protagonists and there is even a scene or two at Angola Prioson where they have a rodeo every year. I wanted to use that in a book someday and have now done so. I think it’s awesome that the inmates have something to do to also give back to the community. It’s a real thing and keeps them busy all year preparing. 

I hope the world loves this book as much as I do when it comes out. In fact, now that I’ve got it on my mind, I’m in need of a po-boy. 

May23

New Book Acceptance

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My NaNoWriMo story for 2013 was set in New Orleans, La and is called The Eisenger Element. It’s a sophisticated mystery with a couple of fun characters. I especially enjoy the heroine and her partner. They are homicide detectives and they cracked me up with their banter. She has some quirks such as giving everyone nicknames and she’s flat out sassy.

The hero is more staid as he’s a lawyer and tightly wound. He has a brother in prison in Angola, La. The brother was wrongfully convicted of murder and the hero is doing his level best to get him released.

The prison has annual rodeos in real life so I incorporated that into the story. I also set some scenes in my beloved French Quarter and the Garden District.

This was a very fun story to write and the first 50,000 words were done in 12 days. I love it when a story really speaks to me. It ended up at 64,000 words and was totally drafted in 25 days. I, of course, spent much more time polishing it!

I got the acceptance email from Black Opal Books on my way to New Orleans for the RT conference last week (how cool is that?). I don’t have a release day as yet but I’ll post more as things occur.

Feb3

“Unwilling Accomplice” – a Book Review

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Last night, I finished reading Unwilling Accomplice by Melanie Atkins. This was book five in a series called New Orleans Detectives.  I haven’t read any of the other four but I will be doing so now. You can read this one without knowing what happened in the other four. I’m sure some of the other detectives that are in this story as minor characters had their own story in the earlier books but it’s not necessary to have read them in order. 

I was attracted to this book because of the cover and the setting. Living here in Pensacola, I love to drive the 2.5 hours to New Orleans. It’s the most European city we have here in the USA and I love it.  The cover of this book is perfect- it shows some of the awesome architecture of the city.

Here is the blurb for this book:

Marcy Moretti believes that anyone can be redeemed, until she witnesses a murder at the hands of her ex-husband and is forced to go on the run with her young son in order to survive. The only person who can help her is Joe Riso, her former brother-in-law, a detective staggered by the loss of his wife and daughter. If he’s going to protect both Marcy and her boy, he must first find a way to unfreeze his icy heart — and along the way find his own redemption.

This story starts out fast paced and keeps the momentum going.  I found myself, in several places, holding my breath to see what would happen next. I read this on my kindle app on my I-Pod and couldn’t slide the page fast enough on some of the action scenes.  This. to me, is the sign of an excellent story. To want to race through to see how it turns out is the best kind of suspense book.

The love scenes were well done as well. I was glad the author explained how Joe could still have a great, hard body when he’d been drinking himself into oblivion for a while.  Seems he worked out a lot to ease some of his stress.  I liked the hero and  the heroine in this story a lot.  I don’t usually like a book with a kid in it but I enjoyed this one.

I recommend this book.  It can be ordered at the publisher http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-143/Melanie-Atkins-New-Orleans/Detail.bok     or Amazon among other places.