Well, hello there! I’m Charlotte Bringier Crozat, grand-mère to the indefatigable Magnolia Marie Crozat – “Maggie” for short, although why she’d want to shorten a beautiful name like Magnolia I simply don’t know. But that’s her generation, I guess. Everything in shorthand. I suppose I should call it her “gen,” tee hee.
I’ll be honest with you. I’m a wee bit tipsy. Oh, all right. More than a wee bit. You see, I’m celebrating. Have you ever heard of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival? If not, shame on you! Oops, sorry. It’s the champagne talking. Let’s try that again. If you haven’t, why, it’s simply one of the most marvelous festivals in the world, an homage to the fabulous food and culture of a city that I’m not afraid to call the eighth wonder of the world. (That might also be the champagne talking, *hiccup*.)
Anyhoo, our petite village of Pelican, Louisiana is barely an hour from New Orleans, and one day I had a brainstorm. I said to some of our town officials, “We should host a music festival the week before JazzFest starts in late April to draw fans to our town prior to their Big Easy visit.” They responded, “Charlotte, that is an absolutely marvelous idea.” So, ladies and gentlemen, I give you. . . Cajun Country Live!
It’s Pelican’s modest addition to the Louisiana festival schedule. Did you know there are more festivals in our state than days of the year? Oh dear, I believe that’s what they’d call “off topic.” Perhaps I shouldn’t have had that third glass of bubbly. But I couldn’t resist. I just learned that Tammy Barker, the festival headliner, has arrived at our B&B. Tammy’s a local girl who won a TV singing contest like those “American Idol” and “The Voice” shows people love so much. I’ve been told Tammy is something of a diva, which I guess is another way of saying “star,” but not as flattering.
I’m so terribly nervous about the whole event that I’ve been distracting myself with what the Swedish call döstädning: death cleaning. Dearest Magnolia simply hates that name for it, but I appreciate that the Swedes call it exactly what it is: a thinning-out of a lifetime’s paraphernalia before shuffling off this mortal coil.
I must say, the champagne really does lighten the task. Excuse me while I freshen my glass. Ah. Tres bien. My oh my, will you look at what I just found? Love letters from my late husband. Awww, how sweet. Wait a minute, they don’t look at all familiar. Hmmm. . .
I wonder why?
Giveaway: Have you ever attended a festival and if so, what kind of festival? Leave a comment below with your answer for your chance to win a print copy of Fatal Cajun Festival, which is limited to U.S. residents. The giveaway ends September 15, 2019. The winner will be notified by email (so check your spam folder). Good luck everyone!
You can read more about Charlotte in Fatal Cajun Festival, the fourth book in the “Cajun Country” cozy mystery series, released September 10, 2019.
USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Ellen Byron cranks it up to eleven in the fifth fast and funny Cajun Country mystery.
Louisiana B&B owner Maggie Crozat kicks up her heels at a country music festival–but she’ll have one foot in the grave if she can’t bring the killer of a diva’s hanger-on to heel.
Grab your tickets for Cajun Country Live!, the pickers’ and crooners’ answer to the legendary New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Maggie Crozat, proprietor of the Crozat Plantation B&B, plans to be in the cheering section when her friend Gaynell Bourgeois takes the stage with her band, Gaynell and the Gator Girls.
The festival’s headliner, native daughter Tammy Barker, rocketed to stardom on a TV singing competition. She has the voice of an angel…and the personality of a devilish diva. But Maggie learns that this tiny terror carries a grudge against Gaynell. She’s already sabotaged the Gator Girls’ JazzFest audition. When a member of Tammy’s entourage is murdered at the festival, Tammy makes sure Gaynell is number one on the suspect list.
Gaynell has plenty of company on that list–including every one of Tammy’s musicians. Posing as a groupie, Maggie infiltrates Tammy’s band and will have to hit all the right notes to clear her friend’s name.
Purchase Link
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About the author
Ellen Byron’s bestselling Cajun Country Mysteries have won Best Humorous Mystery Lefty awards and is the 2018 Agatha Best Novel winner for Mardi Gras Murder. Writing as Maria DiRico, she’ll debut a second series, The Catering Hall Mysteries, in 2020. TV credits include Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents. Fun fact: she worked as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.
Connect with Ellen at ellenbyron.com, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram, on BookBub, or on Goodreads.
All comments are welcomed.
I have attended a Renaissance festival.
Those are fun!
I’ve been to the Renaissance festival some of the local festivals in Chicago. Can’t wait to read about a Cajun festival. I love this series, looking forward to reading more about Crozat.
My most recent festival was a Seafood Festival in Rhode Island….I had the Seafood Chowder & it was soooooo delish!!!!!
I have been to several. There is a long-running Renaissance festival in my area. I’ve been to a couple of times. My favorite festival is the Fort Worth Main Street Arts Festival. There is lots of glasswork, paintings, and my favorite — jewelry.
LOVE jewelry at fairs and fests. I still have earrings I bought at Columbus Avenue fairs that ran in front of my NY apt in the 80s!
I’ve been to lots of different festivals–Renaissance, music, arts and crafts. Most recently, I attended the Decatur Book Festival, which is held every Labor Day weekend in a suburb of Atlanta. A big candy store for readers!
I’m dying to go to the Decatur Book Fest. I hear it’s GREAT. I’ll be at my 4th Louisiana Book Festival in November. Can’t wait!
I went to the festival of the Harvest Moon. It was wonderful. Bought a fabulous coat there. Wish my sister hadnt borrowed it and kept it, lol. Have been to a few others as well, but that was one of my favorites. Love this series. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Get that coat back, lol!
Tallahassee, FL host the Southern Shakespeare Festival each year on Mother’s Day weekend. It’s fantastic! Y’all should definitely plan to attend!
I’ve visited many festivals in my lifetime. The yearly Italian Festivals in Little Italy in Manhattan, the yearly holiday festival mid Passover on Ave M here in Brooklyn, and let’s not forget the Renaissance Festivals in Upstate NY and in Massachusetts. They were all fun and entertaining.
LOVE Little Italy fests! We used to go to San Gennaro when I was a kid. I miss them. AND Little Italy. What’s left of it.
I live in a small town that is surrounded with rural farm country. We have many festivals such as the Grape Festival the end of September. It celebrates the harvesting of the grapes. We also have a Beach Glass festival since we have a harbor and are along the shore of Lake Erie. There seems to be a festival most weekends from the beginning of Spring/Summer and even some are well into the season of Winter. I enjoy attending them and finding new items.
Robin, sounds beautiful. My parents had a cottage in northwestern CT for 36 years and one of my favorite things to do was go to the local fairs. I miss those.
I always thought it would be fun to go to one of those Renaissance festivals but haven’t done it yet.
Bucket list!
I have been to several wonderful festivals. The Bread and Honey festival which is held every June. The book festival which is lovely.
YUM! Now I want bread and honey.
Been to many, Strawberry Festival, Frog Leg Festival, Renaissance Festival plus more, lol. When we lived in Florida there was always a Festival somewhere it seems.
wfnren at aol dot com
That’s Louisiana. More festivals than days of the year!
I don’t think that I’ve been to a festival — my loss. The closest I can get is the State Fair of Texas ~ Thanks Dru Ann for A Day in the Life of Charlotte Crozat, one of my favorite characters in this series!
We have so many great cultural festivals in Texas. You really should check out at least one.
I’m so glad you liked this, Celia! I love writing Gran.
Hi, all! I have a doctor’s apt. here in L.A. but will be back to read your comments as soon as I’m done.
I’ve attended a goat festival and an apple festival before. Both were fun! Thanks for the giveaway!
A goat festival?! Ooh, sounds interesting. I bet there was some great cheese!
I have not been to a festival before.
It’s not too late, Doward! Fall and spring are good fest seasons. Not too hot.
Been to a food & jazz festival many years ago in Detroit
I have been to “Sawdust City Days” in Eau Claire, WI. Had a food booth there. Thanks!!
Jean, cool! Now I want to know what kind of food booth you had.
Speaking of festivals, I have attended a lot. But my favorite is coming up at the end of September. It’s the Pumpkin Festival. Four days eating pumpkin flavored food. Ice cream, cookies, milkshakes, pies abd so on. Plus the gigantic pumpkin weigh in. A pumpkin could weigh over1500 pounds. Plus arts and crafts, entertainment and a car show. Can’t wait.
It’s been a while since I’ve been to any festivals. I tend to avoid crowds now! The Greek Festival here in Houston in the fall is a good one. Nope, I’m not Greek but I do like the food.
We have a Greek festival here in the San Fernando Valley. I’ve never been because it’s so hot at festivals here. But Jer and I keep talking about going because we love Greek food.
I’ve attended many festivals because I love the festival atmosphere. My husband’s hometown of West, Texas has WestFest every Labor Day week-end. It’s a festival to honor & celebrate the town’s Czech heritage. I also attended a Renaissance Festival that was a lot of fun because of the performances & of course the food! Being an avid reader though I most enjoy festivals that celebrate authors like the one in Tyler, Texas that I attended last year.
A festival celebrating Czech heritage sounds great. I used to go to one on Manhattan’s lower East Side that celebrated Polish heritage. Lots of great food. And of course, I love any author festival!
I’ve gone to a few festivals – mostly around art. This sounds like a fun read and thanks for the chance.
Love art at festivals. Good luck!
I’ve attended the August Moon Festival.
That sounds like a wonderful festival!
I have attended art festivals, loved them.
LOVE art festivals.
I recently attended the Hobnob Market which is a festival of sorts–it combines vintage shopping with live music, a wine bar, and food trucks. The weather was beautiful and I brought home some great treasures.
Vintage AND wine? That sounds like a festival right up my alley.
Charlotte or Grand-Mere is such a great character. I love this series and know the latest will be another huge hit. Congrats, Ellen.
Cindy, thank you so much! You have no idea what a compliment that is coming from you.
I’ve been to country and bluegrass festivals.
legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com
First of all, I love this series and would love to win this book!
In Northern CA I have attended : The Grape Festival, The Cherry Festival, The Asparagus Festival, and the Garlic Festival!!!
Apple festivals, wine festivals, renaissance fair… always fun no matter what the theme. Adore this series! Excited for the next adventure.
I have attended several festivals, including a yearly blues festival
I’ve attended quite a few. I’d have to say my favorite was probably the very first Giant Omelet Festival in Abbeville,Louisiana. It’s amazing how the omelette has improved over the years. Best part; my son is now showing his artwork there!
Not lately, but the small town I grew up in used to host local art fairs.
**** WINNER ****
Fatal Cajun Festival is Robin Coxon
Congratulations!