ROAD TRIP – headin’ to the Big Easy – that’s Nawlins for the uninitiated.
I have been here many times and still marvel at the uniqueness that is New Orleans.
(c) Sherry Fundin
What a great time of year to visit. Christmas decorations light up the streets, making me twist and turn my head, so I don’t miss anything. My camera finger is flicking away, taking photographs as quickly as the camera can cycle through.
(c) Sherry Fundin
I located my hotel, then parked the car. Starting my walk at the French Market, I ogle the goodies that are displayed. How about a little window shopping?
(c) Sherry Fundin
(c) Sherry Fundin
I can smell the beignets and hot chocolate at Cafe du Monde calling to me. While enjoying my snack and taking a break from walking, I watch the street musicans playing some Jazz and the street performers entertaining the crowd. I love to people watch, and this is a perfect place to do so.
(c) Sherry Fundin
Of course, we have to cross the street and pet the donkeys, all the while taking photographs as we pass Jackson Square. These are two signatures of New Orleans that you don’t want to miss.
(c) Sherry Fundin
We went to City Park – visited the New Orleans Museum of Art and stopped to enjoy the Cajun Christmas light display at Christmas in the Oaks. There is a train you can ride, but I chose to walk so I could take my time on the things that I enjoyed the most, like this magical creature.
I had a great dinner/breakfast at Daisy Dukes, where the food abounds and the Bloody Mary’s are bottomless.
(c) Sherry Fundin
I stayed at The Ambassador. My room had huge wooden beams, with a glass door and windows that open to the hallways of the hotel. It says The French Quarter to me. I enjoyed their delicious breakfast, before I set out on day two. The Ambassador is in close proximity to many New Orleans features, making it possible to walk the area.
(c) Sherry Fundin
On the way home, I felt the need to stretch my legs. What better place than Margaritaville for a couple of cocktails and some lunch. Of course, I had to pull a slot lever or two and try my luck. It’s always nice if someone else picks up my trip tab.
(c) Sherry Fundin
A beautiful sunset capped off a great couple of days.
I love road trips. I throw some stuff in the car and hit the road. Stay tuned for more of my fun adventures.
John Besh is a chef and native son dedicated to the culinary riches of southern Louisiana. In his restaurants, entrepreneurial pursuits, and public activities, he aims to preserve and promote ingredients, techniques, and heritage. John’s cookbooks, My New Orleans and My Family Table, were each recognized with an IACP Award. His third cookbook, “Cooking from the Heart,” was released on October 29th, 2013. He hosts two national public television cooking shows based on the books.
Goodreads Author Info
John Besh is the acclaimed chef committed to “bringing back” New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Besh grew up in Southern Louisiana and graduated from The Culinary Institute of America. Food & Wine named him one of the Top 10 Best New Chefs in America in 1999. His passion for food and New Orleans is always simmering.
Besh owns and operates New Orleans restaurants: August, his downtown flagship. Luke is his newest adventure, a downtown brasserie. La Provence, a rustic French restaurant and mini-farm just north of New Orleans. And, not to be overlooked, the award-winning, Besh Steak. ”
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INTERVIEWS:
Please let us know if you are interested in an advance interview with John.
COOKING FROM THE HEART: My Favorite Lessons Learned Along the Way (October 29, 2013; Andrews McMeel Publishing; Hardcover; $40.00) recalls the places, lessons, and mentors that shaped John Besh’s culinary journey. His engaging personal narrative takes the reader to his touchstones, from the heart of Germany’s Black Forest to the sun-drenched south of France. Each chapter features a lesson learned, told in Besh’s own charming style, full of heartfelt memories and delicious recipes.
With 375 original and archival photographs and 140 easy-to-follow recipes, the 11 chapters bring John’s experiences home into the everyday cook’s kitchen. The book also includes instructional “Cooking Lessons,” illustrated with step-by-step photography, that demonstrate techniques which will help readers master classics such as building a perfect green salad, roasting a whole fish, coaxing deep flavor from stews and roasts, making easy and elegant fruit desserts start to finish and many others.
Gia Vecchio
The Door l an idea house
37 West 17th St., Floor 5
New York, NY 10011
o: 646-340-1767
c: 917-280-5043 gia@thedooronline.com
This book will grab you from the first page and not let you go. Feelings of frustration, disgust, and anger will leave you panting for more. I kept wanting to yell, don’t open the door.
He was watching Dawn from his car, thinking of how she teased him. She was a sinner, not very bright, and she would be his fourth Absolution in New Orleans. He knew the police and FBI were after him but he felt God was watching over him .
The citizens were up in arms, wanting action. Racial tensions were high and they had just arrested a black man for being near the murder scene. Rona knew they were trying to pin it on a black guy, so she told Renzi about Kitty, her informant. She took Renzi to talk to her. Kitty claimed to be a psychic. He arranged for her to do an identikit, but before he left, she told him she thought the guy was a priest. He had made a sign, as if absolving her of her sins.
When Rona published the story stating a witness had escaped the Tongue Killer and described him as white and a priest, all hell broke loose and Renzi was in the middle of it. What would that mean for the witness?
Father Sean was very upset about Lynette. All the victims had been Catholic and he had told his housekeeper, Aurora, about seeing her talking to a young priest at the mall. When Father Sean approached him to talk to him, he had been very rude. She thought he should go to the police, but he had secrets of his own. The police and FBI would begin to question him, and his secrets would come out.
Father Sean Daily was doodling with the killers sketch while thinking of what would happen if he was exposed. Suddenly it dawned on him, it looked like………
5 – Would Buy It For Them (lol)
I guess I must be a pretty sick person, because I love to read about serial killers. I feel they must be some of the most depraved animals, that are considered to be part of the human race. Murder and death are fascinating to me.
I feel the media tends to inflame the killers, by giving them the attention they crave. Giving them names – Son of Sam, BTK, Green Mile Killer, just to name a few. I think the media will go to any lengths to increase their bottom line. The reporter will lie and make things up to break a story, win a Pulitzer.That is only one of the evils involved. There are plenty more to go around.
Politics. What can I say about politics? High profile cases are used to climb the ladder of advancement. Some can only be promoted to the level of their incompetence. It is seen everywhere and in every walk of life.
This book includes all of the above. It will piss you off, as you read about Norris. And the media naming the serial killer – Tongue Killer. Susan seems to hit on a lot of the problems going on today in her books. I like that it makes it more real and stirs my emotions, sometimes to a fever pitch.
The Killer – he studied serial killers and liked that he had a name, because so many of them did. Of course, he thought he was smarter than the press, police and FBI. He had a mission. He had to expose the evil women. His goal for them was Absolution.
Norris is the biggest dick. Arrogant, know it all. A man I love to hate. He is disrespectful, bigoted, racist, and the boss. He will climb the ladder, by stepping on you. If you don’t get pissed off when you read about him, then you must be a better person than I.
Renzi and Norris are constantly butting heads. Renzi has to bite his tongue and watch Norris take the credit for his work. On top of that, his father is a judge and his expectations for Renzi are high.
Kenyon Miller, his partner, “Didn’t your daddy tell you never to pick fights with guys bigger than you?” Renzi, “Hell, no. When a damsel’s in distress, my father expects me to slay the dragon, no matter how big it is.”
What can I say about New Orleans? They don’t call it The Big Easy for nothing. You can tell that Susan loves the town and her years spent there. She also manages to work her love of Jazz into her stories. I have spent many a day – and night – in New Orleans and there is no other place like it.
Shotgun house – can shoot through the front door and out the back without hitting a wall. I had never heard of that, until I moved down south. I actually lived in a shotgun house, but it had been remodeled and a wall built to block the bullet. lol
I received this book from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Music & Mayhem is my game. Started my trumpet career in my teens, got into the mayhem later. My print journalist father taught me how to play pool in the police station. Maybe that’s how I discovered my dark side.
I survived Katrina, but moved back to Boston in 2010. On my website I post profiles of women musicians and just began a blog, DARK DEEDS, about serial killers, stalkers and domestic homicides. Please come visit!!
To purchase any of Susan Fleet’s books, simply click on the cover below.
GIVEAWAY
Susan Fleet is offering for the Giveaway, 2 (two) ebooks for your reading pleasure. International. Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:
Susan has a love of New Orleans. Have you ever been there and what was your favorite thing about your visit?
WINNERS – Stephanie and Ari.
Happy Reading. Thanks to all who stopped by to comment and enter the Giveaway.
Susan is offering Natalie’s Revenge for FREE this week. Go HERE to see how to get your copy.
To see my 5 STAR Review of Natalie’s Revenge, go HERE..
To keep updated on the latest happenings here on fundinmental, follow by email. If you were following me on my old blog, but have not subscribed here, on my new blog, you will need to follow by email again. I lost all my follower information when I moved. Thanks and I look forward to seeing you.
Celebrate Mardi Gras with a free New Orleans mystery! Absolution will be free on February 11, 12,13, 14. A serial killer preys on young women in New Orleans.
Best Mystery/Suspense/Thriller of 2009
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ABSOLUTION
BY
SUSAN FLEET
A Big Easy heatwave, religious controversy, racial tensions and a twisted killer on the loose. An NOPD detective teams up with an African-American woman journalist to catch a creepy killer.e Premier Book Awards.
Natalie’s Revenge – A Frank Renzi Novel by Susan Fleet
1988 – As soon as she woke up, she knew something was wrong.
Natalie was only ten, but she doubted her mom when she said she worked so late because she was a hostess at some fancy restaurant. Natalie was always home alone and never opened the door for anyone. When the doorbell rang, she looked out the peephole. It was a woman cop and she knew Natalie’s name. She went on to tell her that her mom was dead.
July 2008 – Renzi was called out in the middle of the night for a body with a bullet hole in the middle of his forehead. It was a hit. Renzi’s partner, Kenyon Miller was on his way. When he arrived, he told Renzi that he knew him. He was a bigwig at the new casino – The BABYLON.
The victim, Arnold, had been a good father, but a womanizer. He and his wife lived separate lives and it came out that he had a gambling problem. Could it be a disgruntled husband? A Business partner? His Wife? A Loan shark?
As they went over the security tapes from the Hotel Bienvenue, where Peterson was staying, Renzi saw her. She entered Peterson’s room. Her hat and sunglasses covered her face, but he noticed her walk, that she was fit and athletic. He also noticed a tattoo on her ankle. High priced hooker?
At the Sunshine Inn, June Carson was preparing to leave town. Her next stop was Circle K for travel supplies. She saw she was being watched by a guy in a cowboy hat. She left quickly, but he followed her, then called her name “Natalie”. It was an old classmate, Tex Conroy, from Pecos, Texas.. He had recognized her firebird pendant – her good luck charm. Not so good now. She knew what she had to do, get him off in an isolated place.
After her mother’s death, she was sent to her Uncle, Jerome Brixton in Pecos Texas. She liked to watch America’s Most Wanted and wondered what it would be like to run from the law. She researched her Vietnamese heritage and chose birds and mountains to protect herself. If she didn’t avenge her mother’s death, would angry spirits ruin her life?
Her cousin, Randy, called her slant eyes and gook. When she adopted a kitten, Randy killed it. She vowed she would make him pay.
Chinese proverb – All warfare is based on deception. Natalie learned Tae (strike) Kwon (strike with fist) Do (means way). She learned Jiapsul – pressure points. Part of the Tae Kwan Do oath was, “I shall be a champion of justice and freedom”.” She liked that. Justice for her mom. Freedom for herself. She learned to shoot guns because sometimes martial arts wouldn’t be enough.
As Renzi investigated Tex’s death in Pecos, the name Natale came up. She was accused of killing her cousin, Randy. He fell off a cliff at a family picnic. She wasn’t charged, but Renzi felt she was the one.
She knows he is closing in on her, but nothing was going to stop her from fulfilling her destiny.
5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)
I love the cover. Red is very eye-catching and who doesn’t love a shoot ’em up female protagonist. She even holds the gun properly. The title speaks for itself. The “package” made me want to pick it up and read it the moment I got it.
New Orleans. I’ve spent a lot of time visiting New Orleans. I love to read about places I’ve been to and am so familiar with. It seems to add something extra.
Once Renzi got to Pecos, I read faster and faster, learning about Natalie and her life in Pecos. I could feel the suspense building as I wondered how Renzi would catch her and wishing he wouldn’t. Very well written. I was unable to put it down. I had to know what was going to happen to her.
I love when the character, whether a book, TV show or movie, has to seek justice for themselves, like Death Wish . I have watched them so many times, I feel like I know all the characters intimately. I loved all the Death wishes, so I knew I would love this book. Of course, if everyone did it, we’d be like the Wild West. I rooted for her to exact her revenge and get away with it, even though she might have went too far.
I loved that Natalie went about her life, doing what she had to do to accomplish her goal, made me feel more empathy for her. Stripping, hooking and sacrificing her life, so she could put things right. Feeling as if her heritage demanded it or she would be haunted for the rest of her life. She became an actess, a chameleon. She had seven words to live by – Be what they want you to be. She trusted no one and relied only on herself.
I loved her single-mindedness to achieve her goal and the sacrifices she made, but then what? She really wanted what we all want, but she needed answers to be able to move on. And after all she had done, how could she have a “normal” life?
How far would you go to make sure someone paid for destroying a loved one’s life? Would you be able to do whatever it takes to make them pay?
Loved it when Vobitch kicked Hammer out of his office. I loved the dialogue between Renzi, his partner Kenyon and his boss, Vobitch. A verbal jousting match. Sarcastic, back and forth bantering, like Lisbon and Jane on The Mentalist.
Multiple story lines throughout the plot. Renzi is in love with Kelly who is also a cop. Hurricane Gail is heading for New Orleans. Guess a lot of us know what that entails.
Ending? Loved it. I sat there with my mouth hanging open, thinking…….Let me………………… Nope, you’ll have to find out for yourself.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Music & Mayhem is my game. Started my trumpet career in my teens, got into the mayhem later. My print journalist father taught me how to play pool in the police station. Maybe that’s how I discovered my dark side.
After gigging on trumpet in the Boston area for many years (while teaching at Brown University and Berklee College of Music), I moved to New Orleans, which became the setting for my crime thrillers. Scroll down and check the video trailers for DIVA and ABSOLUTION.
I survived Katrina, but moved back to Boston in 2010. On my website I post profiles of women musicians and just began a blog, DARK DEEDS, about serial killers, stalkers and domestic homicides. Please come visit!!
Susan is offering 2 ebooks for the Giveaway – one for the US and one for the UK. Easy entry as always, just answer her question – New Orleans has many local coffee shops, but one is particularly famous. Not only that, I set one early scene at the coffee shop in Absolution, my first Frank Renzi mystery. What’s the name of the coffee shop? Have you ever been there? – and leave your email address.
My office is above Robby’s Auto and I feel it is an appropriate place. There is a car graveyard behind the building and Webster Investigations is built on ruined lives.
My wife, Molly had asked for a divorce and right after that I had shot a drug addict. I was on suspension when Patrolman Mike Poirier pushed me past the breaking point and I punched him. I had been a police officer, but had belted him in front of way too many witnesses and was asked for my resignation.
It was Thanksgiving weekend and I figured no one would be coming into the office, so I would try to clean it up a bit. The building left a lot to be desired.
In walked a woman asking for Clayton Webster, that was me. She introduced herself as Bonita Esquivez and told me her husband was missing. He had been gone since last night and she was afraid he may be hurt. Why would she think that?
She pulled out a stack of hundred-dollar bills and asked when I could start. They had come here from Miami, so I couldn’t help but wonder why they would stop here, in Lowell, Massachusetts.
She said a black officer at the precinct had given her my name. I figured that must be Lieutenant Willis Chubb. I picked up a cup of coffee for him and went to his office. He confirmed it was him who sent her. He warned me to be careful with her, you know, the femme fatale are always trouble.
I started with the hotel bartender. His roommate Chicken Man told me he had seen a man hitting on another man’s wife. The man punched him and Chicken Man said he helped him outside. He left him puking by the canal. Could he have fallen in and drowned? When I left, Chicken Man came down right after and jumped in his car, a beat up Volvo. I had seen one when I was with Bonita earlier and looked at the license plate – EJAQL8. I wouldn’t forget that.
I went around asking more questions, but couldn’t find out anything. I went looking along the canal to see if I could find a sign of Lucky. I recognized Choop, from when I was on the force, and yelled for him to wait up. I wanted to talk to him. He was looking down at the canal and I wondered if he saw something. He ran and lost his footing, falling in the canal. The cold water jolted my system as I dove into the canal. He almost strangled me as I tried to save him and I had to knock him out.
My next step would be to check out hotbed motels and the city bars.
Bonita called me to thank me for the box of chocolates, but I told her I didn’t send them. I heard her vomiting, as she was trying to talk to me on the phone. I called the front desk and told them to get up there in a hurry.When I got there, I checked the box. It said, with compliments from Webster Investigations. I could see tiny holes in the bottom of the candies. She wouldn’t let me call the police. I was now really motivated to find Lucky.
Bonita had said her husband might be with his cousin, Carlos Chavez, in Boston. I told her I was headed there and she said not to leave without her. She had to go back to the hotel first. She found that her purse had been ransacked and her gun was missing. Nothing else was touched. I had to find a safe place for her.
I headed to Boston on my own. While I was there, I was knocked out and robbed. I figured someone didn’t want me to find Chavez.
I found out Bonita had lied to me. No big surprise there. Bonita had told me Lucky was in the jewelry business, but I found out he was dealing in porn. Bonita had sent me to the warehouse where I was attacked. Bonita had been out at 2:00 am. What does she really want from me?
3 STARS – Would Recommend To Others
I liked the cover. Anything with water and vibrant colors catches my attention. The title is appropriate and could have more than one meaning.
The book was detailed and well written. The storyline was easy to follow. I always like these kinds of books. No big surprises.
The femme fatale, as usual, lies and can never be trusted. You don’t know who or what to believe.
Lucky was scum, abusing his wife and stepchild. The plot dealt with the seedy parts of life. How low could someone go? Lucky was pretty low. Who cared if he died?
The blurb caught my attention because of Boston and Lowell, Massachusetts. They are places very familiar to me and I am always drawn to a book that has a location I know.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bob Sanchez was born in New Orleans, grew up and worked in Massachusetts, and lives with his wife and two cats in New Mexico. Bob has published three novels: When Pigs Fly, Getting Lucky, and Little Mountain. He actively participates in several writers’ groups, edits nonfiction reviews for The Internet Review of Books, and maintains or contributes to several blogs.
It’s been a long month as I eagerly waited for football to begin. And what a great way to “kick-off” the college football season.
My husband, Eric, and I out on the town to watch the game. Check out the score, 41-14. Unfortunately, we got slaughtered, but Alabama is the National Champion of 2012.
. Ain’t no hurricane gonna blow me away. I can hang in there with the best of them.
I’ve driven around Hurricane Danny taking photos and video out on the barrier islands and down on the beaches. I wasn’t here for Katrina or Ivan, thank goodness, but my husband and I are just crazy enough to jump in our car and go to the beach. The power of these storms are something that cannot be explained unless you have experienced one. As long as it’s a Category Two, my husband and I will be doing our best to get some photos and video footage to post.
Sorry if I missed anything today. I will be checking my email shortly, but have spent all day battening down the hatches. Doing the normal things we do when for these storms, bringing in the plants and anything else that can be blown away or in the pool. Stocking up on gas, food, and most importantly, water.
My biggest worry is my pool, because I seem to spend half my time in it. Maybe I was a mermaid in a former life, or maybe I’m one now and just don’t know it.
Because I live in Florida, this is not an unusual occurrence. Hopefully, we will be able to keep power and I can continue to do my “normal” , but if you don’t hear anything from me it will only be because I cannot reach out to you.
Look on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.
John Besh is a chef and native son dedicated to the culinary riches of southern Louisiana. In his restaurants, entrepreneurial pursuits, and public activities, he aims to preserve and promote ingredients, techniques, and heritage. John’s cookbooks, My New Orleans and My Family Table, were each recognized with an IACP Award. His third cookbook, “Cooking from the Heart,” was released on October 29th, 2013. He hosts two national public television cooking shows based on the books.
Music & 
Susan Fleet is offering for the Giveaway, 2 (two) ebooks for your reading pleasure. International. Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:
(strike with fist) Do (means way). She learned Jiapsul – pressure points. Part of the 
